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AB
2007-06-17, 03:23 PM
Hi folks,

rule question: does Death Ward protect you from a Disintegrate-spell? I would not think so, as the spell produces no death effect, but simply erases a target - Death Ward should merely protect you from spells like Finger of Death or Slay Living: spells with the Death-description. My DM however reads Disintegrate as a magic death effect, since it is a spell and the result of its use against a living target is immediate death. By the way, we play D&D 3.0.

So, who is right here? And, in case I am, how could I proof it? Is there some official answer to this question anywhere in an errata?

Thanks!

Jack_Simth
2007-06-17, 03:30 PM
Your DM is correct by way of rule 0, which trumps the books.

By the book, though, you're correct. Disintegrate doesn't kill, anymore than a fireball does. It doesn't have the [Death] descriptor, it's not a save or die spell (it's save or massive damage), and it's not a negative energy effect.

DON'T TRY TO PROVE IT

sleeping fishy
2007-06-17, 03:47 PM
Your DM is correct by way of rule 0, which trumps the books.

By the book, though, you're correct. Disintegrate doesn't kill, anymore than a fireball does. It doesn't have the [Death] descriptor, it's not a save or die spell (it's save or massive damage), and it's not a negative energy effect.

DON'T TRY TO PROVE IT

plz, build a bridge & get over it... dms just the guy running the game, not god... if he wants to make a houserule the players are fine with, cool, but if hes just misreading the rules theres nothin wrong with convincing him.

you can point out the [death] tag spells have, what it means (not just spells that kill!!) & how its referenced... you can also point out disintegrate DOESNT KILL, it does damage, by that logic meteor swarm is [death] spell if it kill you!!

AB
2007-06-17, 03:54 PM
Well, does Disintegrate do damage? You don`t have to roll dice, so it is at least very similar to an instant death effect such as with Finger of Death etc. - in the result.

MeklorIlavator
2007-06-17, 03:58 PM
Well, does Disintegrate do damage? You don`t have to roll dice, so it is at least very similar to an instant death effect such as with Finger of Death etc. - in the result.

Uhh...

Disintegrate
Transmutation
Level: Destruction 7, Sor/Wiz 6
Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: Ray
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial (object)
Spell Resistance: Yes

A thin, green ray springs from your pointing finger. You must make a successful ranged touch attack to hit. Any creature struck by the ray takes 2d6 points of damage per caster level (to a maximum of 40d6). Any creature reduced to 0 or fewer hit points by this spell is entirely disintegrated, leaving behind only a trace of fine dust. A disintegrated creature’s equipment is unaffected.

A creature or object that makes a successful Fortitude save is partially affected, taking only 5d6 points of damage. If this damage reduces the creature or object to 0 or fewer hit points, it is entirely disintegrated.

I think you do have to roll dice.

lord_khaine
2007-06-17, 03:58 PM
he said they were playing in 3.0, disintegrate kills outright there, no damage.
still its not a death effect, since it does not have that descriptor, so death ward wont help save you.

Green Bean
2007-06-17, 03:58 PM
Well, does Disintegrate do damage? You don`t have to roll dice, so it is at least very similar to an instant death effect such as with Finger of Death etc. - in the result.

What are you talking about? The spell does 2d6 per caster level, 5d6 on a successful Fort save. :smallconfused:

Edit: Both simu'd and disproved :smallredface: