Save vs dispelling item boosts is what?

[Wandering_Woodsman]

Hey gang, I'm curiuos about something.

I was hunting in the goblin cave this afternoon, and had my helmet's alignment protection dispelled without even a check done it looked like. What exactly IS the check, and what's the counter?

Granted, my character isn't a mage, but he's a pretty beefy fighter, and the helmet isn't terrible. Not GREAT, but not terrible.

Why does it seem that even a rank amateur in magic of any type just strip the boost off without so much as breaking a sweat?

[chad878262]

Caster level is based on the item, so if you are using a helm with Protection from Alignment (2) 3/day it is being cast as if from a 2nd level mage, thus the DC is 13 (11+Caster Level). Meanwhile, Lesser Dispel is d20 + Caster Level (max +5). Dispel increases the max to + 15 and Greater Dispel has a max of +20. So for your helm Lesser Dispel from a CR5 mob would need to roll an 8 on d20 in order to dispel you. If you are using a wand/potion/item it should show the spell level at which something is cast which then let's you know what it takes to dispel you.

[Wandering_Woodsman]

So, aside from the passive resistances, the helmet (especially if it's been visually modified) is going to be a pretty useless thing in a casting fight? Crap..

[chad878262]

Your best bet in a fight against a caster when you are not a caster:

1. Super high Spell Resistance
2. Super high Saves, especially Fortitude and Will
3. Steadfast Determination
4. Wand of Least Mantle
5. Wand of Lesser Breach
6. HiPS
7. Wands of Death Ward, Prot. f. Alignment, etc.

While the helm is far from useless, it is easily stripped. In a battle against one caster, they can only dispel it so many times, but If you're expecting it to last in an area with many casters it'll likely get stripped.