Question about Dispel Magic

[Anubis]

Okay, I need to know if a spellcaster can choose to ignore certain spells when casting dispel magic.

The group right now is on the Elemental Plane of Fire with a lot of protective buffs, and the main fighter just got hit with fear. This would mean dropping her weapon and shield (which would incinerate the shield for sure, although the adamantine weapon might be safe). If dispel magic forces every effect to be checked, then casting the spell would mean instant death for the fighter as all the protections and buffs drop.

Basically, can a spellcaster ignore buffs and protections they've cast on a person and target only negative effects?

 

[shilsen]

You can cast a targeted spell aimed at one particular effect, but that's about it. You can't, for example, cast an area dispel and choose to affect only some spells and not others, or cast a dispel magic targeted on an ally and choose to affect only the three spells negatively affecting him and not the two buffs you want him to retain.

 

[Anubis]

Your first and third points seem to conflict.

Basically, [assuming you're targetting a person with multiple ongoing effects,] is there a way for a caster to "voluntarily" fail dispel checks against any positive effects and roll normally against negative effects (much like you can choose to voluntarily get hit or fail a saving throw)?

Basically, it seems a bit "off" that a single fear spell could mean death like this.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Your first and third points seem to conflict.

No, they don't.

There are three options that could result in dispelling the Fear spell.

1. Cast Dispel Magic, targeting the Fear spell.
2. Cast Dispel Magic in an area that includes the fighter.
3. Cast Dispel Magic, targeting the fighter.

His 'first point' relates to option 1; his 'third point' relates to option 3.

No conflict.

-Hyp.

 

[Lord Wyrm]

You can speciically target the fear effect. And as for instant death if his buffs drop, yeah I can see that. That going from magically protected to being on fire in a standard action would suck.

 

[shilsen]

No, they don't.

There are three options that could result in dispelling the Fear spell.

1. Cast Dispel Magic, targeting the Fear spell.
2. Cast Dispel Magic in an area that includes the fighter.
3. Cast Dispel Magic, targeting the fighter.

His 'first point' relates to option 1; his 'third point' relates to option 3.

No conflict.

-Hyp.

What he said

 

[frankthedm]

BTW does not the caster need a way to percieve the fear effect to be ABLE to target it? Like from arcane sight or detect magic. Dispell does not seem to empower the caster to percieve spell auras.

Dispel Magic

Abjuration
Level: Brd 3, Clr 3, Drd 4, Magic 3, Pal 3, Sor/Wiz 3 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) Target or Area: One spellcaster, creature, or object; or 20-ft.-radius burst
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

You can use dispel magic to end ongoing spells that have been cast on a creature or object, to temporarily suppress the magical abilities of a magic item, to end ongoing spells (or at least their effects) within an area, or to counter another spellcaster’s spell. A dispelled spell ends as if its duration had expired. Some spells, as detailed in their descriptions, can’t be defeated by dispel magic. Dispel magic can dispel (but not counter) spell-like effects just as it does spells.

Note: The effect of a spell with an instantaneous duration can’t be dispelled, because the magical effect is already over before the dispel magic can take effect.

You choose to use dispel magic in one of three ways: a targeted dispel, an area dispel, or a counterspell:

Targeted Dispel: One object, creature, or spell is the target of the dispel magic spell. You make a dispel check (1d20 + your caster level, maximum +10) against the spell or against each ongoing spell currently in effect on the object or creature. The DC for this dispel check is 11 + the spell’s caster level. If you succeed on a particular check, that spell is dispelled; if you fail, that spell remains in effect.

If you target an object or creature that is the effect of an ongoing spell (such as a monster summoned by monster summoning), you make a dispel check to end the spell that conjured the object or creature.

If the object that you target is a magic item, you make a dispel check against the item’s caster level. If you succeed, all the item’s magical properties are suppressed for 1d4 rounds, after which the item recovers on its own. A suppressed item becomes nonmagical for the duration of the effect. An interdimensional interface (such as a bag of holding) is temporarily closed. A magic item’s physical properties are unchanged: A suppressed magic sword is still a sword (a masterwork sword, in fact). Artifacts and deities are unaffected by mortal magic such as this.

You automatically succeed on your dispel check against any spell that you cast yourself.

Area Dispel: When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell affects everything within a 20-foot radius.

For each creature within the area that is the subject of one or more spells, you make a dispel check against the spell with the highest caster level. If that check fails, you make dispel checks against progressively weaker spells until you dispel one spell (which discharges the dispel magic spell so far as that target is concerned) or until you fail all your checks. The creature’s magic items are not affected.

For each object within the area that is the target of one or more spells, you make dispel checks as with creatures. Magic items are not affected by an area dispel.

For each ongoing area or effect spell whose point of origin is within the area of the dispel magic spell, you can make a dispel check to dispel the spell.

For each ongoing spell whose area overlaps that of the dispel magic spell, you can make a dispel check to end the effect, but only within the overlapping area.

If an object or creature that is the effect of an ongoing spell (such as a monster summoned by monster summoning) is in the area, you can make a dispel check to end the spell that conjured that object or creature (returning it whence it came) in addition to attempting to dispel spells targeting the creature or object.

You may choose to automatically succeed on dispel checks against any spell that you have cast.

Counterspell: When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell targets a spellcaster and is cast as a counterspell. Unlike a true counterspell, however, dispel magic may not work; you must make a dispel check to counter the other spellcaster’s spell.

 

[shilsen]

BTW does not the caster need a way to percieve the fear effect to be ABLE to target it? Like from arcane sight or detect magic. Dispell does not seem to empower the caster to percieve spell auras.

I think so, but different DMs interpret the act of perceiving the spell to be targeted in different ways. Some would require the use of a spell like arcane sight or detect magic. Others would also allow it if the caster saw the other spell being cast and identified it via a Spellcraft roll. I'm in the latter group.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Shilsen and Hyp answered your question already, but I wanted to make a comment on your other statements.

This would mean dropping her weapon and shield (which would incinerate the shield for sure, although the adamantine weapon might be safe).

Drop the weapon in hand, yes, as it's a free action. Drop the shield -- not so sure about that. It would take a minimum of a move action to loose the shield. If someone is panicked, I doubt they would do that. I take it that it's a non-magical light wooden shield?

If dispel magic forces every effect to be checked, then casting the spell would mean instant death for the fighter as all the protections and buffs drop.

If an average of 16hp (3d10) fire damage is instant death for the fighter, then quite honestly he shouldn't be planar travelling.

 

[Lord Wyrm]

Could be worse, he could be immersed in lava (20d6).