Casting Spells underwater [Archive] - Wizards Community

Casting Spells underwater [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Chronus13
01-13-08, 03:55 AM Where can I find rules regarding casting spells with Verbal components while underwater? I know I've seen them somewhere but I can't seem to find them in any of my books for some reason. :(
Seeker95
01-13-08, 08:45 AM There are none in WotC publications. The rules are derived.

If you cannot breathe underwater, then you cannot speak in a loud clear voice. Verbal components require a loud clear voice. Some agree with this derivation. Others do not. Although I have observed that DMs tend to agree with it more often than players. ;)
VulcanStormwrath
01-13-08, 01:44 PM Waterbreathing required
Salla
01-13-08, 05:59 PM DMG, pgs 92-93. cover underwater combat and maneuvering.
Chronus13
01-14-08, 02:50 AM I simply refuse to believe this. I am certain that I have read rules somewhere stating the extremely penalized casting of Verbal spells underwater. I already looked at the DMG for its rules about fire spells underwater... That does nothing for me. Perhaps there was a houserule on the forums or something that I may be remember but I don't think that is the case. :weep:
Bihlbo
01-14-08, 12:34 PM Silent Spell will instantly get around any difficulties with casting under water.

But you probably know that. I take it you want to cast frequent spells underwater without this feat being required?

First off I would house rule that if something is impeding your ability to speak (like having a snorkel in your mouth, or trying to speak with a ton of bubbles coming out) then you have a 50% chance of failure on spells with a verbal component.

Personally, I think that at best, a character could cast one spell with a 50% chance of failure. I say "one spell" because of course, that means the character is no longer holding his breath (or to get complicated, it cuts out a number of rounds of breath-holding equal to 2 x spell level, or instead, 1 round of breath-holding for a free action spell, 6 rounds for a standard action spell, and all your breath for a full-round action spell).

A spell that allows a character to not need to breathe would make that a safe thing to do, but it doesn't mean the character has air in order to make more sound (since sound can't be produced unless there is an exhaling of air). A spell that allows a character to breathe, no matter the surrounding, is going to allow him to ignore the air situation entirely, but there's still a 50% chance of failure due to the distraction of the water.

Since water breathing (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/spellsTtoZ.html#water-breathing) allows you to breathe water, then what is in your lungs and passing over your vocal chords is the same as what's around you, so you should be able to cast spells with a verbal component without any problems. Something that creates a constantly-renewing air bubble around your head will allow you to cast spells while submerged.
Damned slayer
01-14-08, 01:02 PM I guess you should look at Stormwrack I think it's in there but not sure and I don't have the book at hand
mvincent
01-14-08, 02:21 PM I guess you should look at Stormwrack I think it's in there but not sure and I don't have the book at handI've previously looked and found nothing in Stormwrack (however, there was a feat that allowed a bard to sing underwater without water-breathing... mainly by humming). Since it is possible in real life to say things underwater, and the rules specifying limitations underwater do not mention it, disallowing it seems unwarranted.

However, ruling that a caster using a verbal component underwater is no longer "holding his breath" might be reasonable.
Neutronium_Dragon
01-14-08, 03:06 PM If you can breathe underwater, you can cast spells with V components underwater.

One of the developers (SKR) talked about this a long time ago. Water Breathing solves the problem completely because they wanted to avoid "Yay, I'm a useless wizard underwater." (his words) syndrome.
Damned slayer
01-14-08, 06:45 PM you still got failiure for somatic if I recall correctly and go RP wise with some material components lol
Vegepygmy
01-14-08, 08:22 PM I simply refuse to believe this.Believe it. This has been discussed before on these boards many times, and no one has ever been able to cite an official rule. The game designers have quite simply left us to use our own good judgment on this one. :weep:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Chronus13 01-13-08, 03:55 AM	Where can I find rules regarding casting spells with Verbal components while underwater? I know I've seen them somewhere but I can't seem to find them in any of my books for some reason. :(
Seeker95 01-13-08, 08:45 AM	There are none in WotC publications. The rules are derived. If you cannot breathe underwater, then you cannot speak in a loud clear voice. Verbal components require a loud clear voice. Some agree with this derivation. Others do not. Although I have observed that DMs tend to agree with it more often than players. ;)
VulcanStormwrath 01-13-08, 01:44 PM	Waterbreathing required
Salla 01-13-08, 05:59 PM	DMG, pgs 92-93. cover underwater combat and maneuvering.
Chronus13 01-14-08, 02:50 AM	I simply refuse to believe this. I am certain that I have read rules somewhere stating the extremely penalized casting of Verbal spells underwater. I already looked at the DMG for its rules about fire spells underwater... That does nothing for me. Perhaps there was a houserule on the forums or something that I may be remember but I don't think that is the case. :weep:
Bihlbo 01-14-08, 12:34 PM	Silent Spell will instantly get around any difficulties with casting under water. But you probably know that. I take it you want to cast frequent spells underwater without this feat being required? First off I would house rule that if something is impeding your ability to speak (like having a snorkel in your mouth, or trying to speak with a ton of bubbles coming out) then you have a 50% chance of failure on spells with a verbal component. Personally, I think that at best, a character could cast one spell with a 50% chance of failure. I say "one spell" because of course, that means the character is no longer holding his breath (or to get complicated, it cuts out a number of rounds of breath-holding equal to 2 x spell level, or instead, 1 round of breath-holding for a free action spell, 6 rounds for a standard action spell, and all your breath for a full-round action spell). A spell that allows a character to not need to breathe would make that a safe thing to do, but it doesn't mean the character has air in order to make more sound (since sound can't be produced unless there is an exhaling of air). A spell that allows a character to breathe, no matter the surrounding, is going to allow him to ignore the air situation entirely, but there's still a 50% chance of failure due to the distraction of the water. Since water breathing (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/spellsTtoZ.html#water-breathing) allows you to breathe water, then what is in your lungs and passing over your vocal chords is the same as what's around you, so you should be able to cast spells with a verbal component without any problems. Something that creates a constantly-renewing air bubble around your head will allow you to cast spells while submerged.
Damned slayer 01-14-08, 01:02 PM	I guess you should look at Stormwrack I think it's in there but not sure and I don't have the book at hand
mvincent 01-14-08, 02:21 PM	I guess you should look at Stormwrack I think it's in there but not sure and I don't have the book at handI've previously looked and found nothing in Stormwrack (however, there was a feat that allowed a bard to sing underwater without water-breathing... mainly by humming). Since it is possible in real life to say things underwater, and the rules specifying limitations underwater do not mention it, disallowing it seems unwarranted. However, ruling that a caster using a verbal component underwater is no longer "holding his breath" might be reasonable.
Neutronium_Dragon 01-14-08, 03:06 PM	If you can breathe underwater, you can cast spells with V components underwater. One of the developers (SKR) talked about this a long time ago. Water Breathing solves the problem completely because they wanted to avoid "Yay, I'm a useless wizard underwater." (his words) syndrome.
Damned slayer 01-14-08, 06:45 PM	you still got failiure for somatic if I recall correctly and go RP wise with some material components lol
Vegepygmy 01-14-08, 08:22 PM	I simply refuse to believe this.Believe it. This has been discussed before on these boards many times, and no one has ever been able to cite an official rule. The game designers have quite simply left us to use our own good judgment on this one. :weep: