Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mearrin69 08-29-06, 11:39 AM	Hi all, So, my party (newly 9th level) encountered and defeated (barely) a ilithid sorcerer in its last adventure. We knew it was coming because there was a lot of foreshadowing but turns out I was still pretty unprepared because of the thing's ungodly SR (I think we learned after the fact that it was 32). A good knowledge(dungeoneering) roll and our contacts told me an awful lot of other useful information about mind flayers - but left off this important detail. I would have had to roll a 21 (21+ cl9 +2 spell pen) to lay a spell on the thing which, even playing with action points, just wasn't in the cards. I know there are certain spells that don't worry about SR, but almost everything I was packing did. Do I just have to make sure I'm toting these spells or is there something I more I can do to bump my ability to get through SR? This is a pretty new situation for our group (only a couple of other creatures with SR to date, and they weren't CR11 or whatever this thing was) and I'm pretty new to v3.5 - just since the beginning of the year when we started this campaign. Would like to be better prepared next time we run into something slimy... M
GDarius 08-29-06, 11:54 AM	For starters, there's a spell called "Assay Spell Resistance" in the Draconomicon. I'm not sure if it was reprinted in Spell Compendium. That's a good start. Also, if you think you might be facing high SR monsters in the near future, be sure to memorize some Orb of [element] spells, for no SR damage. Further, memorize some Summon Monsters and Evard's Black Tentacles (possibly my second favorite battle-control spell). These will let you dish out some heavy damage, and slow the enemy down, without worrying about SR at all.
CyperionTheShadeBlade 08-29-06, 12:43 PM	Dealing with high sr foes is tricky. one of the ways i would consider is to go a more passive way, such as buffing up or summoning. another way to go is to lash around some orbs or perhaps a Melf's acid arrow. at lvl 9 you should be able to cast telekinesis, and violent thrust can be devastating. Always carry around a Pearl of power if you are a wizard, to avoid beeing caught with only the wrong spells, it won't make up for beeing unprepared, but it will at least give you one good spell and thet can change the entire battle. hope it helps.
wonlee76 08-29-06, 01:07 PM	Don't underestimate your ability to buff your allies or protect your allies. No need to worry about SR if you're not targeting the Illithid with spells. Haste, Blur, Displacement, Stoneskin, Protection from Energy, Resist Energy, etc. are all valid useful spells to use during the course of your fight with a spellcasting baddie with SR.
2nd Ed Paladin 08-29-06, 01:38 PM	I am also of the opinion that you should focus on battlefield control, summoning and buffing when facing high SR opponents. If you are not a full caster consider the practiced spellcaster feat in CArc and CD.
Tikael 08-29-06, 01:48 PM	there are two spells which could help greatly, assay spell resistance (+10 to caster level checks) and spell vunerability (lowers creatures SR) together these would make even high SR ratings easy to handle. both spells are castable by both wizards and clerics of 9th level and can be found in the spell compendium. hope that helps.
KyussWren 08-29-06, 02:16 PM	Is Spell Vulnerability cumulative? Because clerics can cast it too :P
Exquisite_Flopilidopilies 08-29-06, 09:40 PM	No one's mentioned Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration--do they just suck or something?
Salla 08-29-06, 09:43 PM	No one's mentioned Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration--do they just suck or something? Depends on the game you're in. If you can reasonably expect to run into a LOT of SR-bearing foes, then they'll be godsends. Otherwise, you may well sit there wishing badly that you had taken other feats. Given the relative ease of bypassing SR with spells that simply don't allow it, they're generally only taken if they're Prestige Class requirements.
mearrin69 08-29-06, 10:46 PM	Thanks for all of the advice. I actually just took Spell Penetration (+2) but a fat lot of good it did me facing a mind flayer :) The SC spells you guys mentioned sound good - almost like someone wished they were in the core so had to introduce them. I think my DM would allow them but I'll check to see. Been trying to stick with core stuff but I might break my own rule on this one. M
runestar 08-29-06, 11:52 PM	Usually, if the foe's sr is too high, it would be easier to work your way around it rather than try to punch through it. The mindflayer you faced had a sr of 32, that's 7 sorc lvs, for a final cr of 11(sorc is a non-associated class for mindflayer - see Lords of Madness). While the cr is reasonable for your party, notice how its sr is all but unbeatable(even with spell penetration and spell enhancer, you still need to roll at least a 19!):eek: That could a problem when monsters with scaleable sr interacts with non-associated class lvs, their sr scales out of whack compared to their cr.:( As mentioned earlier, try spells which do not allow sr, such as acid arrow, the various orb spells or evard's tentacles. Alternatively, switch roles, perhaps to battlefield control or party buffer/counterspeller instead.
Zherog 08-30-06, 12:44 PM	Always carry around a Pearl of power if you are a wizard, to avoid beeing caught with only the wrong spells, it won't make up for beeing unprepared, but it will at least give you one good spell and thet can change the entire battle. hope it helps. In order for a pearl of power to be used, you have to cast a prepared spell; the pearl allows you to retain it as though you hadn't cast it - essentially giving you two copies of the prepared spell. If you don't have Melf's acid arrow prepared, the pearl of power doesn't do anything to enable you to get one.