A basic question regarding AMF's and spellcasters - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A basic question regarding AMF's and spellcasters

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
whaargarbl
Jan 14, 2011 11:48:59 I don't know too much about character optimization

What I do know is that primary spellcasters dominate the game. However, I met a man yesterday who claimed that martial classes can completely invalidate spellcasters with the power of Antimagic Field. Especially martial classes with the winged template.

The guy's argument was already flawed because he said AMF is a targeted effect and could be splatted directly onto the enemy spellcaster but does he have a point about waddling around in an aura of spell negation while still carrying a big sword and strength bonus?
#2
uhm_hoi
Jan 14, 2011 12:15:53 An antimagic field is pretty devastating when a spellcaster is trapped in one. That said, you do need to catch that spellcaster in the antimagicfield, which is pretty hard to do since an antimagic field is centered on the caster. A wizard will just keep flying circles around it while invisible. Also when you really use the game breaking tricks on your caster an antimagic field wont stop it, like that trick to get infinite hardness... It is permanent, so it cant be dispelled and you'll just stay untouchable, even in an antimagic field.

On a side note, it is possible to throw antimagic fields around, but you need to be a spellcaster yourself to pull it off, an eldritch theurge to be exact. While writing this I realized, this is another win for the spellcasters... Martial characters can only center the damn things on themselves.
#3
dandu
Jan 14, 2011 15:33:51 Even if you beat a spellcaster by using... spells, you still can't duplicate his wonderful toys and usurp his position in the party.
#4
Novacat
Jan 14, 2011 15:38:45 An Antimagic Field will generally protect you from a spellcaster (unless that caster uses the Orb spells to great effect, or uses walls of force/forcecage, or uses prismatic spells, or can Disjunction it), but it in no way allows you to get the better of them. Being able to fly and function in a magic-free environment is only about half the game when fighting spellcasters.
#5
uhm_hoi
Jan 14, 2011 18:22:57
you still can't duplicate his wonderful toys and usurp his position in the party.

I just wanted to highlight this... If completely geared toward the fight and the wizard is played by a complete retard, the martial character might have a chance in combat. But out of combat, who can teleport the party around? who grants everybody that invisibility when sneaking is needed? who can fly? scry? summon earth elementals to check every inch of a castle out while they disarm any traps? who can dispel any nastyness (even antimagic fields)? see invisible foes or clues? charm or dominate the ruler whos support you needed? I'll give you a hint, its not the martial character.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 whaargarbl Jan 14, 2011 11:48:59	I don't know too much about character optimization What I do know is that primary spellcasters dominate the game. However, I met a man yesterday who claimed that martial classes can completely invalidate spellcasters with the power of Antimagic Field. Especially martial classes with the winged template. The guy's argument was already flawed because he said AMF is a targeted effect and could be splatted directly onto the enemy spellcaster but does he have a point about waddling around in an aura of spell negation while still carrying a big sword and strength bonus?
#2 uhm_hoi Jan 14, 2011 12:15:53	An antimagic field is pretty devastating when a spellcaster is trapped in one. That said, you do need to catch that spellcaster in the antimagicfield, which is pretty hard to do since an antimagic field is centered on the caster. A wizard will just keep flying circles around it while invisible. Also when you really use the game breaking tricks on your caster an antimagic field wont stop it, like that trick to get infinite hardness... It is permanent, so it cant be dispelled and you'll just stay untouchable, even in an antimagic field. On a side note, it is possible to throw antimagic fields around, but you need to be a spellcaster yourself to pull it off, an eldritch theurge to be exact. While writing this I realized, this is another win for the spellcasters... Martial characters can only center the damn things on themselves.
#3 dandu Jan 14, 2011 15:33:51	Even if you beat a spellcaster by using... spells, you still can't duplicate his wonderful toys and usurp his position in the party.
#4 Novacat Jan 14, 2011 15:38:45	An Antimagic Field will generally protect you from a spellcaster (unless that caster uses the Orb spells to great effect, or uses walls of force/forcecage, or uses prismatic spells, or can Disjunction it), but it in no way allows you to get the better of them. Being able to fly and function in a magic-free environment is only about half the game when fighting spellcasters.
#5 uhm_hoi Jan 14, 2011 18:22:57	you still can't duplicate his wonderful toys and usurp his position in the party. I just wanted to highlight this... If completely geared toward the fight and the wizard is played by a complete retard, the martial character might have a chance in combat. But out of combat, who can teleport the party around? who grants everybody that invisibility when sneaking is needed? who can fly? scry? summon earth elementals to check every inch of a castle out while they disarm any traps? who can dispel any nastyness (even antimagic fields)? see invisible foes or clues? charm or dominate the ruler whos support you needed? I'll give you a hint, its not the martial character.