Natrim wrote:
Riia, that's not quite true. The description of permanency reads as changing a spell's duration to a 'infinite/permanent' duration. Whether it's the Permanency or the spell that is the target of the Permanency, whichever you decide is the spell effect, both result in an ongoing spell effect, and therefore, if dispelled, gone forever. Until the spells are recast, which doesn't restore the investment of the material component cost expended in the permanency. The diamond dust is an material component cost after all.
There is nothing in the spell description of Permanency that makes it follow the rules for magic items being dispelled. Merely an ongoing spell effect. And the real fear of the 'wasted investment' is the Greater Dispel Magic spell. And given Permanency is a 5th level arcane spell, fighting BBEG's with 6th level spells is not at all imbalanced, assuming the PC's are the ones casting Permanency.
Personally, as I mentioned previously, I'd like to see it function a bit more like a magic item. Our table keeps coming back to the spell and debating making it 'somehow worthwhile'. However, we haven't. And with my above Fly example, we keep putting it off, knowing what a massive headache it would end up being.
I will totally agree with you that if permanency can be dispelled and gone for ever, then hell yes, it is not worth it at all. Why would we spend 7500gp on something that can be dispelled so quickly.
It would seem that the wizard would need a few feats to up caster level and dc vs dispel before ever dreaming of doing this.
Spell perfection seems like the feat that would help on this:
Prerequisites: Spellcraft 15 ranks, at least three metamagic feats.
Benefit: Pick one spell which you have the ability to cast. Whenever you cast that spell you may apply any one metamagic feat you have to that spell without affecting its level or casting time, as long as the total modified level of the spell does not use a spell slot above 9th level. In addition, if you have other feats which allow you to apply a set numerical bonus to any aspect of this spell (such as Spell Focus, Spell Penetration, Weapon Focus [ray], and so on), double the bonus granted by that feat when applied to this spell.
but then you are waiting for 15th level before ever doing this, and if you are playing an AP, that gives you 1, maybe 2 levels of enjoyment without fear of a possible dispel? Arg, this definitely changes my mind on permanency.
However, if you have specialized spell for the spell that is cast for permanency (+2 caster level) that would make it a +4 caster level for that spell, which would make it un dispellable for anyone under 20th level caster (if cast at 15th character level).
Just seems like such a waste of feats to achieve this.
