In First Edition, supernatural abilities and spell-like abilities are not negated by Dispel Magic, Antimagic Field and Disjunction, or identified by Spellcraft check, since they are not spells. Even the Mana Wastes, where magic simply does not work at all, did not pose a threat to druids, since Wild Shape is a supernatural abilities. But in Second Edition, supernatural abilities and spell-like abilities have been changed into innate spells or focus spells. Does that mean the Second Edition druids have become seriously weaker than their First Edition counterparts, because now Wild Shape can always be dispelled?
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Yes, Dispel Magic can end Wild Shape. Though I am not sure that this makes Wild Shape weaker.
Because of the way that Counteract checks work, the enemy using Dispel Magic on your Druid would have to use a high level spell slot to cast Dispel Magic with. Using a spell slot of lower level than the spell level of Wild Shape would fail more often than not as long as the two characters are fairly evenly matched in level.
And if this enemy does successfully dispel Wild Shape, then the Druid can often simply make some comment about 'how many of those do you have prepared' and then spend another focus point to cast Wild Shape again.
That, and that even a Druid focusing on using Wild Shape can still be rather formidable when not in a polymorphed battle form.
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The chances of a druid being in wild shape when there's an opponent who has dispel magic prepared and will be interested in dispelling that particular spell (and not something more powerful/problematic) is such a once-in-a-blue-moon situation that you can't really call it a "serious weakness".
This is a perfect example of white room analysis that ignores how the game work in practice.
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And if this enemy does successfully dispel Wild Shape, then the Druid can often simply make some comment about 'how many of those do you have prepared' and then spend another focus point to cast Wild Shape again.
"I know what you're thinking - did he spend all his focus points or not? Do I feel lucky?"
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And if this enemy does successfully dispel Wild Shape, then the Druid can often simply make some comment about 'how many of those do you have prepared' and then spend another focus point to cast Wild Shape again."I know what you're thinking - did he spend all his focus points or not? Do I feel lucky?"
Dirty Hairy? :-)
That said, wild shape in first edition absolutely was subject to nullification by an antimagic field.
Does that mean, in First Edition, the Mana Wastes still posed a serious threat to druids, since they will suppress supernatural abilities and spell-like abilities (including Wild Shape) as well?
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If I remember right (no guarantee of that), antimagic effects would disable spells and spell-like abilities, but not supernatural abilities. Supernatural abilities would work fine in antimagic zones.
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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.
Also, the Mana Wastes, as a whole, are not a place where magic is completely non-functional, they're a place where it's unpredictable. Magical effects may be nullified, magnified, completely altered, or even function perfectly normally.
If I remember right (no guarantee of that), antimagic effects would disable spells and spell-like abilities, but not supernatural abilities. Supernatural abilities would work fine in antimagic zones.
It took like five seconds to google search:
Supernatural abilities are not subject to spell resistance and do not function in areas where magic is suppressed or negated (such as an antimagic field).