Casting Spells Underwater Can you do it? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Casting Spells Underwater Can you do it? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
orion11349
02-22-07, 11:42 PM My party is going to be doing some salvage work on some ships, we looked over the rules in the DMG and we are not sure if you can cast spells underwater. We will be under the effect of Breath water spell. I know of the restriction on Fire spells, but I am unable to find anything that says you cannot cast spells. Any Help would be greatly appreciated.
Polaris
02-23-07, 12:15 AM My party is going to be doing some salvage work on some ships, we looked over the rules in the DMG and we are not sure if you can cast spells underwater. We will be under the effect of Breath water spell. I know of the restriction on Fire spells, but I am unable to find anything that says you cannot cast spells. Any Help would be greatly appreciated.

Why not? Certainly you should be able to cast spells without a somatic component (assuming that the material component is waterproof), and there is nothing explicit that I've ever seen that stops you from casting spells underwater even with Somatic components (although IIRC you need to treat the caster as 'entangled' but that only involves an easy concentration check....one that a caster of this level should make easily). If under freedom of movement or the like, then there should be no question.

[Given Water Breathing, verbal components don't seem to be a problem.]

-Polaris
Seeker95
02-23-07, 10:58 PM I am unable to find anything that says you cannot cast spells.Check the index of the DMG: underwater
There is a semi-clear section on casting spells.
Short answer: you can.
uk_gnome
02-25-07, 03:21 PM But some spells don't quite work the same.

Lightning Bolt goes off like a fireball (sphere of electric charge)
Fireball creates steam (I think it still works)
Burning Hands is unlikely to work and create water may be pointless.

You need to read the spell description and see how the effect would be affected by a massive body of water.

Also, don't forget that bodies generally try and float, so water breathing doesn't mean walking along the bottom easily, and using weights affects the characters loading and hence speed etc.

An enemy doing a bullrush is much more effective and a trip can cause disorientation.
orion11349
03-01-07, 11:56 PM Thank you all very much for your suggestions. It will be a big help
cwslyclgh
03-02-07, 12:27 AM Lightning Bolt goes off like a fireball (sphere of electric charge)
Fireball creates steam (I think it still works)these are both 2e rules, in 3.x spells work underwater exactly like they do anyplace else (although a caster level check is required to cast fire spells).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
orion11349 02-22-07, 11:42 PM	My party is going to be doing some salvage work on some ships, we looked over the rules in the DMG and we are not sure if you can cast spells underwater. We will be under the effect of Breath water spell. I know of the restriction on Fire spells, but I am unable to find anything that says you cannot cast spells. Any Help would be greatly appreciated.
Polaris 02-23-07, 12:15 AM	My party is going to be doing some salvage work on some ships, we looked over the rules in the DMG and we are not sure if you can cast spells underwater. We will be under the effect of Breath water spell. I know of the restriction on Fire spells, but I am unable to find anything that says you cannot cast spells. Any Help would be greatly appreciated. Why not? Certainly you should be able to cast spells without a somatic component (assuming that the material component is waterproof), and there is nothing explicit that I've ever seen that stops you from casting spells underwater even with Somatic components (although IIRC you need to treat the caster as 'entangled' but that only involves an easy concentration check....one that a caster of this level should make easily). If under freedom of movement or the like, then there should be no question. [Given Water Breathing, verbal components don't seem to be a problem.] -Polaris
Seeker95 02-23-07, 10:58 PM	I am unable to find anything that says you cannot cast spells.Check the index of the DMG: underwater There is a semi-clear section on casting spells. Short answer: you can.
uk_gnome 02-25-07, 03:21 PM	But some spells don't quite work the same. Lightning Bolt goes off like a fireball (sphere of electric charge) Fireball creates steam (I think it still works) Burning Hands is unlikely to work and create water may be pointless. You need to read the spell description and see how the effect would be affected by a massive body of water. Also, don't forget that bodies generally try and float, so water breathing doesn't mean walking along the bottom easily, and using weights affects the characters loading and hence speed etc. An enemy doing a bullrush is much more effective and a trip can cause disorientation.
orion11349 03-01-07, 11:56 PM	Thank you all very much for your suggestions. It will be a big help
cwslyclgh 03-02-07, 12:27 AM	Lightning Bolt goes off like a fireball (sphere of electric charge) Fireball creates steam (I think it still works)these are both 2e rules, in 3.x spells work underwater exactly like they do anyplace else (although a caster level check is required to cast fire spells).