Mind blank

[Dapher]

I was poking around today on FK, testing out a few buffers. One of them was Mind blank. I checked my resistances before and after, I also checked my savings throws before and after. There was no difference at all. I am not sure if Mind blank is not working, or if it is just not showing up. It is giving me: Affected: Mind blank for a very long time
But nothing else shows up.

Mind Blank
==========
Abjuration
Range: Close
Target: Noncombat
Syntax: cast 'mind blank' target

This spell makes the target more resistant to all mind attacks as well as
invasions of their mind. This spell can be cast on others. This spell also
makes you immune to several mind-affecting spells.

This spell cannot be cast by a transmuter

That is what the help file says.

[Raona]

I think this is just a case of it showing up only as an affect, it does seem to work. Well, my testing consisted of casting color spray on a PC before and after they were affected with mind blank...before it had a chance of working, after it did not. I suspect it blocks all spells from the illusion sphere? That may not be enough, it should also block some forms of scrying, like magic mirror, methinks, but it did not seem to do so. Anyone have any insights/suggestions here? What do you want to see happen?

[Selveem]

When I get home I'll try to remember to do some research on this to see which of our spells this would help with.

I don't think it blocks psionic attacks currently (though, those may be an mprog for the Illithids in Underdark Wilderness area).

[Duranamir]

From personal experience i am pretty sure it does work, espeially in the case of attacks like phantasmal killer, weird etc, however i am not sure what else (if anything) it effects, for example the enchantment irresistable dance is listed as mind affecting and should probably be blocked.

From the SRD it should block scrying and detection in a big way as well.

Duranamir

[Keltorn]

Mind Blank
Abjuration
Level: Protection 8, Sor/Wiz 8
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 24 hours
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
The subject is protected from all devices and spells that detect, influence, or read emotions or thoughts. This spell protects against all mind-affecting spells and effects as well as information gathering by divination spells or effects. Mind blank even foils limited wish, miracle, and wish spells when they are used in such a way as to affect the subject's mind or to gain information about it. In the case of scrying that scans an area the creature is in, such as arcane eye, the spell works but the creature simply isn't detected. Scrying attempts that are targeted specifically at the subject do not work at all.

That should help.

Anyone have any insights/suggestions here? What do you want to see happen?

The spell's canon form is pretty straightforward. The spells to watch out for are the ones like Arcane Eye (the spell works, but cannot see/hear the Mind Blanked individual) and Locate Object (should we mask the person as "someone" or just prevent their items from being located?).

I also recall Mind Blank's helpfile previously saying it sometimes blocked TELLs since they are, after all, mental intrusions and the spell isn't capable of discriminating between harmful and benign effects. While this isn't necessary to the functionality of the spell, I thought it sounded like a fun little side effect. So, in response to "What do you want to see happen," I'd like to see it blocking TELLs, either partially (a percent chance) or completely. The person sending the TELLs should get an echo telling them it failed (the same one as with TELLing sleeping characters?) so that they don't think the TELLs are going through and they're being ignored.

[Bellayana]

Could it be possible to have the mindblank spell give a character the (nondetection) flag for the duration of the spell?

[Selveem]

Could it be possible to have the mindblank spell give a character the (nondetection) flag for the duration of the spell?

I disagree with this. When you're scrying someone, you aren't peering into their mind or anything of that nature. Additionally, you can scry a specific object which happens to be on a person. Mental barriers would protect neither.