Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gandal 'The Grim Fisted' 11-14-05, 08:38 PM	Can a Bard's Countersong ability be used as a counterspell is, with a readied action, or in any reactive fashion that prevents the spell actually being cast or must it always be used post casting? Thanks
tiercel 11-14-05, 10:10 PM	Countersong isn't that much like counterspell. You can use it both to break existing sonic/language-dependent ongoing effects, and to protect against them. If you think someone is going to use these kinds of spells on you, you can begin Counterspell. If someone casts a sonic/language-dependent spell that affects anyone within 30' of you, they can use your Perform check in place of its save if your Perform is higher. Alternatively, if someone is being affected (ongoing, not instantaneous) by such a spell, then you can give them additional chances to successfully save against the spell (using your Perform check only, not their own save). They get one such chance for every round you maintain the Countersong. Note that your Countersong can presumably do both in the same usage -- you can use the same bardsong to both protect against upcoming attacks and break existing ones (you can still move about and do things while singing -- Countersong doesn't require active concentration, though there are some actions you can't take while maintaining the song). Countersong does not actually counter a spell -- it helps to counter the effects of certain kinds of spells. It does not nullify spells that have a (Partial) effect on a successful save, and does nothing to a spell that does not allow a save. If you really want to counterspell as a bard, wait until 4th level, and pick silence as one of your known spells. Ready silence to go off, centered half an inch in front of the enemy caster, when that caster actually casts a spell. This effectively counters any spell with a V component. (Not just sonic or language-dependent ones.)