Assay resistance from Complete Arcane [Archive] - Wizards Community

Assay resistance from Complete Arcane [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ChefOrc
08-03-05, 05:33 PM Here's part of the descriptive text for the spell assay resistance from Complete Arcane.

This spell enables you to divine the exact nature and vulnerabilities of a single creature's magical defenses, giving you a +10 bonus on caster level checks to overcome spell resistance.

My question is: Is the first part of the sentence just a thematic description with no rules in it, and only the second part contains the actual effect? Or is there a specific effect related to "divine the exact nature and vulnerabilities..." other than to give a +10 bonus?

I am asking because the description sounds like the spell lets you know what protective spells are active on the target (e.g. shield of faith, etc.). Am I reading too much into this?
tarkin
08-03-05, 05:35 PM I would tell the player what kind of thing is granting the resistance.
Llathos
08-03-05, 05:40 PM I would, on the other hand, absolutely NOT.

The text is pretty clearly flavor text to justify how you suddenly can bypass SR. Knowing what buff spells they have on (shield of faith, etc as you put it) has nothing to do with SR at all and is not the intent of the spell.
ChefOrc
08-03-05, 05:59 PM That's what I tought Llathos, it's just that their choice of flavor text hints at other effects. Actually, I find that a lot of spells from the expansion books (like CA) are somewhat unclear ...

Tarkin, do you mean that you would tell the player that the spell resistance is coming from a spell vs an item vs a natural source?
TheMagister
08-03-05, 06:02 PM I would tell the player what kind of thing is granting the resistance.

I agree with this statement if it is taken literally.

If you targetted a drow elf with this spell, I would tell you, "The creature is simply naturally magic resistant, but a flash of insight reveals an exploitable weakness!"

If you targetted a human fighter with a mantle of spell resistance with this spell, I would tell you, "The warrior's mantle throbs with powerful protective energy that you feel in your mind, but a flash of insight reveals an exploitable weakness!"

Or it could be a spell that provides SR and could be described as a "field of magic" or something.

I would only mention protective item(s) that provide SR. Others are irrelevant.

TM
Llathos
08-03-05, 11:02 PM In reading back more carefully at how tarkin worded his reply, I can see a gap between his response and your original question and example.

I tend to agree with what tarkin said (basis for SR), but I don't agree with the original example(what buffs are up).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ChefOrc 08-03-05, 05:33 PM	Here's part of the descriptive text for the spell assay resistance from Complete Arcane. This spell enables you to divine the exact nature and vulnerabilities of a single creature's magical defenses, giving you a +10 bonus on caster level checks to overcome spell resistance. My question is: Is the first part of the sentence just a thematic description with no rules in it, and only the second part contains the actual effect? Or is there a specific effect related to "divine the exact nature and vulnerabilities..." other than to give a +10 bonus? I am asking because the description sounds like the spell lets you know what protective spells are active on the target (e.g. shield of faith, etc.). Am I reading too much into this?
tarkin 08-03-05, 05:35 PM	I would tell the player what kind of thing is granting the resistance.
Llathos 08-03-05, 05:40 PM	I would, on the other hand, absolutely NOT. The text is pretty clearly flavor text to justify how you suddenly can bypass SR. Knowing what buff spells they have on (shield of faith, etc as you put it) has nothing to do with SR at all and is not the intent of the spell.
ChefOrc 08-03-05, 05:59 PM	That's what I tought Llathos, it's just that their choice of flavor text hints at other effects. Actually, I find that a lot of spells from the expansion books (like CA) are somewhat unclear ... Tarkin, do you mean that you would tell the player that the spell resistance is coming from a spell vs an item vs a natural source?
TheMagister 08-03-05, 06:02 PM	I would tell the player what kind of thing is granting the resistance. I agree with this statement if it is taken literally. If you targetted a drow elf with this spell, I would tell you, "The creature is simply naturally magic resistant, but a flash of insight reveals an exploitable weakness!" If you targetted a human fighter with a mantle of spell resistance with this spell, I would tell you, "The warrior's mantle throbs with powerful protective energy that you feel in your mind, but a flash of insight reveals an exploitable weakness!" Or it could be a spell that provides SR and could be described as a "field of magic" or something. I would only mention protective item(s) that provide SR. Others are irrelevant. TM
Llathos 08-03-05, 11:02 PM	In reading back more carefully at how tarkin worded his reply, I can see a gap between his response and your original question and example. I tend to agree with what tarkin said (basis for SR), but I don't agree with the original example(what buffs are up).