Exploring the Core Characteristics of a Wiccan Practitioner

Wicca is a modern pagan, witchcraft religion that was developed in England in the mid-20th century. It draws inspiration from pre-Christian Celtic beliefs and practices, as well as influences from various other spiritual traditions. Wiccans celebrate and honor the cycles of nature and believe in the interconnectedness of all living things. While there is no one-size-fits-all definition of a Wiccan, there are certain traits and beliefs that are commonly associated with this path. One of the main tenets of Wicca is the belief in a divine presence that is immanent in nature. Wiccans see the divine as both masculine and feminine, often represented by a Horned God and a Triple Goddess.

Before discussing the "trick" itself - since you're bringing up both dispel versions it's helpful to spell out what the differences between them are.

Assuming an enemy spellcaster of equal level tries to target him with an area dispel, making a 1d20 5 dispel check against DC 16, the chances for the spellcaster to not dispel any of the 22 Arcane Marks is 0. Okay, some rule changes aside it seems similar enough your sacrifice is either dispelled then it worked, at least for normal Dispel Magic or not, in which case the process continues.

Wiccans see the divine as both masculine and feminine, often represented by a Horned God and a Triple Goddess. They believe that this divine energy can be accessed and channeled through various rituals and practices. Wiccans often celebrate the cycles of the moon and the seasons, with special emphasis on the eight Sabbats or holidays that mark important points in the solar year.

Thread: Dispel Magic and "sacrificial" buffs

Recently, I've seen suggestions to protect one's buffs by essentially using other buffs as sacrifices. So I've been trying to wrap my head around it, but I either don't get it or misunderstand dispelling.
(Also, sorry for being unable to provide examples, but I currently can't post links due to an abysmally low post count, yay. A very recent version would be post #4 in Braininthejar2's
"protecting buffs from dispel".)

[edit] Yeah well, might quote, even though I can't link at this moment. Silly me.

You can 'dilute the pool' so to speak by placing worthless, but long term spells on the buff target.

Arcane Mark is a great example; its even better if you can get a few Arcane Marks to be just one caster level higher than other buffs on the target, as Dispel targets highest caster level spell first.

Now, going by the SRD the 3.5 version says

One object, creature, or spell is the target of the dispel magic spell. You make a dispel check (1d20 + your caster level, maximum +10) against the spell or against each ongoing spell currently in effect on the object or creature. The DC for this dispel check is 11 + the spell�s caster level. If you succeed on a particular check, that spell is dispelled; if you fail, that spell remains in effect. [. ]

When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell affects everything within a 20-foot radius.

For each creature within the area that is the subject of one or more spells, you make a dispel check against the spell with the highest caster level. If that check fails, you make dispel checks against progressively weaker spells until you dispel one spell (which discharges the dispel magic spell so far as that target is concerned) or until you fail all your checks. The creature�s magic items are not affected. [. ]

In other words, make the check, compare to spells on target(s), check if you've dispelled anything. So if you have a "sacrificial" buff active with a higher caster level (because those are targeted first) it works until the moment it's more likely to not be dispelled. Dispelling continues and moves on to your other buffs, which are slightly diluted and thus actually more lightly to be dispelled.
So I can see it working for area dispelling if and only if your sacrifice is actually dispelled, saving one of your other buffs. The odds are that your sacrifice stays on and one of the other buffs cast at lower caster level is dispelled instead, though.

Pathfinder version says

Targeted Dispel: One object, creature, or spell is the target of the dispel magic spell. You make one dispel check (1d20 + your caster level) and compare that to the spell with highest caster level (DC = 11 + the spell�s caster level). If successful, that spell ends. If not, compare the same result to the spell with the next highest caster level. Repeat this process until you have dispelled one spell affecting the target, or you have failed to dispel every spell.

For example, a 7th-level caster casts dispel magic, targeting a creature affected by stoneskin (caster level 12th) and fly (caster level 6th). The caster level check results in a 19. This check is not high enough to end the stoneskin (which would have required a 23 or higher), but it is high enough to end the fly (which only required a 17). Had the dispel check resulted in a 23 or higher, the stoneskin would have been dispelled, leaving the fly intact. Had the dispel check been a 16 or less, no spells would have been affected. [. ]

[Actually from Greater Dispel Magic] Area Dispel: When greater dispel magic is used in this way, the spell affects everything within a 20-foot-radius burst. Roll one dispel check and apply that check to each creature in the area, as if targeted by dispel magic. For each object within the area that is the target of one or more spells, apply the dispel check as with creatures. Magic items are not affected by an area dispel.

For each ongoing area or effect spell whose point of origin is within the area of the greater dispel magic spell, apply the dispel check to dispel the spell. For each ongoing spell whose area overlaps that of the greater dispel magic spell, apply the dispel check to end the effect, but only within the overlapping area. [. ]

Okay, some rule changes aside it seems similar enough: your sacrifice is either dispelled (then it worked, at least for normal Dispel Magic) or not, in which case the process continues. You even have an explicit example where the spell with the highest caster level isn't dispelled, i.e. you better hope for your sacrifice to be affected, which is slightly more unlikely in comparison to the intentionally weaker spells. I'm afraid you're kinda out of luck anyhow if hit by the greater version.

So, have I missed or misunderstood something? If not, I don't really see the point in weakening all but one spell in general in basically all respects.

Last edited by Arkain; 2018-03-31 at 12:39 AM .

Spoilers

Another important trait of Wicca is the belief in magic. Wiccans see magic as a natural force that can be utilized for personal growth, healing, and spiritual development. They believe that magic works in harmony with natural laws and ethics, and they often use rituals, spells, and divination as tools to manifest their intentions. In terms of ethics, Wiccans strive to adhere to the Wiccan Rede, which is a moral code that states "An' ye harm none, do what ye will." This means that Wiccans are encouraged to act in ways that are compassionate, respectful, and non-harming towards themselves, others, and the Earth. Many Wiccans also believe in the concept of karma and the threefold law, which states that whatever energy one puts out into the world, whether positive or negative, will come back to them threefold. Wiccans often form or join covens, which are small groups of individuals who come together to practice their faith and support each other on their spiritual journeys. However, there are also many solitary practitioners who follow the Wiccan path on their own. Wiccans have diverse beliefs and practices, and there is no central authority or dogma that dictates how one must be a Wiccan. Personal experience and individual connection to the divine are valued and emphasized. In conclusion, being a Wiccan involves honoring and connecting with nature, practicing magic, adhering to a moral code, and cultivating a personal relationship with the divine. Wiccans celebrate diversity and individuality, while also respecting and valuing the interconnectedness of all things..

Reviews for "Identifying the Common Traits of Wiccan Practitioners"

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Understanding the Distinct Traits of Wicca Believers