Elves
2021-09-16, 07:02 PM
Selective AMF is a much-hyped metamagic combo, but on a close reading, it doesn't do everything it's reputed to. It's still useful in some specific cases.
Let's take a look:
[The field] suppresses any spell or magical effect used within, brought into, or cast into the area [and] prevents the functioning of any magic items or spells within its confines.
You can modify an area spell so that it does not affect one designated creature within its area.
Selective Spell doesn't exempt any space from the area of the AMF. The chosen creature, and only the creature, is unaffected by it. But anything that's not part of the creature is still affected.
There are 3 common misinterpretations that have led this combo to be overstated.
1) Some people have assumed that a creature who's unaffected by the AMF could benefit from a spell or magic item that the field is suppressing. But the spell or item is still within the field and is thus being suppressed, so there's no way for the creature to benefit from it. That the creature is personally unaffected by the field doesn't mean they render other items or spells unaffected by it.
2) Some people have imagined the creature's body as being a sort of gap in the AMF. But in the game there are only spaces. No spaces are exempted from the area. It surrounds and permeates the unaffected creature. So yes, items worn by the creature and spells affecting them are still in the field.
You could use archmage's mastery of shaping to exempt a space from the AMF, but that would mean no AMF at all within that space.
3) Some people find it intuitive that targeted spells would count as part of a creature they're affecting, but AFAICT that's not the case. For example, dispel magic lets you target a spell separately from a creature affected by it ("One object, creature, or spell is the target of the dispel magic spell"). The fact that you can target a spell without targeting the creature it's affecting is one clear sign that it isn't part of the creature.
A creature may be subject to a spell, and the spell may affect them, but that doesn't make the spell a part of the creature themselves. It's a magical effect active within the area of the AMF and is thus suppressed.
So what things don't work?
- Magic items worn by the exempted creature aren't part of the creature, so they're still suppressed.
- Spells that affect the exempted creature, whether detrimental or beneficial, aren't part of the creature either, and are likewise suppressed. This is true whether the spell is a targeted spell or an area spell.
- Spells and other magical/supernatural abilities used by the exempted creature are suppressed as normal if used within the area of the field.
What things do work?
- A creature's supernatural special qualities are part of it, so it being unaffected by the field means they aren't suppressed.
- If the exempted creature themselves would normally be suppressed by the AMF (such as an incorporeal creature, a summoned creature, or an intelligent magic item [which counts as a creature of the construct type]), being unaffected by the field means they don't "wink out" or get suppressed.
That brings us to...
Uses of Selective AMF:
- Prevent an incorporeal or summoned creature from winking out within the field.
- Exempt an intelligent magic item (which counts as a creature of the construct type), keeping it functional within the field.
- The big one: let a creature keep its inherent, passive supernatural abilities within the field. For example, a chronotyryn could cast selective AMF and retain its dual actions ability.
---
For a more in-depth look check out this thread by Anthrowhale (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?411392-Selective-Spell-Antimagic-Field-RAW). I came to my interpretation before seeing his thread but agree with him on every point except his question 6 (and could be convinced otherwise).
Peace. ✌️
Let's take a look:
[The field] suppresses any spell or magical effect used within, brought into, or cast into the area [and] prevents the functioning of any magic items or spells within its confines.
You can modify an area spell so that it does not affect one designated creature within its area.
Selective Spell doesn't exempt any space from the area of the AMF. The chosen creature, and only the creature, is unaffected by it. But anything that's not part of the creature is still affected.
There are 3 common misinterpretations that have led this combo to be overstated.
1) Some people have assumed that a creature who's unaffected by the AMF could benefit from a spell or magic item that the field is suppressing. But the spell or item is still within the field and is thus being suppressed, so there's no way for the creature to benefit from it. That the creature is personally unaffected by the field doesn't mean they render other items or spells unaffected by it.
2) Some people have imagined the creature's body as being a sort of gap in the AMF. But in the game there are only spaces. No spaces are exempted from the area. It surrounds and permeates the unaffected creature. So yes, items worn by the creature and spells affecting them are still in the field.
You could use archmage's mastery of shaping to exempt a space from the AMF, but that would mean no AMF at all within that space.
3) Some people find it intuitive that targeted spells would count as part of a creature they're affecting, but AFAICT that's not the case. For example, dispel magic lets you target a spell separately from a creature affected by it ("One object, creature, or spell is the target of the dispel magic spell"). The fact that you can target a spell without targeting the creature it's affecting is one clear sign that it isn't part of the creature.
A creature may be subject to a spell, and the spell may affect them, but that doesn't make the spell a part of the creature themselves. It's a magical effect active within the area of the AMF and is thus suppressed.
So what things don't work?
- Magic items worn by the exempted creature aren't part of the creature, so they're still suppressed.
- Spells that affect the exempted creature, whether detrimental or beneficial, aren't part of the creature either, and are likewise suppressed. This is true whether the spell is a targeted spell or an area spell.
- Spells and other magical/supernatural abilities used by the exempted creature are suppressed as normal if used within the area of the field.
What things do work?
- A creature's supernatural special qualities are part of it, so it being unaffected by the field means they aren't suppressed.
- If the exempted creature themselves would normally be suppressed by the AMF (such as an incorporeal creature, a summoned creature, or an intelligent magic item [which counts as a creature of the construct type]), being unaffected by the field means they don't "wink out" or get suppressed.
That brings us to...
Uses of Selective AMF:
- Prevent an incorporeal or summoned creature from winking out within the field.
- Exempt an intelligent magic item (which counts as a creature of the construct type), keeping it functional within the field.
- The big one: let a creature keep its inherent, passive supernatural abilities within the field. For example, a chronotyryn could cast selective AMF and retain its dual actions ability.
---
For a more in-depth look check out this thread by Anthrowhale (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?411392-Selective-Spell-Antimagic-Field-RAW). I came to my interpretation before seeing his thread but agree with him on every point except his question 6 (and could be convinced otherwise).
Peace. ✌️