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Nohwl
2009-06-11, 01:05 PM
i'm trying to build a character focused on dispel magic, and can't to find anything to boost the check.

the character is probably cleric (or maybe an archivist) with inquisition domain and the destiny domain. the plan was to get dmm persist and dmm twin, and persist choose destiny. i was planning on using twinned dispel magic (or a variation of the spell); odds are that i will roll higher than 10, meaning it is better than taking arcane mastery. i can hit the caster level cap of 25 for chain dispel, but i don't know what items i should be trying to get.

are there any items or spells that would boost my dispel magic check?

is there any way i could make a custom magic item to boost my check? how much would a custom magic item to boost it cost?

would i be able to use surge of fortune to treat the check as a 20?

Eldariel
2009-06-11, 01:09 PM
Dispelling and Counterspelling Compilation (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1017175) for your perusal. Wizard does it best (as usual) thanks to Master Specialist Abjurer. That said, the one-level dip for Cleric to get Inquisition and Divine Defiance (with Illumian/Practiced Spellcaster) is a must.

And straight Cleric isn't bad, really. You need turning so Archivist at least requires Sacred Exorcist (or Cleric)-dip. Just, check the Compendium though - it's more complete than I could ever hope to be with one post.


EDIT: Unfortunately Dispel-check is none of the listed checks in Surge of Fortune so you're out of luck there. If it stated "caster level checks", a case could be made, but it only states "spell resistance checks". Arcane Mastery-feat [CArc] allows taking 10 though.

RelentlessImp
2009-06-11, 01:22 PM
Wizard 5/Mindbender 1/Ur-Priest 2/Mystic Theurge 10/Archmage 2 - taken pretty much in that order.

You wind up with 9th level Wizard and Cleric spells, and Rebuke Undead, which can be used to power DMM. Your caster level for Ur-Priest spells is equal to your Ur-Priest level, plus half the levels in other spellcasting classes.

Discuss what this means with your DM - Either the Mystic Theurge levels counts for your Wizard casting and the Wizard casting gained from Mystic Theurge (which is 2+2 (5*0.5 for Wizard)+5(Mystic Theurge Wizard)+10 (Mystic Theurge Ur-Priest) for a caster level of 19 for your Ur-Priest spells)
or
only classes that actually grant spellcasting count (which would be 2+2 for Wizard+10 for Mystic Theurge, or CL 14)

Obviously, if your DM agrees that it's the first choice, this build is much, much better than a straight Cleric. At that point, it's just a matter of grabbing Caster Level boosting items and feats.

Practiced Spellcaster (Ur-Priest) gives you another 4 CL (for the 6 levels of Wizard you have).
Orange Prism Ioun Stone (DMG, pg 260, 30k gp) adds +1 to your caster level.
There's no hard examples of custom items in the MIC that increase CL.
However, as an Ioun Stone is technically slotless (*1.5 or *2 cost, I forget which), then you can figure that Caster Level +1 on an item that requires a slot would cost either 15k (if it's *2) or 20k (if it's *1.5). Just create a pair of rings, a headband, a belt, boots, a robe, a vest, a pair of goggles, a cloak, a pair of bracers, a pair of gloves (assuming you're going to have a Periapt of Wisdom +6) for another +11 to your Caster Level. -1 for every slot you replace with a different magic item.

If it was the first interpretation, you now have a Caster Level of 1d20+ (19+4+11) or a +34 to your Dispel check, if cast from the Ur-Priest's spells. If it was the second interpretation, you have a 1d20+ (14+4+11), or +29 on your Dispel check.

Going straight Cleric and doing this would give you a 1d20+(20+11) or +31 on your Dispel check, which isn't bad - it's 3 less than the Ur-Priest cheese, but doesn't require you to blow 5 feats (Iron Will, Spell Focus [evil], 1x Spell Focus, Skill Focus: Concentration)

EDIT: Sorry, on the first interpretation it's +35 to your Ur-Priest Dispel Magic - forgot to factor in the +1 from 2 levels of Archmage to the Wizard's spellcasting.

EDIT Again: And I forgot that Dispel Magic is limited to a +10 cap from caster level, and Greater Dispel Magic is limited to a +20, so this was a pointless exercise. Sorry. It's still there if you want to boost your CL for limited duration buffs, though.

Glimbur
2009-06-11, 01:25 PM
There's a Dispelling Cord in MiC. +2 to dispel checks five times a day... and the way it's worded suggests that since it's not a Caster Level boost it can go over the cap from your Chain Dispel or whatever.

Nohwl
2009-06-11, 01:49 PM
EDIT: Unfortunately Dispel-check is none of the listed checks in Surge of Fortune so you're out of luck there. If it stated "caster level checks", a case could be made, but it only states "spell resistance checks". Arcane Mastery-feat [CArc] allows taking 10 though.

arcane mastery isn't very helpful. with 4 dice, (2 from it being twinned, and rerolling each of those to pick the better ones from choose destiny) i have a 1/16 chance of doing worse than 10 by rolling, because only one of the checks needs to be above 10 for it to benefit me more. unless i'm misreading choose destiny, rolling should the better option.(and even if i am, twinning it would mean rolling is better 75% of the time.)

divine defiance looks pretty helpful, but couldn't i just persist battlemagic perception?

Eldariel
2009-06-11, 02:21 PM
If you do a lot of dispelling (think Chain Greater Dispel Magic on all of opponent's buffs and items), it's relevant. Also, just spending one feat on Arcane Mastery seems better than getting Choose Destiny and expending Twin Spell on all your Dispels.


divine defiance looks pretty helpful, but couldn't i just persist battlemagic perception?

Battlemagic Perception ends when you counter a spell with it. It's really handy for detection though.

ericgrau
2009-06-11, 06:02 PM
Custom magic items are a source of cheese abuse; if you're adding 10 +1's (of 10 different types or else untyped, no doubt), then you've hit Limburger land. For custom items, be reasonable and run it by your DM first. Or use one of the items or feats mentioned.

Or, just make something up. Seriously. This is 2nd thing I hate about splatbooks (the first being the cheese factory-ness). They discourage people from just plain making stuff up. I mean, why not? If you want to be focused on nothing but dispelling, then a custom feat to give a +2 sounds reasonable, as long as it doesn't stack with other feats (which starts up the cheddar fondue pot). Or maybe an item like the MIC item, again as long as there isn't the potential to stack from 10 different sources for cheap. Why should your group need to sift through a dozen books to find what you want when you already know what it is? Okay, maybe you don't know how high of a + to give, but looking over a few examples of similar things should give you a rough idea.

Btw in core the only way to boost your dispel check is to boost your caster level, which is both expensive and highly limited in options.

PrismaticPIA
2009-06-11, 06:31 PM
Spellcaster's Bane (117CM) is a handy spell to have if you countering/dispelling. +2 insight bonus to dispel, counter, and caster level checks, and auto-recognize a spell cast or already in effect.

If your Dm let's you, there are some great feats from Mongoose's "Ultimate Feats"

Insightful Caster (16UF)- Add Wisdom modifier for counter, dispel, and SR checks.

Compelling Caster (12UF)- Add Charisma modifier for counter, dispel, and SR checks.

Darrin
2009-06-11, 06:53 PM
are there any items or spells that would boost my dispel magic check?


Dispelling Cord (MIC) has already been mentioned.

You already have the Inquisition domain... there's an ACF somewhere that allows you to trade one of your domains for double the bonus provided by your remaining domain, but I don't recall what book that's in... CompChamp I think? Might be worth it for a +8 on dispel checks, but you lose the Destiny domain (unless you can pick it up later via a PrC).

If you don't pick up the Inquisition domain or need it for an arcane caster, take Planar Touchstone -> Catalogues of Enlightenment to pick up the Inquisition domain power. Domain Draught (MIC) can also give you the Inquisition domain for 24 hours.

Devil's Favor (Fiendish Codex II) can give you a +2 on "a check of any sort" (which should count for a dispel check) but it requires making a pact with a devil.

The Witchborn Binder in MoI gets a dispelling orb thingy at 2nd level, and you can put essentia into it for an insight bonus on dispel checks. However, it uses your meldshaper level, not your caster level, on the check. You'd also lose a caster level, so I'm not sure it would be worth it.