Antimagic Shell and Spell Resistance

[Grenwyn]

Currently Antimagic Shell seems to bestow a very low Spell Resistance, if I'm understanding the way it works correctly.

From d20srd.org:

To affect a creature that has spell resistance, a spellcaster must make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) at least equal to the creature’s spell resistance.

Right now, at apprentice skill level, the spell is granting me about 18 spell resistance, which means about 50% of the time I would be unaffected by a level 8 character's spells. Against any character over level 17, Antimagic Shell would be useless.

Antimagic Shell seems to be the equivalent of Antimagic Field (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/antimagicField.htm), but I'm assuming it confers straight-up spell resistance due to the game mechanics. (?) In that case, since it is a higher-level spell than Spell Resistance, it seems like it should confer at least the same level of spell resistance as the spell:

The creature gains spell resistance equal to 12 + your caster level.

Thoughts, or am I misunderstanding how this is intended to work?

[Orplar]

I have been curious about this as well. Would be useful with those pesky drow! This would raise questions on spell penetration as well

[Nylo]

I will add that an SRD level equals 2.5 of our levels. But the resistance spells, as they are, are indeed generally useless unless GM or nearly so. I'd definitely like to see that changed.

[Solaghar]

Caster level in code terms is not the level of the caster in terms of the game, like the level you see on your score sheet, but rather a factor we take whereby we translate the MUD-level into a true D&D level. So our level 50 = caster level 20. Thus, for the most powerful mages it's not going to put much of a dent in them, but for most lower-level casters and mobs it will definitely stop a bunch. I know that's a little bit confusing but it works out in the code, we've had to do this for a lot of things to make it work according to the D20 rules.

[Grenwyn]

Caster level in code terms is not the level of the caster in terms of the game, like the level you see on your score sheet, but rather a factor we take whereby we translate the MUD-level into a true D&D level. So our level 50 = caster level 20. Thus, for the most powerful mages it's not going to put much of a dent in them, but for most lower-level casters and mobs it will definitely stop a bunch. I know that's a little bit confusing but it works out in the code, we've had to do this for a lot of things to make it work according to the D20 rules.

So, if I'm following you correctly, a spell resistance of 18 would stop about 50% of the spells from a level 20 (8 * 2.5) character, and none from a level 43 (17*2.5) character. Right?

And since the helpfile says the spell resistance increases with spell mastery, at GM I'm guessing it would add up to 32 total spell resistance (20+12), which would block 60% of the spells from a level 50 character.

Am I understanding this bit correctly?

[Areia]

I've been curious about this for a while now, and thought I'd ask and see if maybe someone familiar with how the FK spell works might be able to shed some light here.

Caster level in code terms is not the level of the caster in terms of the game, like the level you see on your score sheet, but rather a factor we take whereby we translate the MUD-level into a true D&D level. So our level 50 = caster level 20.

I'm largely assuming that this is correct and no changes have been made since the post, but...

Currently my antimagic shell grants 20 SR. If a level 50 wizard/cleric/etc. on FK has a 20 caster level, my SR as it is now shouldn't be able to block any spells at all, I think? Since overcoming SR is a d20+CL, DC = SR. That's a minimum 21 on the cl check and so an automatic success for a level 50 caster.

But my antimagic shell does indeed prevent spells cast by PCs I know to be 50th level from affecting me, and a fair percentage of them, at that.

It's ultimately largely unimportant. I'm going to continue using the spell regularly regardless. But my curiosity has finally gotten the better of me, lol. So, does anyone know how this works and would be willing to share? Very possibly I'm just misunderstanding something?

Thanks!

[Yemin]

I don't think the number reported is accurate to judging the effectiveness of the spell.

Mine has reported 20 for about 6 months but I've barely resisted any spells outright that I remember from PCs and NPCs alike.

The game usually gives me the echo that results in when you naturally resist a spell without it.