Post by Nuno (Rholor) on Nov 23, 2017 22:52:17 GMT
So, with the release of Xanathar's there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the actual ruling Wizards of the Coast intended to apply on perceiving spellcasting.
Apparently, the intended ruling was:
If the spell being cast by the enemy uses Somatic, Material or Verbal components, you as a player can perceive a (!!) spell is being cast.
If you wish, you can spend your REACTION to try and identify the spell by succeeding on an Arcana check (as expected) but although interesting, the specifications of this check are beyond the point of this post.
Point of this is, a DM should say: "The enemy is casting a spell" and a character must choose either to identify the spell OR cast counterspell which definitely is NOT what I've been doing.
Of course this works both ways, as an enemy also needs to perceive the player's spellcasting.
What are your thought on this?
I personally find this devalues counterspells ALOT, I would maybe find a middle ground where the Arcana check would be a free reaction and then if the player passes the check they can decide whether to counterspell or not.
Does bring a different twist on spellcasting in my opinion as counterspell has been used as a MVP spell for ages... apparently because it was wrongly used!
(Obviously, with good teamwork, the Wizard can Arcana check as a reaction and shout: "COUNTERSPELL!" so the Bard/Sorcerer/Eldritch Knight can do it! - good way of milking a couple reactions out of the party!)
What are your thoughts on this?
Apparently, the intended ruling was:
If the spell being cast by the enemy uses Somatic, Material or Verbal components, you as a player can perceive a (!!) spell is being cast.
If you wish, you can spend your REACTION to try and identify the spell by succeeding on an Arcana check (as expected) but although interesting, the specifications of this check are beyond the point of this post.
Point of this is, a DM should say: "The enemy is casting a spell" and a character must choose either to identify the spell OR cast counterspell which definitely is NOT what I've been doing.
Of course this works both ways, as an enemy also needs to perceive the player's spellcasting.
What are your thought on this?
I personally find this devalues counterspells ALOT, I would maybe find a middle ground where the Arcana check would be a free reaction and then if the player passes the check they can decide whether to counterspell or not.
Does bring a different twist on spellcasting in my opinion as counterspell has been used as a MVP spell for ages... apparently because it was wrongly used!
(Obviously, with good teamwork, the Wizard can Arcana check as a reaction and shout: "COUNTERSPELL!" so the Bard/Sorcerer/Eldritch Knight can do it! - good way of milking a couple reactions out of the party!)
What are your thoughts on this?
