A debate started in my last RL game session, hoping to get the brain-trust to weigh in with some examples and rulings......
Each spell includes an entry that indicates whether spell resistance applies to the spell. In general, whether spell resistance applies depends on what the spell does.
Targeted Spells
Spell resistance applies if the spell is targeted at the creature. Some individually targeted spells can be directed at several creatures simultaneously. In such cases, a creature's spell resistance applies only to the portion of the spell actually targeted at that creature. If several different resistant creatures are subjected to such a spell, each checks its spell resistance separately.
Area Spells
Spell resistance applies if the resistant creature is within the spell's area. It protects the resistant creature without affecting the spell itself.
Effect Spells
Most effect spells summon or create something and are not subject to spell resistance. Sometimes, however, spell resistance applies to effect spells, usually to those that act upon a creature more or less directly, such as web.
Spell resistance can protect a creature from a spell that's already been cast. Check spell resistance when the creature is first affected by the spell.
Check spell resistance only once for any particular casting of a spell or use of a spell-like ability. If spell resistance fails the first time, it fails each time the creature encounters that same casting of the spell. Likewise, if the spell resistance succeeds the first time, it always succeeds. If the creature has voluntarily lowered its spell resistance and is then subjected to a spell, the creature still has a single chance to resist that spell later, when its spell resistance is back up.
Spell resistance has no effect unless the energy created or released by the spell actually goes to work on the resistant creature's mind or body. If the spell acts on anything else and the creature is affected as a consequence, no roll is required. Spell-resistant creatures can be harmed by a spell when they are not being directly affected.
Spell resistance does not apply if an effect fools the creature's senses or reveals something about the creature.
Magic actually has to be working for spell resistance to apply. Spells that have instantaneous durations but lasting results aren't subject to spell resistance unless the resistant creature is exposed to the spell the instant it is cast.
So the first question came up around Resilient Sphere. Our sorcerer was surrounded by Bone Devils and tried casting it around himself as a protective barrier. The debate was whether the SR of the enemy could overcome the sphere and therefore attack the sorcerer.
- One side of the debate was that the "SR Yes" indication in the spell description was for when you cast it ON an enemy, and once it is created around a willing target it takes on the effect of a wall of force and therefore the SR of the enemy doesn't matter since the description of wall says is not subject to SR.
- the other side is that since sphere says "SR Yes", then the enemy SR has the potential to ignore the sphere and attack the caster within. When the enemy tries to smash the sphere it is at that point that the spell tries to affect them and therefore the SR applies.
The next question came up with Invisibility Purge. Same battle, same enemies with SR. Biggest question came up since the spell entry doesn't say ANYTHING about SR one way or the other.
- One side of the debate was that since its a personal spell that effects the CASTER, then the reason there is no listing for SR is that an enemy's SR has no effect on the caster and therefore Purge ignores SR.
- the other side is that since the spell says it creates a 'sphere of power', any creature with SR that enters the area is therefore being directly affected by the spell. 'Directly affected' means SR comes into play and the caster had to made a roll or the enemy's invisibility could resist the spell.
Lots of debate on both sides, lots of rule quotes being thrown around to support each position. Would love to get some opinions and links to support them so we can put these two to rest. Thanks in advance!
the invisibility purge part of this is easy. invisibility purge does not have an SR line, SR has no effect on the spell. without the SR line in invisibility purge this should be fairly clear RAW.
For the sphere, i think the sphere has Sr yes becase you can cast it on people and would not allow the devils to ignore it. But.. im unsure.
It says Resilient Sphere functions as a Wall of Force, which isn't subject to SR. Therefore, I would say SR comes into play only on the target, to prevent the sphere from appearing. Once cast, the bone devils would not be able to use SR to bypass the sphere.
Do note, Resilient Sphere has a focus.
If a spell does not have a "yes" beside SR then SR has no affect on that spell.
Yeah! Your GM is nuts!!!
Shut it Cloudus, you know he's reading this so youre not helping!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Regarding Invisibility Purge in particular, I'd like to note the following:
Will-o'-wisps are immune to all spells and spell-like abilities that allow spell resistance, except magic missile and maze.
So if invisibility purge allowed spell resistance, will-o'-wisps would be immune.
As per FAQ,
However, note that the invisible stalker's natural invisibility specifically says that it is not subject to invisibility purge. Thus, will-o'-wisps and pixies become visible, but invisible stalkers do not.
will-o'-wisps are affected by it. Therefore, it does not allow spell resistance. Q.e.d. :-)
Thanks to all for your responses and thoughts.
I got lucky and found James Jacobs answering questions in his "ask anything thread" and got the Invisibility Purge piece clarified...
any help with the reasoning why some spells don't even have the SR stat listed?If there's no "SR" line at all, that means that the spell is not affected by SR at all, and therefore you don't have to worry about making checks to affect a creature with SR while using that spell.