High level Enchantment

[El'the Ellie]

The game I'm in is starting to get fairly high level, where in a few levels I should probably anticipate some enemies protecting against Enchantment(Compulsion) effects. As I am enchanter who has spent a lot of resources improving save DC's, what should I do to ensure my dominate person's and hold monster's still have a chance in a fight?

I realize any given spell has a low chance of working (many enemies have high save bonuses), but I'm mostly on the lookout for things that just grant outright immunity to Enchantment(Compulsion) effects. The big ones I can see coming are Protection from Good/Chaos (my character is chaotic good) and Mind Blank.

Considerations:
More or less all official 3.5 access is on the table, but for IC reasons psionic abilities are extremely hard to come by. (and consequently, very few enemies will be psionic)
I have bard/Sublime Chord/druid casting, and a respectable UMD (+19, with room to grow)
I have a large (+30) bluff, and potentially access to Voice of the Dragon/Glibness. Can the epic usage to Display False Alignment be used to fool Protection from X effects?
I will usually be below these opponents in caster level, which makes straight dispel checks difficult but not impossible, especially with something to buff it.
I concede that there are some enemies (plants, constructs, undead, etc) that I just won't be able to effect. The party meat grinder can take care of those.

My question is two parts:
1. What spells/abilities should I be on the lookout for countering?
2. What are the best ways of removing these abilities from my opponents so my Enchantment Effects will work?

Thank you!

[RatElemental]

Protection from evil and law will both also stop your mind control, they don't need specifically protection against your alignment. That said, if all you're worried about are buff spells that block your charms, both bard and druid get dispel magic and greater dispel magic. Knocking out all the bad guy's buffs is useful in and of itself and then opens them up for you next turn.

[El'the Ellie]

Protection from evil and law will both also stop your mind control, they don't need specifically protection against your alignment.

Ah, so it does! That strikes me as a bit strange, but oh well.

Dispel Magic (& GDM) is 1d20+spell level versus 11+spell level. As it is, I'm probably going to be lagging a bit behind caster level, so what are the best ways to boost dispel check? Currently all I have is Song of Arcane Power to reliably give a +4 to caster level, and plans to buy a dispelling cord.

[Jack_Simth]

Practiced Spellcaster and an Orange Prism Ioun Stone will help.

[Khedrac]

Ah, so it does! That strikes me as a bit strange, but oh well.

Dispel Magic (& GDM) is 1d20+spell level versus 11+spell level. As it is, I'm probably going to be lagging a bit behind caster level, so what are the best ways to boost dispel check? Currently all I have is Song of Arcane Power to reliably give a +4 to caster level, and plans to buy a dispelling cord.

Umm, no - Dispel Magic is 1d20+caster level capped at 30 versus 11+caster level.
This is critical beause it means that as spell cast by a 20th level caster cannot be affected by dispel magic (usually - there are a few exceptions).
Break enchantment raises the cap to 15 and greater dispel magic raises the cap to 20.

Because caster level is quite easy to raise (especially at higher levels) dispel magic itself quickly becomes a waste of a spell-slot, and you need to use the more powerful version.

Oh yes, the exceptions:
Dispel magic automatically succeeds against the caster's own spells.
There are a few things that boost opposed checks and/or dispel checks, such as a Church Inquisitor's class ability, because these boost the check not the caster level they apply after the cap.

Edit: other options:
A ring of enduring arcana (Complete Mage) adds 4 to caster level to resist dispels

[El'the Ellie]

Umm, no - Dispel Magic is 1d20+caster level capped at 30 versus 11+caster level.

My mistake, I meant caster level for both instances.

Oof, 30k and a feat are steep costs, but it makes sense I suppose.

[Malroth]

Mother Cyst feat adds necromancy spells that can control those otherwise Immune to mind affecting spells. Also having Dominated stone giant cast Greatsword at something is also useful at high levels.

[Biggus]

Boosting dispel checks:

Items

Strand of Prayer Beads: Bead of Karma +4 (DMG)
Ankh of Ascension +4 (MiC)
Ring of Arcane Might +1 (MiC)

Spells

Hymn of Praise +2 (SpC)
Mystic Surge +1 (PHB2)
Spell Enhancer +2 (SpC)
Create Magic Tattoo +1 (SpC)

Feats

Arcane Thesis +2 (PHB2)
Elven Spell Lore +2 (PHB2)

[Khedrac]

As I said, boosting cater level often doesn't boost your dispel check due to caps, though yes, all of these help resist dispels...

Boosting dispel checks:

Items

Strand of Prayer Beads: Bead of Karma +4 (DMG)
Ankh of Ascension +4 (MiC)
Ring of Arcane Might +1 (MiC)

Spells

Hymn of Praise +2 (SpC)
Mystic Surge +1 (PHB2)
Spell Enhancer +2 (SpC)
Create Magic Tattoo +1 (SpC)

Feats

Arcane Thesis +2 (PHB2)
Elven Spell Lore +2 (PHB2)
All of these suggestions boost caster level rather than the actual dispel check. I know there are some things out there that boost opposed checks and the like (which work better), but I don't remember details.

[Asmotherion]

in a high level game do expect every important NPC and Enemy to be protected by Enchantment due to how easy it is to do so.

That said there is a way around it with preparation. Research a useful monster (earlier a strong humanoid NPC-probably with class levels) that may exist in the area (and that's not probably to be imune to the enchantment school); Find it; Dominate it. Rince-Repeat to get a reliable army.

The Dominate Line of spells has an amazing duration wich is more than enough to amass a secondary party to fight for you (and then some).

[El'the Ellie]

in a high level game do expect every important NPC and Enemy to be protected by Enchantment due to how easy it is to do so.

That said there is a way around it with preparation. Research an useful monster (earlier a strong humanoid NPC-probably with class levels) that may exist in the area (and that's not probably to be imune to the enchantment school); Find it; Dominate it. Rince-Repeat to get a reliable army.

The Dominate Line of spells has an amazing duration wich is more than enough to amass a secondary party to fight for you (and then some).

To this end, can you force a dominated creature to willingly fail a saving throw? And in effect, keep them dominated forever (barring any outside influence)?

[sleepyphoenixx]

As I said, boosting cater level often doesn't boost your dispel check due to caps, though yes, all of these help resist dispels...

All of these suggestions boost caster level rather than the actual dispel check. I know there are some things out there that boost opposed checks and the like (which work better), but I don't remember details.
Spellcaster's Bane (CM), the Inquisition domain (CD), The Paragnostic Apostle's Penetrating Insight ability, the Elven Spell Lore feat (PHB2) the abjurer Minor School Esoterica of Master Specialist and the Dispelling Chord (MIC) all increase dispel checks directly.
Also honorable mention for Arcane Mastery (CA) for letting you take 10 on your offensive dispel checks.

[Asmotherion]

To this end, can you force a dominated creature to willingly fail a saving throw? And in effect, keep them dominated forever (barring any outside influence)?

You can boost the save it requires (high caster stat/heighten spell/earth spell). You can debuff it's Will save to more reliably affect it (my go to is summon a bunsh of Alips via summon undead but bestow curse functions just as well). And you need a reliable way to overcome SR (True Casting+Assay Spell Resistance).

Also there seems to be no problem with re-casting Dominate on something on the last day to effectively have it undefinitelly under your control. The same applies if your dominated subject gets free some other way (succed on will save or dispelled). Just have a bunsh copies of the spell prepared for that reason.

[Jack_Simth]

To this end, can you force a dominated creature to willingly fail a saving throw? And in effect, keep them dominated forever (barring any outside influence)?

I would consider that an obviously suicidal order, so no. Wouldn't you argue that if your pc was given that order while dominated?

[Biggus]

As I said, boosting cater level often doesn't boost your dispel check due to caps, though yes, all of these help resist dispels...

All of these suggestions boost caster level rather than the actual dispel check. I know there are some things out there that boost opposed checks and the like (which work better), but I don't remember details.

This is true, but...


Spellcaster's Bane (CM), the Inquisition domain (CD), The Paragnostic Apostle's Penetrating Insight ability, the Elven Spell Lore feat (PHB2) the abjurer Minor School Esoterica of Master Specialist and the Dispelling Chord (MIC) all increase dispel checks directly.
Also honorable mention for Arcane Mastery (CA) for letting you take 10 on your offensive dispel checks.

1) Spellcaster's Bane and Master Specialist aren't available to a Bard/ SC/ Druid. Paragnostic Apostle only advances casting in one class so isn't going to fit well into a theurge build. I already mentioned Elven Spell Lore and El already mentioned Dispelling Cord (the Inquisition domain is accessible via the Planar Touchstone feat, and fair point about Arcane Mastery though).

2) All of the things I listed are available to someone with that build.

3) Chain Dispel (PHB2) has a CL cap of 25.

[Anthrowhale]

You might consider taking 'Song of the Dead' so your enchantments work directly on undead.

[Asmotherion]

You might consider taking 'Song of the Dead' so your enchantments work directly on undead.

A very good suggestion. Just do note that Song of the Dead spells count as Necromancy spells and not enchantment (wich could affect your build).