Hello guys I've been playing for a while now but as of recent I've encountered something that never crossed my mind before. The current group I'm with doesnt say what spell they want to cast when they use magic. All they state is "I am casting a spell" and I guess this is do to counterspell being a prominent thing in our campaigns. However this is the first time I've ever run into this and I still say what spell I want to cast. Furthermore when it comes to the use of counterspell my group assumes youve cast it at the lowest level unless announced otherwise even though its not the same with upcasting a different spell. I just wanted to ask if saying the name of the spell you want to cast is a requirement or if it is optional. Thank you!
In my game, I announce NPC casting with "The cultist is casting a spell," then slow count to 5, then , "A fireball appears, everyone, Dexterity saves please."
The slow count to 5 is the player's chance to counterspell and/or identify. They have to announce it before the name of the spell is announced.
I'm slowly training the players to do the same, but it's taking a while. :-)
Counterspelling and dispelling uses the lowest slot unless the player or GM says otherwise, something like, "Counterspell using a level 5 slot."
I bypass the identification if the spell is common or one of the characters would know it. For example, there is an Illusionist Wizard in the party. If a foe casts an illusion spell on the Wizard list then I will generally say, "The foe is casting phantasmal force" then count to 5. I like players' choices' to matter as much as possible.
It depends. I enjoy describing what my character does instead of naming a spell. Last night my Druid said, “I spit in my hand and wave my arms” and I moved my body similar to the wave that people do at athletic events and ended with both arms kind of pointed where I was casting the spell. Then I described the effect of Tidal Wave without naming the spell. The material component for Tidal Wave is a drop of water by the way.
Counterspell implies that the person casting it can tell what spell they’re stopping/interrupting. Just like every fighter can easily tell the difference between a long sword being held in 2 hands and a great sword, I’d say that any arcane caster can easily tell what spell an opponent who isn’t using subtle spell or making a deception check is casting in order to use Counterspell from how the spell is cast.
I agree with the assumption that you’re casting any spell using a spell slot of the same level as the spell unless you specify otherwise.
Hello guys I've been playing for a while now but as of recent I've encountered something that never crossed my mind before. The current group I'm with doesnt say what spell they want to cast when they use magic. All they state is "I am casting a spell" and I guess this is do to counterspell being a prominent thing in our campaigns. However this is the first time I've ever run into this and I still say what spell I want to cast. Furthermore when it comes to the use of counterspell my group assumes youve cast it at the lowest level unless announced otherwise even though its not the same with upcasting a different spell. I just wanted to ask if saying the name of the spell you want to cast is a requirement or if it is optional. Thank you!
In my game, I announce NPC casting with "The cultist is casting a spell," then slow count to 5, then , "A fireball appears, everyone, Dexterity saves please."
The slow count to 5 is the player's chance to counterspell and/or identify. They have to announce it before the name of the spell is announced.
I'm slowly training the players to do the same, but it's taking a while. :-)
Counterspelling and dispelling uses the lowest slot unless the player or GM says otherwise, something like, "Counterspell using a level 5 slot."
I bypass the identification if the spell is common or one of the characters would know it. For example, there is an Illusionist Wizard in the party. If a foe casts an illusion spell on the Wizard list then I will generally say, "The foe is casting phantasmal force" then count to 5. I like players' choices' to matter as much as possible.
It depends. I enjoy describing what my character does instead of naming a spell. Last night my Druid said, “I spit in my hand and wave my arms” and I moved my body similar to the wave that people do at athletic events and ended with both arms kind of pointed where I was casting the spell. Then I described the effect of Tidal Wave without naming the spell. The material component for Tidal Wave is a drop of water by the way.
Counterspell implies that the person casting it can tell what spell they’re stopping/interrupting. Just like every fighter can easily tell the difference between a long sword being held in 2 hands and a great sword, I’d say that any arcane caster can easily tell what spell an opponent who isn’t using subtle spell or making a deception check is casting in order to use Counterspell from how the spell is cast.
I agree with the assumption that you’re casting any spell using a spell slot of the same level as the spell unless you specify otherwise.
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