SCs and Personal Buffs - A New Idea

[Chris Byler]

On one of the many VQ threads Norfleet (a frequent VQ user himself) posted that the VQ was a weak fighter without her personal buffs. Other SCs can be effective with equipment, but are more effective with equipment plus Invulnerability, Soul Vortex, Mistform and Fire Shield (for example).

So here's my idea: a battlefield Dispel that removes spell effects from one square (both cloud-type effects, and spell effects on units in the square). Thematically it should be astral and probably Thaumaturgy. I'd prefer for it to be not too high level, and in order to be useful against SCs, it needs to be PREC 100 with no MR save.

Spell effects from items possibly wouldn't be affected (but there are some effects that are difficult or impossible to obtain from items; items always cost gems; and everything has some limitations on item slots). Or it could remove the effect, but not affect the item - so the owner still gets it in his next battle. Whichever is easier to implement.

It should be somewhat costly so it isn't cost effective to use against the garden variety mage casting one Air Shield or Body Ethereal to protect himself, but is good against a unit casting 3+ personal spells. Something like astral 2, 80- fatigue and no required gem cost would probably work. Few mages will be repeat-casting that without gems, communion or Relief.

Instant spells, like most evocations, wouldn't be affected by dispel; it also wouldn't harm summons (there is already a spell that does that). Blessing would not be dispelled, only spell effects from the 8 magic paths.

A more radical proposal is a battlefield spell that dispels *all* spells currently on the battlefield (yours and the enemy's), including battlefield enchantments like Storm; but this should be higher level (both research and power requirement) and cost gems, since it would primarily be used to remove spells that cost gems.


I know Illwinter likes to add new spells to the game, and I prefer adding new tools to counter things that are too powerful, rather than a direct nerf. So I think this fix is better than some others that have been floated.