In the Ptolus setting, the Goldshields are an officially sanctioned group of wizards who work with the city watch to suppress arcane threats, and the description mentions that they always have dispel magic available (through an item, if they can’t cast it themselves).
I assume that many settings will have groups like this. Which begs the question: why haven’t they researched a lower-level version of the spell for those who aren’t 5th level? In fact, why hasn’t it been expanded into an entire field of magic? Getting rid of hostile magic is pretty important, whether you’ve got dryads charming noblemen, heat metal slowly cooking your best friend alive, or some little weasel casting web in the middle of South Market.
This rewrite is my attempt to stretch dispel magic out into a long spell chain. The idea is to have some way to get rid of magic at earlier level, and also to have better ways of getting rid of magic at later levels (that is, before we get to [i]disjunction[i/] and can do it automatically).
SUMMARY:
“Dispel magic” (as it appears in 3.P: the version that doesn’t have an area-dispel option) is now a 2nd level spell. The range is now “close” and it can’t affect magic items.
“Dispelling touch” is now a 1st level spell that requires a touch attack and can’t be used to counterspell
“area dispel” is now a 3rd level spell which works as above but affects an area and has a range of “medium”. Also allows you to choose a specific spell, which the “area dispel” option normally doesn’t.
“Focused dispel” is now a 3rd level spell which works just like the “targeted dispel” option in 3.P’s “Greater dispel magic”. It can affect magic items. Unlike the core dispel, this treats magic items like summoned creatures (in that it tries to suppress the item AND tries to dispel one spell targeting the item).
“Articulate area dispel” is now a 4th level spell that works like “area dispel” but covers a wide area and lets you choose who is/isn’t affected.
“Greater dispel” is at 5th level and is unchanged from the Pathfinder version (i.e, it’s like a focused dispel on multiple targets)
“Articulate greater dispel” is a 6th level spell that covers a wider area and lets you freely choose who or what you affect/what spells you leave/what spells you remove.
“Cloying dispel” is a 7th level spell that works like greater dispel but with a duration; i.e. it re-casts itself over and over. . The counterpsell version of this spell targets one caster and tries to counterspell everything they do for the duration.
Dispelling touch
School abjuration; Level bard 1, cleric 1, druid 2, paladin 1, sorcerer/wizard 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range touch
Target or area creature or object
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
This spell functions as dispel magic, except as listed above. This spell cannot be used to counterspell.
Dispel Magic
School abjuration; Level bard 2, cleric 2, druid 3, paladin 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range close (50 ft. + 5 ft./level)
Target or area one spellcaster, creature, or object
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You can use dispel magic to end one ongoing spell that has been cast on a creature or object, or to counter another spellcaster's spell. A dispelled spell ends as if its duration had expired. Some spells, as detailed in their descriptions, can't be defeated by dispel magic. Dispel magic can dispel (but not counter) spell-like effects just as it does spells. The effect of a spell with an instantaneous duration can't be dispelled, because the magical effect is already over before the dispel magic can take effect.
You choose to use dispel magic in one of two ways: a targeted dispel or a counterspell.
Targeted Dispel: One object, creature, or spell is the target of the spell. You make one dispel check (1d20 + your caster level) and compare that to the spell with highest caster level, or the highest spell level if multiple spells are in effect at the same caster level (DC = 11 + the spell's caster level). If successful, that spell ends. If not, compare the same result to the spell with the next highest caster level. Repeat this process until you have dispelled one spell affecting the target, or you have failed to dispel every spell.
You can also use dispel magic to specifically end one spell affecting the target or one spell affecting an area (such as a wall of fire). You must name the specific spell effect to be targeted in this way. If your caster level check is equal to or higher than the DC of that spell, it ends. No other spells or effects on the target are dispelled if your check is not high enough to end the targeted effect.
If you target an object or creature that is the effect of an ongoing spell (such as a monster summoned by summon monster), you make a dispel check to end the spell that conjured the object or creature.
You automatically succeed on your dispel check against any spell that you cast yourself.
Counterspell: When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell targets a spellcaster and is cast as a counterspell. Unlike a true counterspell, however, dispel magic may not work; you must make a dispel check to counter the other spellcaster's spell.
Dispel Area
School abjuration; Level bard 3, cleric 3, druid 4, paladin 3, sorcerer/wizard 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target or area 20-foot-radius burst
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
This spell functions as dispel magic, except that it can be used to target multiple creatures. Roll one dispel check and apply that check to each creature within the area, as if targeted by dispel magic. For each object within the area that is the target of one or more spells, apply the dispel check as with creatures.
For each ongoing area or effect spell whose point of origin is within the radius of the dispel area, apply the dispel check to end the spell. For each ongoing spell whose area overlaps that of the dispel area, apply the dispel check to end the effect, but only within the overlapping area.
You may use dispel area to target a specific spell within the area just as with dispel magic, in which case you check only against the specified spell. This may allow you to end the effects of one spell on multiple creatures or objects within the area, but not multiple castings of the same spell (even if by the same caster).
Focused Dispel
School abjuration; Level bard 3, cleric 3, druid 4, paladin 3, sorcerer/wizard 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target or area one spellcaster, creature, or object
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
This spell functions as dispel magic, but it can remove multiple spells or temporarily suppress the magical abilities of a magic item.
If cast on a creature or object, focused dispel can dispel one spell for every four caster levels you possess, starting with the highest level spells and proceeding to lower level spells.
If the object that you target is a magic item, you make a dispel check against the item's caster level (DC = 11 + the item's caster level). If you succeed, all the item's magical properties are suppressed for 1d4 rounds, after which the item recovers its magical properties. A suppressed item becomes nonmagical for the duration of the effect. An interdimensional opening (such as a bag of holding) is temporarily closed. A magic item's physical properties are unchanged: A suppressed magic sword is still a sword (a masterwork sword, in fact). Artifacts and deities are unaffected by mortal magic such as this.
If an object or creature that is the effect of an ongoing spell (such as a monster summoned by summon monster) is the target, apply the dispel check to end the spell that conjured that object or creature (returning it whence it came) in addition to attempting to dispel one spell targeting the creature or object.
Likewise, if a magic item under the effects of one or more spell is the target, apply the dispel check to suppress that magic item in addition to attempting to dispel one spell targeting it.
Counterspell: This spell functions like dispel magic, except that you gain a +2 bonus to your caster level check to counter the other spellcaster’s spell.
Articulate Dispel Area
School abjuration; Level bard 4, cleric 4, druid 5, paladin 4, sorcerer/wizard 4
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target or area 60-foot-radius burst
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
This spell functions as dispel area, except that it affects a wider area and grants the caster greater control. The caster may designate up to one creature or object per two levels who is to go unaffected by the dispel area. Alternately, he may choose up to one target per two levels and designate them as the only ones affected by the spell (leaving all other spells in the area unaffected).
Regardless, you may also specifically exclude one spell from this spell’s effect. You must name the specific spell to be avoided in this way.
Greater Dispel Magic: Now a 5th level spell. Otherwise unchanged
Articulate Greater Dispel
School abjuration; Level bard 6, cleric 6, druid 7, sorcerer/wizard 6
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target or area 60-foot-radius burst
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
This spell functions as greater dispel magic, except that the caster may freely choose which spells to attempt to remove and which spells to leave unaffected.
You must be able to name specific spell effects to be targeted or excluded. By default, effects that you do not name are potentially dispelled (depending on your dispel check and caster level). However, when casting the spell you may instead choose to leave such unknown effects alone, rather than attempting to dispel them. You may even vary this decision from one target to the next.
For example, suppose the area contains the caster, two allies, a summoned celestial triceratops and four enemies. The caster chooses to target no spells on himself, and only targets the bestow curse affecting one of his allies (leaving all the beneficial spells on his party intact). Against his foes, he chooses to target all spells except for the dominate monster spell that he cast last round. He does not dispel his summoned triceratops, but does try to dispel the confusion spell affecting it. Finally, he decides that any other spells in the area (including any magical traps that he doesn’t know about) will be targets of his dispel check.
This spell follows the normal rules for determining which spells are affected first (those with the highest caster level and spell level).
Clinging Dispel
School abjuration; Level sorcerer/wizard 7
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target or area one spellcaster, creature, or object, or a 20-foot radius burst
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw will (see text); Spell Resistance no
This spell functions as greater dispel magic, except that it allows you to roll a new dispel check every round.
If cast on an area, the area is purged of magic once per round for the duration just as if you had cast greater dispel magic on that area.
If cast on a creature or object, this spell purges all magical effects on the target once per round, as with the target version of greater dispel magic. If used to counterspell, clinging dispel attempts a dispel check (at a +4 bonus) to counterspell the first spell cast by the target every round. In either case, a will save prevents the effect from recurring (but does not prevent the first dispel check).
A single casting of clinging dispel does not dispel itself, but it can be dispelled by other effects as easily as any other spell.
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This sounds like a great thing for a Universalist wizard to pursue, since a Universalist can theme their spellcasting anyway they want to. I currently have a Universalist focused on subtle spells. I can easily see a Universalist focusing on the fine art of dispelling magic and researching weaker versions of the spell. I think it is more likely that the 1st-3rd level spells would counter opposing spells as they are being cast, and only of spells of that level, naturally.
How about a feat?
Expert Counterer
Prerequisites: Spellcaster, Int 16
Benefit: You may lose a prepared or memorized spell to counter a spell of the same level or lower as an immediate action. This feat does not allow you to recognize the name, type, or level of a spell that is being cast.
And, what the heck, some feats while I'm at it.
SPELLBREAKER
You are talented at tearing down magic
Prerequisites: caster level 6th, dispelling touch
Benefit: You may cast dispelling touch at will as a spell-like ability. You gain a +2 bonus to all dispel checks (including those made to counterspell).
CURSEBREAKER
You are skilled at unraveling particularly troublesome spells
Prerequisites: Spellbreaker, caster level 8th
Benefit: You gain an additional +2 bonus to all dispel checks. In addition, your dispelling touch can dispel any effect which remove curse could remove.
ANTIMAGIC MASTERY
You are a master of dismantling spells
Prerequisites: Cursebreaker, caster level 12th
Benefit: You may prepare any spell with the word “dispel” in its name using a slot one level lower than normal. If you cast spells spontaneously, you may cast such spells using a slot one level lower, but still must invest a spell known of the appropriate level.
By extending the casting time to one minute, you may take 20 on your dispel check when casting any spell with dispel in its name.
How about a feat?
Holy hivemind batman!
I like having a feat to make counterspelling better, but because there is no roll normally involved in a counterspell your feat lets someone automatically shut down a mage (or at least prevent them from casting spells of the highest level you can cast).
Since economy of actions usually favors the PCs, I'm thinking this would be way too good.
I believe that the only "counterspell mastery" feat that I've seen requires that you expend a spell from the same school, and even that doesn't let you do so as a free action (you still have to ready an action).
Honestly, the fact that (normal, no-dispel-check) counterspells work without any sort of roll squicks me a little. I haven't seen that mechanic in play enough to know whether or not you should improve it to that degree.
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I believe that the only "counterspell mastery" feat that I've seen requires that you expend a spell from the same school, and even that doesn't let you do so as a free action (you still have to ready an action).
Honestly, the fact that (normal, no-dispel-check) counterspells work without any sort of roll squicks me a little. I haven't seen that mechanic in play enough to know whether or not you should improve it to that degree.
Well, there is of course the Spellcraft roll to identify the spell as it is being cast, so that you know which level spell to release. But I guess the time factor is too good.
Requiring it as a readied action might be better. We're just playing with ideas here, right? Sometimes they're good ones. And sometimes not. :P
Expert Counterer
Prerequisites: Spellcaster, Int 16
Benefit: You may lose two prepared or memorized spells to counterspell a spell of the same level or lower as a readied action. This feat does not allow you to recognize the name, type, or level of a spell that is being cast.
I'd try playing with that version, sure. :)