Underwater casting [Archive] - Wizards Community

Underwater casting [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ramacass
06-25-07, 07:10 AM In a recent game my cleric dived into the water to save a doomed companion from the clutches of a water elemental. My cleric tried to cast a cure spell on her companion and the question of underwater casting came up. Can you cast spells underwater and still hold your breath?

Thanks
_metz_
06-25-07, 07:20 AM In a recent game my cleric dived into the water to save a doomed companion from the clutches of a water elemental. My cleric tried to cast a cure spell on her companion and the question of underwater casting came up. Can you cast spells underwater and still hold your breath?

Thanks

Not if the spell has a verbal component. (The Aquatic casting feat from lords of madness is good for offsetting this)

From SRD:

Verbal (V): A verbal component is a spoken incantation. To provide a verbal component, you must be able to speak in a strong voice. A silence spell or a gag spoils the incantation (and thus the spell). A spellcaster who has been deafened has a 20% chance to spoil any spell with a verbal component that he or she tries to cast.

I don't think anyone will state you can talk unhindered whilst holding your breath. (and I dare someone to try it otherwise)

Cure spells have a verbal component so no holding breath whilst doing it.
Ramacass
06-25-07, 07:42 AM Not if the spell has a verbal component. (The Aquatic casting feat from lords of madness is good for offsetting this)

From SRD:

Verbal (V): A verbal component is a spoken incantation. To provide a verbal component, you must be able to speak in a strong voice. A silence spell or a gag spoils the incantation (and thus the spell). A spellcaster who has been deafened has a 20% chance to spoil any spell with a verbal component that he or she tries to cast.

I don't think anyone will state you can talk unhindered whilst holding your breath. (and I dare someone to try it otherwise)

Cure spells have a verbal component so no holding breath whilst doing it.

So what are the game mechanics there? does that mean you must start making con checks on your next round or does it mean you just loose some of your time underwater. The DM at the table ruled that you could cast spells but for each spell you would lose 5 rounds of holding your breath. I thought it was a nice ad hoc rule but is there anything official?
Some_call_me_Tim
06-25-07, 06:03 PM The DM at the table ruled that you could cast spells but for each spell you would lose 5 rounds of holding your breath. I thought it was a nice ad hoc rule but is there anything official?
Under the swim skill, it says you lose one round anytime you do anything other than move actions or free actions. So, I think your DM overstated the loss, but hey, he made a ruling you could live with and kept the game moving.
Timlagor
06-25-07, 07:22 PM 1) Clearly there should be some loss of ability to hold your breath
2) IMO this should be more than just the penalty for taking a standard action if you are expelling enough breath for a verbal component
3) IMO you shouldn't go straight to drowning -I think 5 rounds is a good ruling.

NB: He could have cast the cure before going into the water and held the charge.
Zalarian
06-27-07, 01:09 AM I think that the feat aquatic casting only reinforces the fact that you can cast spells underwater. Neither the normal section or the benefit section indicate that casting spells under water may fail unless it is a fire spell.

Z

Not if the spell has a verbal component. (The Aquatic casting feat from lords of madness is good for offsetting this)

From SRD:

Verbal (V): A verbal component is a spoken incantation. To provide a verbal component, you must be able to speak in a strong voice. A silence spell or a gag spoils the incantation (and thus the spell). A spellcaster who has been deafened has a 20% chance to spoil any spell with a verbal component that he or she tries to cast.

I don't think anyone will state you can talk unhindered whilst holding your breath. (and I dare someone to try it otherwise)

Cure spells have a verbal component so no holding breath whilst doing it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ramacass 06-25-07, 07:10 AM	In a recent game my cleric dived into the water to save a doomed companion from the clutches of a water elemental. My cleric tried to cast a cure spell on her companion and the question of underwater casting came up. Can you cast spells underwater and still hold your breath? Thanks
_metz_ 06-25-07, 07:20 AM	In a recent game my cleric dived into the water to save a doomed companion from the clutches of a water elemental. My cleric tried to cast a cure spell on her companion and the question of underwater casting came up. Can you cast spells underwater and still hold your breath? Thanks Not if the spell has a verbal component. (The Aquatic casting feat from lords of madness is good for offsetting this) From SRD: Verbal (V): A verbal component is a spoken incantation. To provide a verbal component, you must be able to speak in a strong voice. A silence spell or a gag spoils the incantation (and thus the spell). A spellcaster who has been deafened has a 20% chance to spoil any spell with a verbal component that he or she tries to cast. I don't think anyone will state you can talk unhindered whilst holding your breath. (and I dare someone to try it otherwise) Cure spells have a verbal component so no holding breath whilst doing it.
Ramacass 06-25-07, 07:42 AM	Not if the spell has a verbal component. (The Aquatic casting feat from lords of madness is good for offsetting this) From SRD: Verbal (V): A verbal component is a spoken incantation. To provide a verbal component, you must be able to speak in a strong voice. A silence spell or a gag spoils the incantation (and thus the spell). A spellcaster who has been deafened has a 20% chance to spoil any spell with a verbal component that he or she tries to cast. I don't think anyone will state you can talk unhindered whilst holding your breath. (and I dare someone to try it otherwise) Cure spells have a verbal component so no holding breath whilst doing it. So what are the game mechanics there? does that mean you must start making con checks on your next round or does it mean you just loose some of your time underwater. The DM at the table ruled that you could cast spells but for each spell you would lose 5 rounds of holding your breath. I thought it was a nice ad hoc rule but is there anything official?
Some_call_me_Tim 06-25-07, 06:03 PM	The DM at the table ruled that you could cast spells but for each spell you would lose 5 rounds of holding your breath. I thought it was a nice ad hoc rule but is there anything official? Under the swim skill, it says you lose one round anytime you do anything other than move actions or free actions. So, I think your DM overstated the loss, but hey, he made a ruling you could live with and kept the game moving.
Timlagor 06-25-07, 07:22 PM	1) Clearly there should be some loss of ability to hold your breath 2) IMO this should be more than just the penalty for taking a standard action if you are expelling enough breath for a verbal component 3) IMO you shouldn't go straight to drowning -I think 5 rounds is a good ruling. NB: He could have cast the cure before going into the water and held the charge.
Zalarian 06-27-07, 01:09 AM	I think that the feat aquatic casting only reinforces the fact that you can cast spells underwater. Neither the normal section or the benefit section indicate that casting spells under water may fail unless it is a fire spell. Z Not if the spell has a verbal component. (The Aquatic casting feat from lords of madness is good for offsetting this) From SRD: Verbal (V): A verbal component is a spoken incantation. To provide a verbal component, you must be able to speak in a strong voice. A silence spell or a gag spoils the incantation (and thus the spell). A spellcaster who has been deafened has a 20% chance to spoil any spell with a verbal component that he or she tries to cast. I don't think anyone will state you can talk unhindered whilst holding your breath. (and I dare someone to try it otherwise) Cure spells have a verbal component so no holding breath whilst doing it.