Epic Spell Idea

[Fatespinner]

Okay, I'm not terribly good with epic rules (since I think I've used them all of twice in the history of ever) but I had an idea for an epic spell that I wanted to create. It is fairly simple in its purpose but I feel that the mechanics of building the spell may be somewhat complicated.

The spell shall be called 'Arcane Rebuttal.' Here's what I want it to do: Cast as an IMMEDIATE action, have a duration of 1 round, have no backlash, and basically emulate the effects of spell turning. I would imagine that such a spell will likely have a Spellcraft DC in the 70+ range (possibly even over 100) but I was just curious to see if any of the epic-spell-savvy folks out there could piece this together for me. Thanks!

[The White Toymaker]

Actually, before any mitigating factors, an epic spell that can be cast as a quickened action and will reflect the single next spell thrown your way if it's ninth level or lower is a DC 215 Spellcraft check. I gave it an Ad Hoc +40 for immediate casting because it sounds about right. The thing the reflect seed is great for, really, is screwing up those who dare to attack you physically.

Arcane Rebuttal

Spoiler:

Abjuration
Spellcraft DC 227
Components: V, S
Casting Time: One Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Duration: Until Expended or 12 hours
To Develop: 2,430,000 gp; 49 days; 97,200 XP. Seed(s): Reflect (DC 27). Factors: Reflect up to Ninth Level Spells (+160 DC), Immediate Action Casting (Ad Hoc +40). Mitigating factors: None

The next targeted spell of ninth level or lower directed at the caster is automatically reflected, as if the caster were warded by a Spell Turning spell.

Your better bet -- at least until you're sufficiently high level that burning a Rod of Excellent Magic every time you research an epic spell doesn't really dent your wallet -- would be something like this, an idea I stole from Thanis:

Moment of Peace

Spoiler:

Conjuration
Spellcraft DC 60
Components: V, S
Casting Time: Contingent
Range: Personal
Duration: 5 Rounds
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
To Develop: 540,000 gp; 11 days; 21,600 XP. Seed(s): Transport (DC 27). Factors: Faster Time Stream (+8 DC), Contingent Casting (+25 DC)
Any time that the caster of this spell is about subject to an effect that reduces him to a predetermined level of health (typically one quarter to one third of his maximum health) he is preemptively transported to a faster time stream, avoiding the attack altogether and gaining the benefits of a Time Stop spell for five rounds.

[Fatespinner]

Looks pretty nice. Could we tone down the Spellcraft DC by specifically making the spell's duration only 1 single round instead of '12 hours or until dispelled'? I really just want this spell as kind of a wizard's reflexive defense against an incoming spell. Also, could we possibly require an XP or expensive material component to knock it down a bit?

[Will Trev Oli]

Could you some how make a epic level Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil and make that level give a veil that has similar properties?

[The White Toymaker]

There's no precedent for decreasing the DC by decreasing the duration, the basic idea being (I think) that you won't be using the spell until you need it anyway, so you would be giving up nothing to gain something. That said, if you can swing it past whoever's DMing, you could probably get "One Round Duration (Ad Hoc -4 DC)" without losing much sleep over it. You can burn 100 XP for a -1 reduction to the DC, to a maximum of 20,000 xp for a -200 to the DC. This isn't suitable to being a Ritual Spell (more than one caster contributing spell slots,) so that option is out.

If you're open to options that involve tweaking the character build, rather than just casting a single spell, I think you could make the concept (if not the specific mechanic) available to lower level characters. One level in Archmage can get you Mastery of Counterspelling, and I believe that I saw an option somewhere that allows you to counterspell without readying an action. With both, and an Epic Spell in the vein of Superb Dispelling, you could emulate the effect you're looking for at a much lower level.

I just can't remember where I saw the option of reactive counterspelling.

[Fatespinner]

The White Toymaker wrote:

There's no precedent for decreasing the DC by decreasing the duration, the basic idea being (I think) that you won't be using the spell until you need it anyway, so you would be giving up nothing to gain something. That said, if you can swing it past whoever's DMing, you could probably get "One Round Duration (Ad Hoc -4 DC)" without losing much sleep over it. You can burn 100 XP for a -1 reduction to the DC, to a maximum of 20,000 xp for a -200 to the DC. This isn't suitable to being a Ritual Spell (more than one caster contributing spell slots,) so that option is out.

If you're open to options that involve tweaking the character build, rather than just casting a single spell, I think you could make the concept (if not the specific mechanic) available to lower level characters. One level in Archmage can get you Mastery of Counterspelling, and I believe that I saw an option somewhere that allows you to counterspell without readying an action. With both, and an Epic Spell in the vein of Superb Dispelling, you could emulate the effect you're looking for at a much lower level.

Thank you, Toymaker. Your wisdom is much appreciated.

[Saern]

What's really needed is a better set of Epic rules, in my mind. I remember tinkering around with Epic spells when a friend first got the ELH. Until very Epic levels, it was hard to make an Epic spell that was noticeably better than a 9th level spell that you could actually cast without nearly killing yourself or loosing an ungodly amount of XP. Seems to me that taking the feat which allows 10th+ level spell slots for metamagiced 9th level spells is a much better option for a long time (not that I think that should really take a feat- I think it should be a class feature, since that's what wizards and sorcerers do, CAST, so why have to burn a feat to keep doing it once you get past 20th level?). Perhaps that was the intent of the Epic rules, but I would rather see Epic spells that just followed normal spell levels, but at 10th+, rather than all the rules that exist now.

Meh.

[Fatespinner]

Saern wrote:

Perhaps that was the intent of the Epic rules, but I would rather see Epic spells that just followed normal spell levels, but at 10th+, rather than all the rules that exist now.

Meh.

I agree with this sentiment, but you make do with what you're given, you know?