RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
|
Just so we're all on the same page here, this is the complete entry of the spell antimagic field in the PRD:
Antimagic Field
School abjuration; Level cleric 8, sorcerer/wizard 6
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M/DF (pinch of powdered iron or iron filings)
Range 10 ft.
Area 10-ft.-radius emanation, centered on you
Duration 10 min./level (D)
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance see text
An invisible barrier surrounds you and moves with you. The space within this barrier is impervious to most magical effects, including spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities. Likewise, it prevents the functioning of any magic items or spells within its confines.
An antimagic field suppresses any spell or magical effect used within, brought into, or cast into the area, but does not dispel it. Time spent within an antimagic field counts against the suppressed spell's duration.
Summoned creatures of any type and incorporeal undead wink out if they enter an antimagic field. They reappear in the same spot once the field goes away. Time spent winked out counts normally against the duration of the conjuration that is maintaining the creature. If you cast antimagic field in an area occupied by a summoned creature that has spell resistance, you must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) against the creature's spell resistance to make it wink out. (The effects of instantaneous conjurations are not affected by an antimagic field because the conjuration itself is no longer in effect, only its result.)
A normal creature can enter the area, as can normal missiles. Furthermore, while a magic sword does not function magically within the area, it is still a sword (and a masterwork sword at that). The spell has no effect on golems and other constructs that are imbued with magic during their creation process and are thereafter self-supporting (unless they have been summoned, in which case they are treated like any other summoned creatures). Elementals, corporeal undead, and outsiders are likewise unaffected unless summoned. These creatures' spell-like or supernatural abilities may be temporarily nullified by the field. Dispel magic does not remove the field.
Two or more antimagic fields sharing any of the same space have no effect on each other. Certain spells, such as wall of force, prismatic sphere, and prismatic wall, remain unaffected by antimagic field. Artifacts and deities are unaffected by mortal magic such as this.
Should a creature be larger than the area enclosed by the barrier, any part of it that lies outside the barrier is unaffected by the field.
Of particular note is this line: "An antimagic field suppresses any spell or magical effect used within, brought into, or cast into the area, but does not dispel it."
Does this mean that a spellcaster who stands within an antimagic field can still cast spells that target creatures/areas OUTSIDE the field normally? Is antimagic field effectively a nigh-impenetrable bulwark against magical attacks that enables an encapsulated mage to launch his arcane assaults from within with impunity? Obviously creatures within the field are immune to the mage's close-range attacks, and the mage effectively cuts himself off from most escape mechanism spells (dimension door, invisibility, fly, teleport, and the like), but it still seems like a pretty good deal, especially when dealing with enemy casters.
Spells don't function within it, which means that you're just speaking gibberish and making hand gestures.
Casting a spell while inside an AMF falls under the "using" clause, so doesn't work. However, because the text is "suppressed" and not "dispelled" or "negated", one can make a case to say that you can cast spells into and out of an AMF, but they have no effect unless they would still be active when the AMF ended. There was a whole thread on that a while back.
What a potentially interesting use for Selective Spell. Sculpt yourself out, gather your friends around you, keep them safe from harm and attack from the middle of it all. With a few defensive spells up this might make for a really interesting tactic.