I'm thinking on using a Break Enchantment spell-like ability as a team debuff (vs things like Barkskin, Heroism, Fly...). CL 13 for the example.
Sharing to see if I'm understanding everything right:
- As a Spell-Like Ability, it would be a Standard action to cast. Duration is Instantaneous, so a single use would target every Enchantment, Transmutation or Curse of up to 13 targets all within 30' of each other, with CL checks for each case.
- How about magic items like a Belt of Mighty Constitution or a Headband of Alluring Charisma with Transmutation auras? Would those be affected? How? Negated until they are taken off and worn again? 1d4 rounds like with a Dispel Magic? Would they then resume working as temporary ability bonuses (as within the first 24 hours after first wearing it)?
Break Enchantment only targets creatures, it has no effect on items.
If the effect comes from a permanent magic item, break enchantment does not remove the curse from the item, but it does free the victim from the item's effects.
This seems to indicate that it works on effects coming from items, at least cursed items, but maybe also enchantment and transmutation items.
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The spell description says it frees "victims," so I'd argue it doesn't work unless it's an effect you want to be free of.
If you rule otherwise it's basically a lower level Greater Dispel Magic that is limited to what it can effect, while also allowed to break some special effects that Dispel Magic can't.
It can't effect items unless they are cursed.
The effect of the curse is on the victim. You break that effect. That snippet just clarifies that breaking the effect on the victim doesn't affect the cursed item, it is still cursed. So, no still not affecting an item.
Read the stat block.
Targets up to one creature per level, all within 30 ft. of each other
I thought about the "victims" part, because that's made me doubt a lot. But spells wording in that regard tend to add words like "willing/unwilling target" or "harmful"... and on the other hand, many cursed victims are not willing.
Also, the Saving Throw entry just says "see text" (which then talks about CL Checks, but no STs), which doesn't help much.
So, it would target the effect of a cursed magic item on somebody, but it wouldn't lift the curse from the item. That's pretty clear.
As I re-read it, it also seems clearer that the only permanent item effects affected are curses, so forgtting to affect Helpful Transmutations or Enchantments.
How about the spell ones? Targetting a bunch of creatures with Barkskin, Overland Flight and Heroism cast on them: are they potentially dispelled?
It looks like Break Enchantment would make a CL check vs each spell or effect on the target creature.
I would assume there would be a single Break Enchantment CL check applied to all the targeted creatures and that it is capable of removing several effects on each creature.
As long as the spell meets the prerequisites, Break Enchantment should be able to effectively dispell it.
You can however avoid the casting time with (Limited) Wish.
That's a definitive ruling out of its use in combat, thank you very much, EvilMinion: totally missed the "or spell description" part. In theUniversal Monster Rules of the Bestiary it reads "Using all other [than constant] spell-like abilities is a standard action unless noted otherwise, and doing so provokes attacks of opportunity". I see your quote comes from the more basic Core Rulebook.
It also rules out the impromptu casting of a Symbol in combat for the same reasons. Well, we'll have to be less colorful, it seems :)