Ok so I had this totally original idea I’m sure(I’m joking for anyone who didn’t realize)how would you have it so that when players cast spells and when like monsters or whatever cast spells you actually have verbal and somatic components that the players can do to get like an advantage or bonus to the spell maybe? Or maybe just for fun? Idk anyone ever tried this
You could. It might slow down play if you expect them to use the same ones every time, and they have to remember. You might get more mileage out of asking for descriptions of the effects. What’s your magic missile look like, for example. Keep the effect in game.
If you have an entire group of actors and extroverts who like larping and other similar activites - give it a shot. However, for 99% of the groups I have played with over the years, it would never fly. There are players who already have enough trouble just speaking up and expressing themselves in a group, asking them to use hand gestures and made up words to cast a spell might be a challenge for that type of player and others who just feel too self-concious to act anything out. Many players don't want to use odd voices or role play in character - trying to get them to actually perform components for spells isn't likely to work. Also, you need to ask yourself, if the casters have to wave their hands and speak magical words, do the fighters have to wave "weapons" around shouting "have at thee"? Does the paladin have to yell something when they Smite? Just something to consider if you want to add more "role play".
TL;DR Forcing role playing behaviour often doesn't end well.
My table does the somatic and verbal components at the table because we like to, lol. We casters have created cheat sheets about what different spells look and sound like. We've never been given any mechanical bonuses for it, but it might encourage more people to RP in combat if we did.
The first time round I try to ask what it looks like, what you're doing to make the spell happen. I do this because it's a learning experience that oh, V,S,M mean something. It drops the precedent early on that if the PC is trying to be quiet and remain undetected the verbal component of spellcasting is going to be heard and could ruin stealth. Likewise, if a PC has their hands bound, or are holding something the Somatic component of the spell means they have to consider that. And then of course, yeah, you might have trained and levelled up but that PC still needs to stock up on the new spell materials they'll need. If you're in a small village they might now have that sprig of mistletoe you need.
Enforcing it in RP I probably wouldn't do regularly myself. I prefer to ask for a description every so often or each time a new spell comes up so that I know the players are aware of what they need to have to cast said spell.
Yeah, my advice is to have them describe it once in the first time for combat and also when there are level ups have players come up with a little scene to describe their new abilities.
Otherwise players should keep it brief and its often a good idea to time limit terms. A typical combat description would be like "I throw a spear of fire" for fire bolt with a small gesture at most maybe just a wrist flick while during proper description may be like " I draw a line of flame in the air while I speak a word in draconic. I then grasp it with my right hand before tossing it at the enemy"
Like, are you going to give martials similar bonuses if they show their war face and pantomime the deliverance of a blow? Stealth bonuses to Rogues who hide under the table and describe their actions through a stage whisper? Will your Bards actually have to sing?
It's all fine for the role playing aspect. It does bog down the economy of running combat with making space for gesticular flourishes, that's why I wouldn't bother doing any mechanical rulings or calculations, gettng the players to stick with the order and flow of combat is hard enough without having them forget their gesticulations for bonuses to their battle math.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I really need ot get around top updating it to reflect the various books that have been released in the last few years but the current format should include the PHB and XGtE.
Ok so I had this totally original idea I’m sure(I’m joking for anyone who didn’t realize)how would you have it so that when players cast spells and when like monsters or whatever cast spells you actually have verbal and somatic components that the players can do to get like an advantage or bonus to the spell maybe? Or maybe just for fun? Idk anyone ever tried this
insert original witty signature here:
You could. It might slow down play if you expect them to use the same ones every time, and they have to remember.
You might get more mileage out of asking for descriptions of the effects. What’s your magic missile look like, for example. Keep the effect in game.
If you have an entire group of actors and extroverts who like larping and other similar activites - give it a shot. However, for 99% of the groups I have played with over the years, it would never fly. There are players who already have enough trouble just speaking up and expressing themselves in a group, asking them to use hand gestures and made up words to cast a spell might be a challenge for that type of player and others who just feel too self-concious to act anything out. Many players don't want to use odd voices or role play in character - trying to get them to actually perform components for spells isn't likely to work. Also, you need to ask yourself, if the casters have to wave their hands and speak magical words, do the fighters have to wave "weapons" around shouting "have at thee"? Does the paladin have to yell something when they Smite? Just something to consider if you want to add more "role play".
TL;DR Forcing role playing behaviour often doesn't end well.
My table does the somatic and verbal components at the table because we like to, lol. We casters have created cheat sheets about what different spells look and sound like. We've never been given any mechanical bonuses for it, but it might encourage more people to RP in combat if we did.
The first time round I try to ask what it looks like, what you're doing to make the spell happen. I do this because it's a learning experience that oh, V,S,M mean something. It drops the precedent early on that if the PC is trying to be quiet and remain undetected the verbal component of spellcasting is going to be heard and could ruin stealth. Likewise, if a PC has their hands bound, or are holding something the Somatic component of the spell means they have to consider that. And then of course, yeah, you might have trained and levelled up but that PC still needs to stock up on the new spell materials they'll need. If you're in a small village they might now have that sprig of mistletoe you need.
Enforcing it in RP I probably wouldn't do regularly myself. I prefer to ask for a description every so often or each time a new spell comes up so that I know the players are aware of what they need to have to cast said spell.
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Yeah, my advice is to have them describe it once in the first time for combat and also when there are level ups have players come up with a little scene to describe their new abilities.
Otherwise players should keep it brief and its often a good idea to time limit terms. A typical combat description would be like "I throw a spear of fire" for fire bolt with a small gesture at most maybe just a wrist flick while during proper description may be like " I draw a line of flame in the air while I speak a word in draconic. I then grasp it with my right hand before tossing it at the enemy"
Like, are you going to give martials similar bonuses if they show their war face and pantomime the deliverance of a blow? Stealth bonuses to Rogues who hide under the table and describe their actions through a stage whisper? Will your Bards actually have to sing?
It's all fine for the role playing aspect. It does bog down the economy of running combat with making space for gesticular flourishes, that's why I wouldn't bother doing any mechanical rulings or calculations, gettng the players to stick with the order and flow of combat is hard enough without having them forget their gesticulations for bonuses to their battle math.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Lmao, I didn't even notice the part about buffs.
No, the most you should do is inspiration.
Shameless self promotion incoming in 3......2......1........
I made a little dofree for verbal compoenets on drivethrurpg (link here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/252691/Spell-Casting-101-Verbal-components). EDIT...it is a pay what you want thing so just pop a zero in the pay bit and have it for free.
I really need ot get around top updating it to reflect the various books that have been released in the last few years but the current format should include the PHB and XGtE.