Mindflayer, Mindblast and Dispel

[DMFTodd]

A mindflayer attacks with his mind blast, the PC fails his save and is stunned for 3d4 rounds. Mindblast is a spell-like ability. Can this be dispelled?

I say no. "Stunned" is the physical effect of the mind blast, not an on-going magical effect. Mindblast is instantaneous and gone. You can't dispel the physical result of that anymore than you can dispel the physical result of a fireball.

Further, if this was a magical effect, then the duration would be based on caster level like every other spell in the game, not on a random dice roll. No duration = not an on-going spell, can't be dispelled.

My player of course says, yes, you can dispel it. It's a spell-like ability, therefore just like a spell, and any result of the spell is an on-going spell.

 

[DMFTodd]

A follow-up question assuming correct above:

There are a number of spells that counter physical effects:
If Poisoned, I can Slow or Neutralize
If damaged, I can Cure or Heal
If Ability Score Loss, Restoration
If Blinded, Remove
If Charmed, Dispel
If Turned to Stone, Break Enchantment

Is there any counter to being stunned?

 

[kreynolds]

A mindflayer attacks with his mind blast, the PC fails his save and is stunned for 3d4 rounds. Mindblast is a spell-like ability. Can this be dispelled?

As a counterspell, yes. See page 71 and 72 of the DMG. As to the effect, I believe the intent is "no", as it appears to be an instantaneous effect.

EDIT: Didn't mean to say counterspell. Spell-like abilities with extended durations can be dispelled though, but not counterspelled. Doh!

 

[hong]

First, the random duration has nothing to do with it. There are plenty of spells that have either random duration (time stop being the most notorious example) or fixed duration (shield, divine favour).

It comes down to whether the mind blast is instantaneous duration or not. Instantaneous effects, like fireball, can't be dispelled. By the book (PsiHB), a mind blast is an instantaneous effect and so can't be dispelled: the shock hits your brain and then dissipates, leaving you stunned and reeling.

However, I wouldn't have problems changing that to an actual duration. Stunning is a powerful effect, one that probably could do with some toning down.

 

[DMFTodd]

Re: Re: Mindflayer, Mindblast and Dispel

As a counterspell, yes.

MM page 7: A spell-like ability cannot be used to counter-spell, nor can they be counter-spelled.

So the DMG page 71 "spell-like abilities are subject to spell resistance and dispel magic" would only (?) apply to an on-going effect (The continual flame of an archon, invisbility of a quasit, control weather of a kraken) or to suppress an spell-like ability for 1d4 rounds (such as suppressing the mind-blast of the mind flayer). You can't use dispel magic to counterspell a spell-like ability. Yes?

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Mindflayer, Mindblast and Dispel

MM page 7: A spell-like ability cannot be used to counter-spell, nor can they be counter-spelled....You can't use dispel magic to counterspell a spell-like ability. Yes?

Doh! I used the wrong terminology. A couple weeks ago, one of my players go slowed by a spell-like ability and it was dispelled a couple rounds later. I was thinking of that. My bad.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: Mindflayer, Mindblast and Dispel

...or to suppress an spell-like ability for 1d4 rounds (such as suppressing the mind-blast of the mind flayer).

I don't believe you can suppress the Mind Flayer's mind-blast spell-like ability. It isn't an ongoing effect. It's just an at-will power.

 

[DMFTodd]

My bad this time. The suppress for 1d4 rounds only applies to magic items according to the spell.

 

[kreynolds]

Looks like we're both on a roll today, eh?

 

[DMFTodd]

We got it straightened out in the end and that's all that matters.