I'm currently homebrewing a big baddie for a campaign i'm working up, and the more I look at it the more I realize that he'd be shut down completely by a simple anti-magic field.
Without making something up (but I will if I have to), what tools are there that would allow someone completely dependent on magic to escape or even ignore an anti-magic field?
Aroden's Spellbane set to Antimagic Field - You win.
Fly - Your opponent that has Antimagic Field on them needs to have an Ex means of Flight.
Conjuration Spells - Fire from outside into the Antimagic Field.
Golems - Laugh manically at the poor opponent who nerfed themselves.
Animate Dead/Objects - See above.
Called Minions - See above.
Contingency - Come up with something.
Oh, spellbane is just perfect.
Just so I don't mess it up down the line, are there any other spells that duplicate antimagic field? It'd be unfortunate to spellbane antimagic field just to have his younger cousin shut my dude down.
Antimagic Field is broken, and has been broken since AD&D 1.0.
Pathfinder did introduce a few countermeasures:
Aroden's Spellbane (as noted above) can prevent it from working on you, but I don't think it actually lets you cast through it (at least you can cast on yourself), and you can't use it in am emergency (if you're already in the Antimagic Field, you can't cast it no matter how high level you are). The Prismatic Wall/Sphere spells have the same problem.
Any Animated Objects or summoned creatures (and presumably any of their gear, including any projectiles they brought with them) will wink out if the Antimagic Field catches up to them, so you have to make sure that they can stay out of range and make effective non-magical ranged attacks -- not so easy with most of these -- summoned Giants hurling non-summoned rocks are the best I can think of off the top of my head.
Contingency could only work if it could somehow detect the Antimagic Field coming before it hits -- once the Antimagic Field hits, Contingency won't work.
Not sure if Aroden's Spellbane works against an Antimagic Field if a Limited Wish, Wish, or Miracle was used to duplicate it -- these are the oly spells that I can think of that can duplicate it (unless one of the new Psychic spells that I haven't seen yet does), although I could have sworn that a few supernatural abilities can duplicate it, as do Magic-Dead areas.
A character with 10 levels of Blackfire Adept (labeled on d20pfsrd.com as Darkfire Adept) has an improved version of the Breaching ability (that starts at 5th level against effects blocking dimensional travel or warding against Evil) -- a 10th level Blackfire Adept wins an opposed caster level check (and auto-wins if of higher caster level than the opposing caster) can summon Darkfire Adept Pact creatures (any of 3 selected Evil Outsider subtypes) into an Antimagic Field, Prismatic Sphere, Extradimensional shelter, or even Magic-Dead area, and if successful, destroys any of these effects except for a natural Magic-Dead area. This does require sacrificing a spell (or spontaneous spell slot) of the same level as the warding effect, as a Swift Action. This prestige class has some problems (one of which is that it requires non-Good alignment), but you want this for a villain, so it doesn't matter as long as you can adjust the build appropriately.
Disjunction has a non-zero but minuscule chance of dispelling an Antimagic Field, but even if you're Epic your chances of dispelling it are pretty poor, and again as far as I know you can't cast it if you are already in the Antimagic Field (the Blackfire Adept level 10 Breaching ability above is the only ability that I know of that can work in an Antimagic Field that is already in effect).
Any Animated Objects or summoned creatures (and presumably any of their gear, including any projectiles they brought with them) will wink out if the Antimagic Field catches up to them, so you have to make sure that they can stay out of range and make effective non-magical ranged attacks -- not so easy with most of these -- summoned Giants hurling non-summoned rocks are the best I can think of off the top of my head.
Lantern Archons too. Have them use aid on the Giants first.
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Polymorph Any Object, only turn things into less dangerous things. AMF suppresses the polymorph effect, and now you've got the dangerous version. It's a good contingency against dispel attempts, too!
Metamagic'd snowballs. Just kill them with intensified maximized empowered snowballs. With the right traits you can get that down to a 5th lvl spell. Each snowball will do an average 77 damage and completely ignore the AMF. You could also ditch some damage and make them dazing.
I dont think that works.
Have him MOVE, antimagic field isn't an offensive spell.
Use non-magic opponents (trained owlbears? Orc barbarians?)
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.
Make your villain one of the really big Giants. Like a Rune Giant or Storm Giant or something
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I dont think that works.
From Anti-Magic Field:
The effects of instantaneous conjurations are not affected by an antimagic field because the conjuration itself is no longer in effect, only its resultSnowball is an instantaneous conjuration spell.
EDIT: In my OP I did not mention that the caster must be outside the field.
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I dont think that works.From Anti-Magic Field:
The effects of instantaneous conjurations are not affected by an antimagic field because the conjuration itself is no longer in effect, only its resultSnowball is
an instantaneous conjuration spellbroken.EDIT: In my OP I did not mention that the caster must be outside the field.
FIFY. The best first level single target damage spell should not be in the conjuration school.
FIFY. The best first level single target damage spell should not be in the conjuration school.I dont think that works.From Anti-Magic Field:
The effects of instantaneous conjurations are not affected by an antimagic field because the conjuration itself is no longer in effect, only its resultSnowball is
an instantaneous conjuration spellbroken.EDIT: In my OP I did not mention that the caster must be outside the field.
In agreement with you. There was another post were someone wanted to know how to take out a Stone Colossus single handily. Metamagic snowballs were the answer. Poor colossus could do nothing about a greater invis wizard chucking snowballs at its parapets, other than die after a few rounds.
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Metamagic'd snowballs. Just kill them with intensified maximized empowered snowballs. With the right traits you can get that down to a 5th lvl spell. Each snowball will do an average 77 damage and completely ignore the AMF. You could also ditch some damage and make them dazing.
What does a nonmagical intensified mazimized empowered snowball even look like? Something like this maybe?
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I do not think you can imbue an arrow with a personal only spell.Antimagic fields emanate from the caster, who essentially shuts himself down when he casts the spell. And has to put himself up close and personal. Have tough personal guards next to you at all times.Unless you are an arcane archer.
Antimagic Field is not a personal spell.
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It is an emanation spell with no range, i.e. it emanates from the spellcaster.I do not think you can imbue an arrow with a personal only spell.Antimagic fields emanate from the caster, who essentially shuts himself down when he casts the spell. And has to put himself up close and personal. Have tough personal guards next to you at all times.Unless you are an arcane archer.Antimagic Field is not a personal spell.
Imbue Arrow specifically allows area spells that are centered on the caster to work.
At 2nd level, an arcane archer gains the ability to place an area spell upon an arrow. When the arrow is fired, the spell's area is centered where the arrow lands, even if the spell could normally be centered only on the caster. This ability allows the archer to use the bow's range rather than the spell's range. A spell cast in this way uses its standard casting time and the arcane archer can fire the arrow as part of the casting. The arrow must be fired during the round that the casting is completed or the spell is wasted. If the arrow misses, the spell is wasted.
I forgot to mention one other situational counter to Antimagic Field -- if the battle is in a cave that has a high enough ceiling, cast Rock to Mud on the ceiling over the spellcaster that is using Antimagic Field. You know what that means . . . Conversely, if you are the spellcaster using the Antimagic Field, and you are an Arcane Archer, this is excellent followup for the Antimagic Field Imbued Arrow cheese.
Is there a mass version? I thought this was a personal spell with a fixed radius of emanation centered on the caster. The duration is hilariously awesome.
Keep the range open and have minions gank the mage or take out another target of opportunity besides designated tank or the dex monkey. Immunity to magic doesn't mean immunity to physics. Plus, the didn't the casting mage just drop all of their buffs and magical gear bonuses.
BBEG should have lackeys/cohorts that can keep threat on the mage while it wrecks the rest of the party.
Of course, we are not the DM that likes to see the party lose...
If the mage gets that close to the BBEG, let 'em have it, kudos on the mage. Could it be placed on a familiar for abuse?
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Conversely, if you are the spellcaster using the Antimagic Field, and you are an Arcane Archer, this is excellent followup for the Antimagic Field Imbued Arrow cheese.
I wouldn't call an animagic imbued arrow cheese. It's the only reason to even take Arcane Archer. If you want to be a spell caster, you should be a pure spell caster. If you want to be an archer with spells, Ranger or Inquisitor. If you want to be a mystical archer, Zen Archer. If you want to shoot bombs, Alchemist. The only unique thing that Arcane Archer gets that it cannot be outclassed by someone else is Imbue Arrow.
It's the only redeeming feature of the class.
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Just had another thought ... FAQ time maybe?
Forcing an abjuration barrier against creatures that the spell keeps at bay collapses the barrier.This bit of text comes from Antilife Shell. But it doesn't say forcing Antilife Shell against a creature it says "abjuration barrier" which AMF is. Does this preclude using AMF by moving up into the Wizard or other casters face (or any creatures for that matter)?
Then we have this from Antiplant Shell:
As with many abjuration spells, forcing the barrier against creatures that the spell keeps at bay strains and collapses the field.Thoughts? Seems like the tactic of using AMF offensively against a caster/creature just got stopped cold.
No need. Both antilife and anti plant shell are barriers that creatures cannot cross. Antimagic field is not a barrier. Anyone can freely enter or exit it. It just shuts down magic inside the radius. You can freely move next to a creature to affect them with the field.
Can you give us the tactic your party uses? because even if a cleric casts the antimagic field and goes up close and personal with your villan, how does the rest of the party plans to actually defeat him?
In addition, giving us the build of your villan would also help.
Conversely, if you are the spellcaster using the Antimagic Field, and you are an Arcane Archer, this is excellent followup for the Antimagic Field Imbued Arrow cheese.
I wouldn't call an animagic imbued arrow cheese. It's the only reason to even take Arcane Archer. If you want to be a spell caster, you should be a pure spell caster. If you want to be an archer with spells, Ranger or Inquisitor. If you want to be a mystical archer, Zen Archer. If you want to shoot bombs, Alchemist. The only unique thing that Arcane Archer gets that it cannot be outclassed by someone else is Imbue Arrow.
It's the only redeeming feature of the class.
I partially agree about Arcane Archer. I was calling the Antimagic Field Imbued Arrow cheese because of the broken overpoweredness of Antimagic Field, not because of anything inherently overpowered with Arcane Archer. Although I will say that higher levels of Arcane Archer do give some additional class features that would be not too shabby if they didn't come with additional spellcasting advancement opportunity cost (I would have preferred if the prestige class was d8 with 3/4 BAB and full spellcasting progression instead of d10 with full BAB and 3/4 spellcasting progression). Still, if you're going to dip 2 levels in it, might as well dip 4 levels in it unless you need something else RIGHT AWAY.
Of note is the fact that Lantern Archon pew-pew beams are Ex, and give 0 ****s about DR(useful against AMF'd dragons). Spam them around the AMF user and enjoy the show. Even if the AMF user moves around to try to catch summons in the AMF, they can maybe keep half of the Archons in the AMF at a time if you tell them to spread out while attacking.
When I made the point it was to describe a artificially DM constructed encounter designed to hamper a particular blend of classes. Replace it with dead magic wasteland if its easier.
Edit: yeah lantern archon Ray's should definitely be supernatural at best. Paizo does some weird stuff.
Polymorph Any Object, only turn things into less dangerous things. AMF suppresses the polymorph effect, and now you've got the dangerous version. It's a good contingency against dispel attempts, too!
I like this, mainly because it doesn't just shut down the spell or use a questionable workaround like that damn Snowball spell. It's a fun twist, too!
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Polymorph Any Object, only turn things into less dangerous things. AMF suppresses the polymorph effect, and now you've got the dangerous version. It's a good contingency against dispel attempts, too!I like this, mainly because it doesn't just shut down the spell or use a questionable workaround like that damn Snowball spell. It's a fun twist, too!
Here's one: use polymorph any object to create floor tiles over lava pits that cover every square except the one the BBEG is standing on. When the antimagic field activates, the tiles disappear and the caster falls into a lava pit.
Be sure to have to BBEG laugh maniacally afterwards.