Counterspelling Magic Items [Archive] - Wizards Community

Counterspelling Magic Items [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MrkGrismer
01-04-06, 06:54 PM My reading of the rules is that you cannot counterspell magic items. This seems pretty apparent for most of them, but in a couple of places it says to treat it as if the user is casting the spell, especially for scrolls. But no where have I seen any text that actually says anything other then a spell being cast can be counterspelled. Am I right in saying that spells from scrolls, staves and wands cannot be counterspelled?
Malruhn
01-04-06, 07:03 PM Now, this is NOT based from RAW or rules or ANYTHING other than my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt.

I could see possibly being able to counterspell a scroll, as the spell must be read out loud... giving the target a chance to understand it as you read.

The counterspelling of a device would be impossible, as all the user has to do is trigger it - whether it is a physical trigger (firing a pistol) to saying a command word ("Ala-kazaam!!"). What does the "Ala-Kazaam" do, trigger a magic missile or a fireball... or a cure light wounds? There is no way to tell in time to counter the magic.

And that is it. Just my not-so-humble opinion. :cool:
Plothos
01-04-06, 09:08 PM I concur with the last post. The key to counterspelling is the reading, identifying, and reacting with a prepared spell. I'd actually also allow as a DM, once you already know what a wand does, because counterspelling requires readying an action, that you can counterspell a wand, but the fact that there's nothing being ready means you don't have a chance to actively cast a non-quickened counterspell, so you'd have to do the sort of readied action where you all-but cast the relevant spell (hold off on the last word or gesture), so that if the guy with the wand winds up doing something else, you've gotta hold on to that spell and ready again on your next turn, or else lose that readied spell. There's definitely nothing in the RAW supporting that, that I'm aware of, but it makes sense to me, and counterspelling is cool, so I like it as a house rule.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MrkGrismer 01-04-06, 06:54 PM	My reading of the rules is that you cannot counterspell magic items. This seems pretty apparent for most of them, but in a couple of places it says to treat it as if the user is casting the spell, especially for scrolls. But no where have I seen any text that actually says anything other then a spell being cast can be counterspelled. Am I right in saying that spells from scrolls, staves and wands cannot be counterspelled?
Malruhn 01-04-06, 07:03 PM	Now, this is NOT based from RAW or rules or ANYTHING other than my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt. I could see possibly being able to counterspell a scroll, as the spell must be read out loud... giving the target a chance to understand it as you read. The counterspelling of a device would be impossible, as all the user has to do is trigger it - whether it is a physical trigger (firing a pistol) to saying a command word ("Ala-kazaam!!"). What does the "Ala-Kazaam" do, trigger a magic missile or a fireball... or a cure light wounds? There is no way to tell in time to counter the magic. And that is it. Just my not-so-humble opinion. :cool:
Plothos 01-04-06, 09:08 PM	I concur with the last post. The key to counterspelling is the reading, identifying, and reacting with a prepared spell. I'd actually also allow as a DM, once you already know what a wand does, because counterspelling requires readying an action, that you can counterspell a wand, but the fact that there's nothing being ready means you don't have a chance to actively cast a non-quickened counterspell, so you'd have to do the sort of readied action where you all-but cast the relevant spell (hold off on the last word or gesture), so that if the guy with the wand winds up doing something else, you've gotta hold on to that spell and ready again on your next turn, or else lose that readied spell. There's definitely nothing in the RAW supporting that, that I'm aware of, but it makes sense to me, and counterspelling is cool, so I like it as a house rule.