Question Regarding Mage's Disjunction Vs. 3.5 Spell

[DrakeStryker]

So I'm GMing a limited-session campaign for several experienced D&D and Pathfinder players. I'm using a mix of source materials, specifically I'm allowing Players to import races, classes, feats and spells from certain D&D 3.5. The premise of the campaign is pretty simple: a great red wyrm is attempting to ascend to godhood, and they need to slay him in order to prevent him from becoming the next Garyx and destroying all of creation.

I am planning on using the same resources my Players are allowed to create a very strong, customized Dragon for my Players to attempt to kill. One of the primary spells is a gem I found in the 3.5 Spell Compendium, Effulgent Epuration. Essentially, it causes spells aimed at the target of Effulgent Epuration to essentially say "No", and is unaffected by the spell. It does specify within the spell description that the Target of Effulgent Epuration needs to be the Target of the spell he's pressing the Nope Button on, and that Area of Effect spells and "spells that do not have a target" are not absorbed by Effulgent Epuration.

One of my Players has let slip that he's playing a Sorcerer that plans to use Mage's Disjunction to de-buff the Dragon. My question is: how do you think these two spells would interact with one another? I want to make sure I'm being fair to my Players while still keeping true to this Dragon's strengths. It will be - after all - trying to kill them.

[Seisho]

Okay first: I think you hit the wrong forum
and second: I think Mage'S Disjunction would also affect Effulgant Epuration
if thats important for the dragons survival set the will save against that spell = plot armor

[Raisse]

I disagree about plot armor, as it tells the player that their choices don't matter and they're just sitting there for GM story time.

An alternate solution: Contingent Anti-magic Field if targeted by Mage's Disjunction. There's a nonzero chance that Disjunction can break the AMF, and if so I would rule it would unravel the underlying spells, but there's a good chance it will effectively absorb the disjunction and the dragon can dismiss the AMF later (or not, cause he's still a dragon and probably has the advantage in AMF).

[Drake Wythe]

Seisho, I think you're right about hitting the wrong forum. My bad.

Raisse, that strategy reminds me of the Order of the Stick comic, when V fights the Black Dragon - "What happens when we turn the magic off? Fascinating. It appears that you cease to be a mighty wizard and become a fragile pointy-eared monkey. While I? I am still a dragon."

I think I also figured out a potential replacement for Contingent Anti-Magic Field: Spellbane from the Inner Sea Guide, which counters very specific spells, one of which will be Mage's Disjunction.

[Raisse]

Since Aroden's Spellbane specifies that it acts as antimagic field for the spells chosen, Mage's Disjunction should still have a 1%/CL to dispel it and then get everything underneath. It does open up your contingency for other purposes, or contingent AMF for a second layer of protection if it's really important to avoid getting dispelled.

[merpius]

I'd say Spellbane's interaction with Disjunction is a little hazy. True; it indicates that it acts like antimagic field... but then it goes on to make an exception with regards to how it interacts with other spells. Unfortunately it doesn't mention anythign specifically about Disjunction, nor (greater) dispel magic, so there would have to be some judgement as to whether the 1%/CL chance to dispel constitutes "immunity" or not. I'd assume that it would probably be most acceptable/fair to go with the approache that Raisse indicated, but it is worth mentioning that there is room for other interpretations.

There is, of course, another alternative; there are rules for researching new spells. The dragon, being a quite ancient being, may have researched a new 9th level spell that allows it soem measure of defense against other 9th level abjurations (or Disjunction specifically). With such a limited scope, it shoudl be possible to accomplish. I don't necessarily suggest this as a great idea (since it feels a bit liek plot armor), but it is a possibility.

I have a character in a 19th level, 4th mythic game where we managed to capture some sparks of divinity and consume them; my character became a dragon, after a fashion (no racial HD and retained all class levels, but got a bunch of stuff from the Dragon creature, including that as my natural form). I can tell you that I am looking both for ways to protect myself against antimagic field and disjunction (Spellbane is the best answer I have come up with) as well as ways to invoke them, when necessary (see the quote from Order of the Stick, above). You should definitely build your dragon to be a scary spellcaster AND a scary melee combatant. I wouldn't focus too much, though, on the breath weapon or tail sweep; they take a standard action and really don't do better damage than using that standard action to cast a spell. Flyby Attack is definitely handy, though; since you can take a standard action (unlike Spring Attack) you can do all sorts of stuff and still keep your range.

A spell that increases your flight speed coudl be useful, and making sure to have a decent Fly skill (doesn't have to be fantastic, but take into account your size and maneuverability penalties), so you can do maneuvers can be helpful.