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From: djb@cbosgd.UUCP (David J. Bryant)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: d and d dispel magic
Message-ID: <450@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 18-Oct-83 23:29:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.450
Posted: Tue Oct 18 23:29:58 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 20-Oct-83 04:51:49 EDT
References: <253@kpno.UUCP>, <807@inuxc.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 19

Allowing dispel magic to work on any and all spells/items operating in
a general area makes it far too powerful a spell.  Imagine casting
dispel magic at a large party loaded with magic items and
spell-enhanced too.  Wham, one roll of the old percentile dice and
you've sterilized the entire group.  We allow a single dispel magic to
be cast against a specified item ("dispel magic on the door"), or
better yet, a specific spell operating in the area or on the object
("dispel the protection from good on the throne", or "dispel the
continual darkness in this room").  Further, an item enchanted with
three separate spells takes three dispel magic spells to be completely
de-magicked.  If the caster doesn't know how many spells are in
operation, then the DM can select one of them randomly.  Clearly this
spell must be adjudicated with care, and must be applied reasonably
(and hopefully consistantly).  Remember, in many cases the DM can
decide at what level the magic was cast onto the item/area, thereby
adjusting the chance for success.

	David Bryant   Bell Labs   Columbus, OH   (614) 860-4516
	(cbosg!djb)