Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Evil_Bishi03 02-01-06, 03:23 PM	I'm pretty sure I read about a spell that temporarily reduces the spell resistance of a targeted monster, but I can't seem to remember what book it is in. Anyone know the spell I'm talking about? Perhaps there are more than one?
Puca 02-01-06, 03:31 PM	Subvert Planar Essence in Complete Divine and I think there is one in Draconimicon too.
stamhaven 02-01-06, 03:42 PM	From the Spell Compendium you've got spell vulnerability which lasts 1 minute per level and has a fort save to reduce SR by u pto 15 on one closeby creature. It's a cleric 4, sor/wiz 3 transmutation spell. It basically replaced Lower Spell Resistance which worked the same way from the draconomicon but was a sor/wiz4 cleric 4 , though the save is much harder (applying a save penalty = to caster level to negate the effect... near impossible). Both have a 1 round casting time so are tough to pull off. Both are generally inferior to assay resistance in almost every way which adds +10 to spell penetration checks for 1 round per level against a target with no chance to resist all as a swift action to cast.
stamhaven 02-01-06, 03:58 PM	Subvert Planar Essence is an area spell which also affects DR dropping both by 10. However, it's higher level, only affects outsiders, and offers both a fort save and is affected by SR itself so is generally much harder to have take hold... great in army situations to help your underlings hurt infernal/demonic underlings... not as good against BBEG's. It does have medium range so can be done from a safer distance away. This one also only affects creatures while they're inside the area so if they move out they get all of their defenses back even if they losted both the SR check and saving throw.
terrainmonkey 02-01-06, 04:20 PM	draconomicon spell "lower resistance" page 114. it lowers the spell reistance by an equal amount to your caster level up to 15. the saving throw is also lowered by a significant amount. hope this helps its a 4th level wiz/sor spell btw
Bopple 02-02-06, 06:55 AM	Lower Spell Resistance [Draconomicon] seems to be replaced by Spell Vulnerability, as stamhaven said.
Evil_Bishi03 02-02-06, 04:24 PM	Thanks, guys. That helped me a lot, although it is unfortunately the only book I have access to means I'm restricted to revert planar essence for now... at least until I get the spell compendium.
Esponer 02-02-06, 04:42 PM	Thanks, guys. That helped me a lot, although it is unfortunately the only book I have access to means I'm restricted to revert planar essence for now... at least until I get the spell compendium. Incidentally, if you're using psionics, the Slayer (Illithid Slayer, generalised in the SRD) class has the ability Breach Power Resistance. Psionics/magic transparency is the standard, so this means that every time you attack an opponent's SR decreases by 1, with no save or, indeed, SR to protect against. For gish (fighter/caster) builds that can get in a lot of attacks, it's the single best method of tearing through an opponent's SR, in my opinion. Though it can be very hard to get it to work effectively. One build I favour is a two-weapon fighting flurrying monk, with psychic warrior and slayer, using powers in such a way as to not care about caster level, and with Mage Slayer / Pierce Magical Concealment (Protection), backing up a caster.
Bopple 02-04-06, 03:24 AM	BTW, Spell Vulnerability is nerfed. Now, it rolls a normal fort save to resist. It used to impose a penalty equal to your caster level. Now, Assay Resistance [Complete Arcane] is the best SR penetration spell(well, it has been, and will be). It gives you +10 to caster level check to penetrate SR, against a single opponent. Since it's a personal divination, you don't risk failure. Moreover, it's a swift action spell.
spectralphoenix 02-04-06, 05:33 AM	The main issue with assay resistance is that it improves your chances of beating SR instead of actually lowering SR. This means that any other casters in your party won't get the benefits of it.
Bopple 02-04-06, 07:57 AM	Still, it's simply the best out there. Look; Spell Vulnerability has casting time of 1 round, which means it takes long and can be fizzled. Since it should be cast early(usually on 1st round) to be effective, you cannot move away from the rest of the party(unless you want to get fried by a fireball, of course). And it requires a fort save. As you know, almost all the high-SR creatures have high fort save. Subvert Planar Essence is an area spell, which requires SR check and fort save. This means its success rate is very low(about 20% or less). Moreover, it makes a fixed area of emanation - they can just walk out of it. PS) BTW, Spell Vulnerability was first introduced in Planar Handbook. It was completely identical to Lower Spell Resistance, but Sor/Wiz spell level(3).
moto 02-04-06, 01:54 PM	Theres two in complete arcane, assay resistance and a greater version there of. I can't be bothered to find out how it works, but it's also 4'th level.
Blaque 02-04-06, 04:40 PM	Personally I like Spell Vulnerability for spell-thieves who specialize in dealing with SR stuff. Its nice when you can cast the spell, then the next tiem sneak attack tos teal more SR. Assay is nice, but when your other casters don't get anything out of it, its utility to ther est of the group is hurt some. Also, Spell Vulnerabilty has the advantage of lasting longer and on more then one spell being cast at a time. Its a trade-off of utility in a lot of things or power in one thing i guess. Stuff.