Punching through Wind Wall

[Swordguy]

Wind Wall: An invisible vertical curtain of wind appears. It is 2 feet thick and of considerable strength. It is a roaring blast sufficient to blow away any bird smaller than an eagle, or tear papers and similar materials from unsuspecting hands. (A Reflex save allows a creature to maintain its grasp on an object.) Tiny and Small flying creatures cannot pass through the barrier. Loose materials and cloth garments fly upward when caught in a wind wall. Arrows and bolts are deflected upward and miss, while any other normal ranged weapon passing through the wall has a 30% miss chance. (A giant-thrown boulder, a siege engine projectile, and other massive ranged weapons are not affected.) Gases, most gaseous breath weapons, and creatures in gaseous form cannot pass through the wall (although it is no barrier to incorporeal creatures).

So, my players finally ran into a caster using Wind Wall+Fly as a defensive mechanism, and pretty much bounced off. So they're trying to find ways around the spell (bless their black hearts) using alternative thought, rather than rerolling a bunch of casters.

They've come up with 2 options:

1) Phase Arrow (There's an Arcane Archer in the party): At 6th level, an arcane archer can launch an arrow once per day at a target known to her within range, and the arrow travels to the target in a straight path, passing through any nonmagical barrier or wall in its way. (Any magical barrier stops the arrow.) This ability negates cover, concealment, and even armor modifiers, but otherwise the attack is rolled normally.

So, is a Wind Wall considered a magical barrier? I thought so at first, but the spell seemingly creates simple, nonmagical wind that is only magically propelled - the wind itself isn't magical. This introduced other issues as well, such as if it's a magical barrier, than by precedent the Wall of Iron would be as well. In fact, if the simple equation "magic+barrier=magical barrier", then you can drop a Light Spell on a totally mundane wall in front of you and be protected. On the other hand, Wind Wall is Evocation, while most of the "Wall" spells are Conjuration. I can see this one going either way. So, can a phase arrow beat a Wind Wall?



2) Shrink Item on a ballista (and bolts) to crossbow-size, and simply use the shrunken ballista as a heavy crossbow - straight-up. A ballista is simply a mounted HUGE crossbow in the first place. Nothing in the Shrink Item descriptor says the item can't be used while shrunken. Optional bit of cheese: PC gets Wand of Shrink Item. He shrinks the ammo. Fires ammo from shrunken ballista. After firing, uses free action to speak the command word that restores said ammo to its original size (and damage). Shrunken Ballista: does it beat a Wind Wall?

[Keld Denar]

Area Dispel Magic? Certainly available much earlier than freakin Phase Arrow.

Plus, it should be noted that Wind Wall is cylindrical and vertical. Yup, that means it doesn't have a bottom. So, if you can, move up under it and shoot straight up. Not only will it avoid the Wind Wall, but any hits are garunteed to be VERY uncomfortable!

/cast protection from Ninja Eldariel

[Swordguy]

Area Dispel Magic? Certainly available much earlier than freakin Phase Arrow.

Plus, it should be noted that Wind Wall is cylindrical and vertical. Yup, that means it doesn't have a bottom. So, if you can, move up under it and shoot straight up. Not only will it avoid the Wind Wall, but any hits are garunteed to be VERY uncomfortable!

/cast protection from Ninja Eldariel

There is no caster in the party with Dispel Magic. Please leave disparaging commentary about group optimization level at the door.

There IS an Arcane Archer. Thusly, a phase arrow is significantly easier to come by than Dispel Magic.

[Dark_Scary]

Please leave disparaging commentary about group optimization level at the door.

There was no disparaging of optimization. He only said that Dispel Magic is available before a level 11+ ability. He was commenting on the freaking huge level gap between level 5 and level 11+.

[AmberVael]

I'm pretty sure that Wind Wall would count as a magical barrier.

Makes Phase Arrow pretty worthless, really. As a DM, I'd rule that it COULD go through magical walls, just so it would have a use. Up to you, but how often does it really come into play if it can't go through magic barriers? Magic barriers are typically the only ones you can see through (unless you've got special knowledge or perhaps a ring of x-ray vision).

However, though this is also somewhat questionable, if you have an Arcane Archer able to use Phase Arrow, why not go with Seeker Arrow? It swerves around any obstacles, and I do believe Wind Wall could reasonably count for that. What does it matter if he has wind wall up if an arrow arches over it and then goes straight down towards his head?

[Swordguy]

There was no disparaging of optimization. He only said that Dispel Magic is available before a level 11+ ability. He was commenting on the freaking huge level gap between level 5 and level 11+.

Simply pre-empting said commentary, which can be depressingly common around here (see the monk/paladin thread, for example).

However, though this is also somewhat questionable, if you have an Arcane Archer able to use Phase Arrow, why not go with Seeker Arrow?

Hmmm...good point. They didn't note that one, but they should've. I'll mention it to the Archer if it ends up being necessary - I'd like them to think things through on their own as much as possible.

[Talic]

First, wind wall is an Evocation spell with a duration of rounds. It is most certainly a magical effect. The question is, is it a barrier. While not a physical solid, it does list itself to stop arrows. I'd say it qualifies as a barrier to arrows. Incidentally, other Evocation energy barriers that stop things? Wall of Force.

Arrows and bolts are deflected upward and miss, while any other normal ranged weapon passing through the wall has a 30% miss chance.

So... Javelins. Spears. Sling bullets. Thrown Daggers. Pretty much anything that's not an "arrow" or a "bolt" has a 70% shot of punching through the wall.

Also... Magic Missile. Scorching Ray. Orb of X. Other spells that work at range to damage foes.

[Swordguy]

First, wind wall is an Evocation spell with a duration of rounds. It is most certainly a magical effect. The question is, is it a barrier. While not a physical solid, it does list itself to stop arrows. I'd say it qualifies as a barrier to arrows. Incidentally, other Evocation energy barriers that stop things? Wall of Force.

Yeah, I was thinking about that as a precedent. OK - Phase Arrow's off the list.

Now, what about the ballista?

[Keld Denar]

Sorry for suggesting Dispel Magic. I wasn't aware that your group was completely casterless. Might have been helpful if you included that...

Irregardless of whether or not Phase Arrow works or not, its only 1x/day. Archer better be packin some serious heat on that arrow, or chances are its gonna sting the caster a little, but otherwise not really raise a concern. And thats IF the PC picks the right Mirror Image or hits the caster's AC or whatever.

Whats wrong with my idea of just walking under the caster and shooting straight up? Certainly easier than doing the physics to figure out what angle to shoot the arrow at so that the end of the arc intersects with the casters body.

The other alternative is just to walk away. Wind Wall is immobile. So...take all your stuff and just leave. The longest spells are only gonna have a range of ~500-600 feet. Thats....4ish run actions for a 30 move character to get out of the range completely, and they'll be out of range of medium ranged spells after about the 1st round. If the caster chaces them, he'll have to leave his Wind Wall, at which point he'll be vulnerable to Transmute Wizard into Pincushon again. Unless the caster in question is defending a location that the PCs have to get to or some other uncomfortable roleplaying circumstance, just leave. Its still considered "overcoming" the challenge, since conflict was avoided (if caster doesn't chase) or defeated (if the caster chases and leave the protection of Wind Wall and gets promptly shot down).

[Justin B.]

I would make the opposite argument for Phase Arrow. The wind isn't a magical barrier, it's a wind that is redirecting arrows. Phase arrow ceases to make physicaobstructions a problem for the arrow, so it is probably no longer subject to some blowing wind.

[Eldariel]

How about the melee types just fly to him? Surely someone has some gear that enables flight? Also, improvised thrown weapons could work; provided the caster's AC isn't stellar, simply using large enough weapons to penetrate the Wall could work (only 30% miss chance). Surely someone in the party has a golfbag of Javelins?

This is if Keld's plan doesn't work (I'd also like to point out that Seeking Arrow has 1/day limit too so even if both, Phase & Seeking Arrow hit, chances are the caster would still be standing). Of course, if someone has "Profession: Siege Engineer" or "Knowledge: Architecture and Engineering" and the party has at least Giant-level Strength type to act as the engine, they could try to construct an improvised catapult or something.


For what it's worth, I'd allow Phase Arrow to fly through; I've always understood that passage as "Wall of Force or similar effects".

[Swordguy]

Sorry for suggesting Dispel Magic. I wasn't aware that your group was completely casterless. Might have been helpful if you included that...

Well, the point was to do this without resorting to casting FX, via the methods suggested in the OP. I just get tired of "have a caster do it" every time there's a problem on these boards - it's not personal. Just an aggregate irritation.

The group DOES have a caster - he just won't cast Dispel Magic. He worships Mystra, and feels that destroying magical FX is an affront to his goddess (which is a GREAT bit of RP that I'm not about to screw with by forcing him into a situation where he has to break that vow). The guy's playing a wizard, and plays it as a mix between semi-blaster (Fireball, mainly - no Orbs or Rays) and Buffer Of Other People Who Aren't Him.

The point to this whole thing is finding alternative ways through Wind Wall that don't necessarily revolve around throwing magic at it. Yes, I know that both the Arcane Archer and the Shrink Item trick involve magic. That's different.

Whats wrong with my idea of just walking under the caster and shooting straight up? Certainly easier than doing the physics to figure out what angle to shoot the arrow at so that the end of the arc intersects with the casters body.

Nothing wrong with it at all. I'm actually surprised nobody's ever suggested it before when Wind Wall's been brought up.

The other alternative is just to walk away.

So noted. It's just not really possible in this case. Long story (and entirely the PCs fault). But, noted for future reference.

[Talic]

I would make the opposite argument for Phase Arrow. The wind isn't a magical barrier, it's a wind that is redirecting arrows. Phase arrow ceases to make physicaobstructions a problem for the arrow, so it is probably no longer subject to some blowing wind.

You apply too much reasoning to the ability.

An evocation effect that blocks arrows for 1 round/level is an ongoing Magical Effect.

An invisible vertical curtain of wind appears.

Note: It doesn't say "magically accelerates regular wind."

Tiny and Small flying creatures cannot pass through the barrier.

It qualifies as a Barrier.

Magical effect that is a barrier...

Sounds pretty darn cut-and-dry.

[Swordguy]

You apply too much reasoning to the ability.

An evocation effect that blocks arrows for 1 round/level is an ongoing Magical Effect.
Note: It doesn't say "magically accelerates regular wind."
It qualifies as a Barrier.

Magically-created effect that is a barrier...

Sounds pretty darn cut-and-dry.

Just to Devil's Advocate for a sec...

A Wall of Iron is a magically-created effect that is a barrier. Yet once created, it's completely mundane. The iron in and of itself isn't magical, merely the means by which it was created.

"An invisible vertical curtain of wind appears." What's magical about this? Invisibility? You can't see wind anyway. Vertical curtain? Wind Shears do this all the time. The Wind itself? Wind isn't inherently magical. The manner in which it appears is certainly magic, but whether the wind itself - the actual "thing" that makes up the barrier - is magical is up for debate.

(The obvious counter is that this discrepancy is the difference between Evocation and Conjuration - but it's not quite as cut-and-dry as it may seem initially.)

[Keld Denar]

The group DOES have a caster - he just won't cast Dispel Magic. He worships Mystra, and feels that destroying magical FX is an affront to his goddess (which is a GREAT bit of RP that I'm not about to screw with by forcing him into a situation where he has to break that vow). The guy's playing a wizard, and plays it as a mix between semi-blaster (Fireball, mainly - no Orbs or Rays) and Buffer Of Other People Who Aren't Him.

Well, looks like your wizard just had a learning experience. Memorize a Fly spell, or keep a scroll or 3 of Fly lying around, buff a BSF, have him fly THROUGH the WW, and either kill the caster, or chase him out into the open. Dispel magic is only the most obvious solution, but Fly is a great 2nd.

As far as the shrink item thing...Balista bolts don't have fletching. Nor are they likely to have a nock or whatever to be used in a crossbow. While similar, they are not the same. Also, since the mass changes with shrink item, a shrunken balista bolt would have the same mass as a crossbow bolt and thus be impacted by a Wind Wall. Thats like saying you carve a 1:20th scale balista bolt, and it should be able to punch through a WW because its a scaled down balista bolt, not a crossbow bolt. Thats dumb. If it looks like a bolt, has the same weight and areodynamics as a bolt, it'll get pwned by a Wind Wall like a bolt.

And for changing the mass mid flight...either you follow the rules of physics which say that momentum is conserved (MV1 = MV2, when M1 increases to M2, V1 will drop significantly), or you don't and follow the D&D rules. Dismissing a spell is a STANDARD action, not free, even if its just a command word, and you can't take actions out of turn. Thus, the bolt would reach the target before the caster of the shrink item could dismiss the spell mid flight. You couldn't even ready an action, since readied actions happen before the action that triggered them and the bolt would change size in the crossbow before launch.

So yea...the shrink item thing is faught with problems to address from timing to physics to areodynamics and all that.

[Animefunkmaster]

Ok, so we have already concluded that the windwall's wind which is created by magic is a magical barrier. As far as the shrink item goes, if I were DM I would be fine with it (although I may attach another roll, perhaps percentile, for the command word at the right time), since I think it would be fairly cinematic.

I think the implication of the spell isn't just that heavy objects get through windwall (which is the raw) but the force used to propel those objects. Which does bring into question the force being able to propel your de-shrunk balista (which is beyond raw and should be up to the dm).

So all in all, what I am saying is: Shrunken balista de-shrunk does get through the wall via raw. The ability to successfully fire a de-shrunk balista is in the realm of the DM.

Other non magical ways to get through the wall is to: walk through it (assuming they are medium sized), find enough cover to be beyond line of effect and let the wall fade (round per level isn't that long)... or both. Use a towershield as total cover and walk in.

If you don’t have line of effect to your target he is considered to have total cover from you. You can’t make an attack against a target that has total cover.

Then once ready deploy ranged attacks. That should be a simple non-costly, non-magical way to defeat a wind wall +fly

[derfenrirwolv]

Can anyone in the party fly? Windwall doesn't do squat against melee attacks , or someone flying up and grappling the caster. Or climbing the wall and jumping at them. Or Casting enlarge person and having them throw the halfling at them if you have one.

Grappling hook into the wall and tarzan in?

Use the wall against them. Keep broken glass and sand on hand. If they're putting the windwall around themselves, pour the glass and sand into the wall and let it whip up around the caster, it will cause some serious concentration checks at the least.

Standing in the casters square on the ground level works.



And yes, windwall is a barrier. (wind WALL) And yes, its magic. Its evocation in particular, so any idea that its a summoned bit of wind from the elemental plane of air or natural air molecules being blown about are simply spurious.

[AzazelSephiroth]

This in response to the idea of shrinking Ballista and other large weapon types. I have never encountered said event, however it sounds pretty inventive and I would rule that it could work. If the person in question were to shrink the item to normal crossbow size and then fire and free action speak the word to enlarge then- well done party.

on the second note I will mention that it is difficult to activate a swift action after your initial standard action. However if you allow them to say- dispell thier wand's effect as a free action... then I say let them have fun!

Be warned that this precedent could lead to much abusing by your players if you are not careful. Remember that PCs, even the best of them, will use the most dangerous or potential powerful ability they can. And this shrink and enlarge scheme could be a potential breaker later. But hell it would make storming the castle sooooo much easier!

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Simply pre-empting said commentary, which can be depressingly common around here (see the monk/paladin thread, for example).

You mean the thread based around optimization?

Javelins or other thrown weapons work. Flying up and fighting him yourselves also works, if you can make the save to get through. Depending on how high the Wizard is, you may be able to jump him with the right builds.

[Dark_Scary]

1) The Wind is magical because dispel Magic makes the wind disappear. (Well, Wall of Force is immune to Dispel, but is still magic, but whatever.) The wind is ongoing only as long as magic is in play. Wall of Stone/Iron is instantaneous creation magic.

2) People don't do the move under and shoot thing because Wizards operate on Standard actions and Fighters operate on full round attacks, meaning you get one attack per round and he's still at full power. If you have a Scout who uses Greater Many Shot or Travel devotion, they can negate the wind wall (though they have other problems, like not having Wizard be immune to crits/concealed). Alternatively, if you have multiple archers who can take him out, one can stand on one side of the wall, another on the other. Of course, Cylinders are a problem in that they create 3 sides for the mage to run too.

[Talic]

Just to Devil's Advocate for a sec...

A Wall of Iron is a magically-created effect that is a barrier. Yet once created, it's completely mundane. The iron in and of itself isn't magical, merely the means by which it was created.

"An invisible vertical curtain of wind appears." What's magical about this? Invisibility? You can't see wind anyway. Vertical curtain? Wind Shears do this all the time. The Wind itself? Wind isn't inherently magical. The manner in which it appears is certainly magic, but whether the wind itself - the actual "thing" that makes up the barrier - is magical is up for debate.

(The obvious counter is that this discrepancy is the difference between Evocation and Conjuration - but it's not quite as cut-and-dry as it may seem initially.)

Yes, Wall of Iron is mundane after creation. By RAW. Instantaneous Duration conjuration spells are created by magic, but are thereafter normal solid objects, nonmagical in every way.

Spells with durations, however, are sustained and supported by magic. Without the magic, it would not exist. There isn't a much better definition of a magical barrier than "a freakin' barrier that is created and sustained by magic".

[Devils_Advocate]

Shrunken Ballista: does it beat a Wind Wall?

I say yes, because it maintains the same velocity, and thus increases in momentum. However, by RAW, projectiles deal damage based on the size of the weapon that fired them, so they'd need to restore the ballista to regular size first to increase their damage.

The group DOES have a caster - he just won't cast Dispel Magic. He worships Mystra, and feels that destroying magical FX is an affront to his goddess (which is a GREAT bit of RP that I'm not about to screw with by forcing him into a situation where he has to break that vow).

Eh, that all depends. It could come off as awkward and nonsensical if Mystra isn't actually anti-dispelling and her normal followers have no reason to think she is. It depends on the campaign world, really. Sort of like the follower of a god of love and healing independently deciding that his god is pacifist. Might be viable, or might just seem kinda nuts in a setting where violence is so routine that no one really questions its necessity.

[ZeroNumerous]

Bloodstorm Blade turns thrown weapons into melee attacks. A brilliant energy bow might qualify since it ignores physical objects. Soulbow certainly doesn't care about a Wind Wall.

Dismissing a spell is a STANDARD action, not free, even if its just a command word, and you can't take actions out of turn

Readied action to dismiss moments before it flies through the wind wall?

[Talic]

By RAW, arrows have no flight time.

Also, Dispel Magic? I prefer to think of it as smoothing the weave, returning the energy to the source.

[Hawriel]

The wind in the wind wall spell is normal air. Magic is manipulating the air to swirls around in a circle with an uneffected center. Like being in the eye of a hirrecane. Its the physical force of the air that makes it a barrier. Some things dont have the strength/mass to get though (an arrow, or a halfling) while other things do (boulders, or a bear). The the same as crossing a slow stream or a rushing river. Wind Wall is a physical because air is. However it is permeable.

The magical energy is causing the behavior of the air. It does not have any other physical effect. There is no force effect. This is not a 'force wind' spell. Which would be cool a homebew spell. I would rule that a phase arrow would get through with out a problem. If the phase works like wraith form or some other etherial effect.

The spell does say its a wall not a sphere, so getting above or below should bypass it. I wouldnt say the wall is invisiable if its cast on a ground. The wind would kick up leaves and dirt and other light debris. The uper limits of the wall could be deduced in a few rounds of observation. If the wind wall is centered on a flying target you could run underneath.

The balista.

I see what your saying but is a balista available? They are rather big and you need to transport them dissasembled in a wagon. Would it be better to cast enlarge on a heavy crossbow? Or cast enlarge on a large rock and throw that. Cast enlarge on the fighter and have him charge. Use earth or plant based magic to attack the wind walled mage from below. The party I was in afew months ago used wind wall. The NPC where humans and orcs they charged through it. The halfing party member was caught in the wall and flung 30 yards away.

[Leon]

(and entirely the PCs fault).

That is frequently the case

[Haven]

The wind in the wind wall spell is normal air. Magic is manipulating the air to swirls around in a circle with an uneffected center. Like being in the eye of a hirrecane. Its the physical force of the air that makes it a barrier. Some things dont have the strength/mass to get though (an arrow, or a halfling) while other things do (boulders, or a bear). The the same as crossing a slow stream or a rushing river. Wind Wall is a physical because air is. However it is permeable.

The magical energy is causing the behavior of the air. It does not have any other physical effect. There is no force effect. This is not a 'force wind' spell. Which would be cool a homebew spell. I would rule that a phase arrow would get through with out a problem. If the phase works like wraith form or some other etherial effect.

I disagree; it's like Fireball, actually evoking the element, rather than just stirring it up.

[Swordguy]

By RAW, arrows have no flight time.

Also, Dispel Magic? I prefer to think of it as smoothing the weave, returning the energy to the source.

Actually, by RAW, it doesn't say one way or the other.

The balista.

I see what your saying but is a balista available? They are rather big and you need to transport them dissasembled in a wagon. Would it be better to cast enlarge on a heavy crossbow?

The Shrink Item spell can be permenancied. Also, we've got one RAWtard in our group - so we have to split legal hairs here. Regardless of the size of the weapon, a ballista bolt will penetrate a Wind Wall, while a crossbow bolt won't - by RAW. This is why we can't just enlarge a crossbow or something. The fact that a shrunken ballista is, essentially, identical to a regular crossbow is simply coincidence.

Convenience. Sorry - I'm going off caffeine this week and not thinking entirely straight.

[Another_Poet]

1) Phase Arrow (There's an Arcane Archer in the party): At 6th level, an arcane archer can launch an arrow once per day at a target known to her within range, and the arrow travels to the target in a straight path, passing through any nonmagical barrier or wall in its way. (Any magical barrier stops the arrow.) This ability negates cover, concealment, and even armor modifiers, but otherwise the attack is rolled normally.

So, is a Wind Wall considered a magical barrier? I thought so at first, but the spell seemingly creates simple, nonmagical wind that is only magically propelled - the wind itself isn't magical. This introduced other issues as well, such as if it's a magical barrier, than by precedent the Wall of Iron would be as well. In fact, if the simple equation "magic+barrier=magical barrier", then you can drop a Light Spell on a totally mundane wall in front of you and be protected. On the other hand, Wind Wall is Evocation, while most of the "Wall" spells are Conjuration. I can see this one going either way. So, can a phase arrow beat a Wind Wall?

I think the school of magic answers the question. Conjuration brings something into existence, which may have mundane non-magical properties. Evocation brings something magical into existence. In my mind, since the air in the wind wall couldn't possibly hold wall form on its own, there is a wall of magic in place. A wall of iron can hold wall form on its own, and the magic is gone the second it is created.

So no, I don't think Phase Arrow can strike through wind wall.

2) Shrink Item on a ballista (and bolts) to crossbow-size, and simply use the shrunken ballista as a heavy crossbow - straight-up.

Not so simple. Remember a ballista doesn't have a trigger like a crossbow nor is it shaped such to be braced against the shoulder and fired. That means that, as per the DMG you'll need to make skill checks to get the thing loaded, aimed and fired (I forget the exact skill, check your DMG, it's something like profession (siege engine) or something that.)

Now on top of the usual skill checks, you've now shrunk the ballista's hand-holds, loading mechanisms etc and you're trying to operate these miniature controls with your normal fingers. I think that'll raise the DC. Plus you're not able to aim properly, -4 to attack for non-proficiency.

The moral of the story is just use it full-size. As long as you're buying a ballista, hire a crew of three trained ballistamen to operate it for you. If it's important to shrink it down, shrink them too so that there's no question of whether it can be operated.

Of course, if your non-mage PCs can somehow get a hold of the magic to shrink ballistas, they can surely get a hold of the magic to dispel wind walls. Or, you know, just strap rocks to their feet and walk through.

ap

[CheshireCatAW]

Wind Wall:

I believe it would have to be composed of magical air. We treat Fireball's burst as magical fire, right? Therefore we should probably treat the Wind Wall's wind the same way. The individual "strands" of magical wind compose themselves into a coherent barrier for the intents and purposes of this topic, so it would probably be considered a magical barrier. Now, if all that the spell did was make huge fans at foot level that blew wind up, the story might be different, but to the best of my knowledge there's no indication that the spell does that effect, while there's every indication that the spell actually creates and sustains the wind.

A possible solution, how about counterspelling? Now, I've never played a wizard before (to my shame, I know, but I'm just more of a Rogue), but would this be feasable? It wouldn't be destroying magic per say, more like a "duel" of magic, which might seem more attractive to your wizard.

Crossbow/Ballista:

A ballista is "basically" a large crossbow, but not quite. I very, very vaguely remember some rules for large creatures using them as crossbows in Heroes of Battle, but I'm away from my books right now. If that is the case, you might have precedent to shrink and use them as a crossbow. If that is the case, then it would not penetrate the wind wall because you would be using it as a crossbow and not a ballista.

I hope that helped, and kudos to your wizard for choosing roleplay over convenience. Although I agree Mystra probably doesn't mind dispell magic, as in real world religions, it's ultimately up to the worshipper to choose what is significant to them.