This is an article in the continuing series, “Fun with Magic”, where I examine spells from the D20 System Reference Document, which corresponds to spells from the Player’s Handbook v. 3.5. These spells are in almost every campaign and form the foundation of spells used in Yön. Each article demonstrates strengths and weaknesses of a particular spell and some unique applications for each, to the limit of the author’s imagination, such as it is.
Antipathy
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Drd 9, Sor/Wiz 8
Components: V, S, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One location (up to a 10-ft. cube/level) or one object
Duration: 2 hours/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will partial
Spell Resistance: Yes
You cause an object or location to emanate magical vibrations that repel either a specific kind of intelligent creature or creatures of a particular alignment, as defined by you. The kind of creature to be affected must be named specifically. A creature subtype is not specific enough. Likewise, the specific alignment to be repelled must be named.
Creatures of the designated kind or alignment feel an overpowering urge to leave the area or to avoid the affected item.
A compulsion forces them to abandon the area or item, shunning it and never willingly returning to it while the spell is in effect. A creature that makes a successful saving throw can stay in the area or touch the item but feels uncomfortable doing so. This distracting discomfort reduces the creature’s Dexterity score by 4 points.
Antipathy counters and dispels sympathy.
Arcane Material Component: A lump of alum soaked in vinegar.
This spell used to be more powerful in earlier editions, but has been nerfed since then. Still, against powerful creatures, you can use it to drive them away from a room you are in or at least knock four points off their Dexterity if they stay and fight. This will reduce their Armor Class, ranged attacks and Reflex saves by two, so it might make the fight against them easier. It’s a good spell to use against dragons by casting it on the area where their treasure is and fighting them there. Few dragons are going to completely abandon their treasure, so If they fail the save, they can’t melee you around their treasure or even approach it, and some lower-level energy resistance spells will ward off their breath weapons. If they make the save, their Reflex saves will suffer a bit as will their Armor Class, especially their touch AC, so splash weapons, touch spells and Reflex save spells will have a greater effect on them.