Nytemare's PHB Rewrites: Spell Resistance

[Nytemare3701]

SR is a binary mechanic that is easily ignored in most cases. Time to fix that.

Clarification: This is an ADDITION to existing SR rules that adds new options for character possessing SR.

Caveat: Since I'm not trying to rewrite massive amounts of splatbook content, the fix has to work using existing SR values.

The Fix:

Much like BAB, SR will become a type of secondary stat, with feats keyed off of it to take advantage of your ability to resist magical influence. This means (with enough investment) SR can grant:

• Bonuses to saves
• DR vs spell damage
• A personal Dispel magic effect, similar to iron heart surge

Example Feats:

Spell Resistant [Spell Resistance]
You are less likely to be affected by certain spells.
Benefits:
•SR X: You gain a bonus to saving throws vs magic equal to 1/10th your SR
•SR Y: Your bonus improves to 1/5th your SR.
•SR Z: You may roll twice on saving throws vs magic, taking the roll of your choice.


Spellshielded [Spell Resistance]
You are especially resistant to a specific energy type.
Benefits:
•SR X: Choose an energy type. You gain a resistance to that energy type equal to 1/4 your SR.
•SR Y: Your energy resistance improves to 1/2 your SR.
•SR Z: Your energy resistance is equal to your SR.
Special: You may take this feat multiple times, with each one applying to a different energy type

Shake it off [Spell Resistance]
You take a moment to internalize your Spell Resistance to shake off a specific effect.
Benefits:
•SR X: You may make a dispel check (d20 + [SR - 10]) as an immediate action against a spell that is targeting you (such as charm person). If you succeed then you are immune to the ongoing effects of that spell for its duration.
•SR Y: You may make a dispel check (d20 + [SR - 10]) as an immediate action against an ongoing spell effect that is affecting you (such as a cloudkill). If you succeed you become immune to the effects of the spell for its duration.
•SR Z: You may make a dispel check (d20 + [SR - 10]) as a free action action against an ongoing spell effect (such as a forcecage) 1/Day for every 5 you surpass SR Z. If you succeed you are immune to the effects of the spell (meaning you can walk through the forcecage)

[RobbyPants]

Well, it looks like you're trying to nerf the hell out of SR with these changes.  In addition to making it weaker, it looks like it also takes a feat to get a small set of abilities.  This approach does have the benefit of making Conjuration less uber.

That being said, I'm not sure that Spell Resistant should apply to just one school.  The benefit is actually quite small, and if people can just switch which school they're casting, the feat will be useless.  Also, there are lots of spells that don't offer a save, and touch spells will totally bypass this.  You may want the bonus to apply to touch AC as well.

Spellshielded is also pretty weak for the most part.  I'd suggest either increasing the amount of energy resistance, or having it apply across the board to all types of energy at the values you've listed.  Remember, this costs a feat to use, and it's still a nerf to SR as it's written.

As for the math on Shake it Off, simply use d20 + (SR - 10) against the caster's caster level check or have the caster make a caster level check against your static SR.  I mean, that's now a normal dispel check works, and SR is already designed to oppose CL anyway.  You just choose the first approach if you like opposed rolls.  If you use the second approach, it's basically the same as how SR works now, except that it takes an immediate action to use.

[Nytemare3701]

Thanks for the insight. I've never had SR come up in my games, as we avoid SR spells like the plague. This was meant as an addition to the current SR. I'll clarify that. In this case the binary system is still there, but now you have options to use WITH it.

[RobbyPants]

Oh.  I thought you were replacing it.  That might change things then...

[Nytemare3701]

Oh.  I thought you were replacing it.  That might change things then...

Yeah, SR is the AC for spells. I just thought we needed a boost for saves, as well as a "DR" and a "Parry"

[RobbyPants]

Well, before you on improving SR, how do you plan to handle all the "SR: No" spells (like 90% of Conjuration)?  Would those feats apply to SR: No spells anyway?  If not, then people will just pick spells that bypass SR unless they can't, and this won't change much, anyway.  As the system stands currently, people only pick SR: Yes spells when they have to or when it doesn't matter (buffs, utility, etc).

[Nytemare3701]

Well, before you on improving SR, how do you plan to handle all the "SR: No" spells (like 90% of Conjuration)?  Would those feats apply to SR: No spells anyway?  If not, then people will just pick spells that bypass SR unless they can't, and this won't change much, anyway.  As the system stands currently, people only pick SR: Yes spells when they have to or when it doesn't matter (buffs, utility, etc).

These feats add bonuses to people that have SR and can be used regardless of the y/n status of the spells. I'm trying to give people a use for SR that isn't SR:Yes spells.

[RobbyPants]

That makes sense.  You'll probably want Spell Resistant to grant a bonus to touch AC against spells too, otherwise touch spells will be the default for dealing with SR.  I guess you'll still have stuff to deal with like Solid Fog, but you could possibly extend Shake it Off to work on spell-generated effects that aren't specifically targeting you.

[Aliment]

Gotta go with SR Y.  It provides a good number of benefits if you take the feats. But it shouldn't be school or energy specific, otherwise its not worth the feat cost.

[Prime32]

For Spell Resistance I use:

Reduce caster level of spells cast against you by (SR - 10), negating them if they reach CL0. In addition, reduce the spell's effective level by half this amount, negating it if it reaches a negative amount. If the spell would not allow Spell Resistance, halve the reductions.

For instance, SR18 would reduce caster level by 8 and spell level by 4. Against a spell which does not allow spell resistance it reduces caster level by 4 and spell level by 2.

[Bozwevial]

So where does that leave Spell Penetration and the like?

[Prime32]

So where does that leave Spell Penetration and the like?

If that was in response to me: Ignores 2 points of Spell Resistance.

[RobbyPants]

Of course, for stuff like Enervation, if you can keep your CL at at least 1, it still works at full power, albeit at a reduced range.

[Nytemare3701]

For Spell Resistance I use:

Reduce caster level of spells cast against you by (SR - 10), negating them if they reach CL0. In addition, reduce the spell's effective level by half this amount, negating it if it reaches a negative amount. If the spell would not allow Spell Resistance, halve the reductions.

For instance, SR18 would reduce caster level by 8 and spell level by 4. Against a spell which does not allow spell resistance it reduces caster level by 4 and spell level by 2.

I like this. It might be a little too powerful for basic SR, but if you remove the "No=Half" part it would make a good core mechanic replacement for SR.