Control Sound? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Control Sound? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
usf22raptr
06-03-07, 02:43 AM Does the 2nd level power Control Sound permit the manifester to completely SCREW any caster that is attempting to cast spells with a verbal component. For example, let us say that the manifester wished to change the mutterings of an evil cleric into the obnoxious yapping of a pack of Yorkshire terriers. Does this (assuming that you maintain your concentration round after round) prevent the caster from using any spell with a verbal component?

If so...umm...I may have to buy a nice little trinket for the party member who caused my DM to snort Pepsi out of his nose when he pulled this particular trick on the DM's BBEG. :D
(RAW, I think that this might be allowable; but I have trouble believing that this is RAI.):confused:
Tempest Stormwind
06-03-07, 02:47 AM Does the 2nd level power Control Sound permit the manifester to completely SCREW any caster that is attempting to cast spells with a verbal component. For example, let us say that the manifester wished to change the mutterings of an evil cleric into the obnoxious yapping of a pack of Yorkshire terriers. Does this (assuming that you maintain your concentration round after round) prevent the caster from using any spell with a verbal component?

If so...umm...I may have to buy a nice little trinket for the party member who caused my DM to snort Pepsi out of his nose when he pulled this particular trick on the DM's BBEG. :D
(RAW, I think that this might be allowable; but I have trouble believing that this is RAI.):confused:

Yes, it does. You concentrate on one effect (taking yourself out of the battle) to nullify a single type of move from a small subset of all possible characters out there. Wooooooooooo.

I've said it before: If it looks like a wizard and gestures like a wizard, but talks like a duck, it ain't a wizard. Until he casts a silent spell. Or shoots you with a crossbow or attacks you with a previously-summoned monster, forcing you to run (with your limit of one move action per round due to concentration) or make many checks to maybe keep him debilitated.
usf22raptr
06-04-07, 03:34 PM Wow, I didn't think that I would get a response from the Tempest Stormwind :w00t: (I'm a great admirer of your work.)
This was the argument that I put forward to that same DM after the session, he felt that it was unbalanced for such a low level power. After pointing out to him that it vastly limits the further annoying :P things that a psion can do to his bad guys (if my DM could ban grease in its arcane or psionic form, believe me, he would :evillaugh ). I agree that many players or DM's are subjected to a single encounter in which a creative use of a power, spell, ability, ball of twine, etc. is used in a way that no one ever thought about, then scream UNBALANCED, without considering how a completely different set of circumstances will yield different results, if anything, the player/DM who was victimized by a clever ploy, should applaud the clever use of every tool at their disposal. Some of the greatest/funniest/strangest/most memorable stories that I have from gaming (remember that ball of twine? :plotting: ) have come from situations where a player/DM does something that is totally off the wall that the world turns sideways and everyone has a good laugh about it later.
Thanks for the clear, concise and rapid response. :lightbulb

Keep up the great work, Tempest! :bow:
Tempest Stormwind
06-04-07, 04:02 PM This was the argument that I put forward to that same DM after the session, he felt that it was unbalanced for such a low level power. After pointing out to him that it vastly limits the further annoying :P things that a psion can do to his bad guys (if my DM could ban grease in its arcane or psionic form, believe me, he would :evillaugh ).Point out that Silence does the same thing, but doesn't eat your actions, can be cast on an object to produce a field and then thrown near the wizard (which bypasses the need for a saving throw), is longer range (Long range as compared to medium), does *more* in that it also shuts down any form of verbal communication as well as the wizard's hearing (no sound reaches his ears), and is the same level as Control Sound (2nd). It has fewer options than the psionic power (which can also boost Listen or Move Silently checks and emulate a weak Shatter effect), but is flat-out better at the task at hand, which is typically the case when comparing spells to powers.

Your DM obviously doesn't have a good grasp of what's already out there.
ChimericalWolf
06-04-07, 09:10 PM Contrary to popular belief, you only need one question mark (?) to make a sentence a question.

You can learn more about that particular friend-at-the-end here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Question_mark
AntiDjinn
06-04-07, 09:30 PM Silence shuts down all verbal casters in its area without further attention from its caster. Control Sound can be used to stop a caster from using verbal components as well, but only as long as you concentrate. Also note that Control Sound does not affect an area, it is targeted, with the target being the sound to be manipulated. If you want hinder a wizard's casting you can target the sound of his voice. If you wish to affect a second wizard you need to end concentration on the first one (Solicit Psicrystal or an ally using Co-opt Concentration on you can help) and manifest the power again; the text of the power does not say you can switch from one target sound or group of related sounds to another with the same manifestation.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
usf22raptr 06-03-07, 02:43 AM	Does the 2nd level power Control Sound permit the manifester to completely SCREW any caster that is attempting to cast spells with a verbal component. For example, let us say that the manifester wished to change the mutterings of an evil cleric into the obnoxious yapping of a pack of Yorkshire terriers. Does this (assuming that you maintain your concentration round after round) prevent the caster from using any spell with a verbal component? If so...umm...I may have to buy a nice little trinket for the party member who caused my DM to snort Pepsi out of his nose when he pulled this particular trick on the DM's BBEG. :D (RAW, I think that this might be allowable; but I have trouble believing that this is RAI.):confused:
Tempest Stormwind 06-03-07, 02:47 AM	Does the 2nd level power Control Sound permit the manifester to completely SCREW any caster that is attempting to cast spells with a verbal component. For example, let us say that the manifester wished to change the mutterings of an evil cleric into the obnoxious yapping of a pack of Yorkshire terriers. Does this (assuming that you maintain your concentration round after round) prevent the caster from using any spell with a verbal component? If so...umm...I may have to buy a nice little trinket for the party member who caused my DM to snort Pepsi out of his nose when he pulled this particular trick on the DM's BBEG. :D (RAW, I think that this might be allowable; but I have trouble believing that this is RAI.):confused: Yes, it does. You concentrate on one effect (taking yourself out of the battle) to nullify a single type of move from a small subset of all possible characters out there. Wooooooooooo. I've said it before: If it looks like a wizard and gestures like a wizard, but talks like a duck, it ain't a wizard. Until he casts a silent spell. Or shoots you with a crossbow or attacks you with a previously-summoned monster, forcing you to run (with your limit of one move action per round due to concentration) or make many checks to maybe keep him debilitated.
usf22raptr 06-04-07, 03:34 PM	Wow, I didn't think that I would get a response from the Tempest Stormwind :w00t: (I'm a great admirer of your work.) This was the argument that I put forward to that same DM after the session, he felt that it was unbalanced for such a low level power. After pointing out to him that it vastly limits the further annoying :P things that a psion can do to his bad guys (if my DM could ban grease in its arcane or psionic form, believe me, he would :evillaugh ). I agree that many players or DM's are subjected to a single encounter in which a creative use of a power, spell, ability, ball of twine, etc. is used in a way that no one ever thought about, then scream UNBALANCED, without considering how a completely different set of circumstances will yield different results, if anything, the player/DM who was victimized by a clever ploy, should applaud the clever use of every tool at their disposal. Some of the greatest/funniest/strangest/most memorable stories that I have from gaming (remember that ball of twine? :plotting: ) have come from situations where a player/DM does something that is totally off the wall that the world turns sideways and everyone has a good laugh about it later. Thanks for the clear, concise and rapid response. :lightbulb Keep up the great work, Tempest! :bow:
Tempest Stormwind 06-04-07, 04:02 PM	This was the argument that I put forward to that same DM after the session, he felt that it was unbalanced for such a low level power. After pointing out to him that it vastly limits the further annoying :P things that a psion can do to his bad guys (if my DM could ban grease in its arcane or psionic form, believe me, he would :evillaugh ).Point out that Silence does the same thing, but doesn't eat your actions, can be cast on an object to produce a field and then thrown near the wizard (which bypasses the need for a saving throw), is longer range (Long range as compared to medium), does more in that it also shuts down any form of verbal communication as well as the wizard's hearing (no sound reaches his ears), and is the same level as Control Sound (2nd). It has fewer options than the psionic power (which can also boost Listen or Move Silently checks and emulate a weak Shatter effect), but is flat-out better at the task at hand, which is typically the case when comparing spells to powers. Your DM obviously doesn't have a good grasp of what's already out there.
ChimericalWolf 06-04-07, 09:10 PM	Contrary to popular belief, you only need one question mark (?) to make a sentence a question. You can learn more about that particular friend-at-the-end here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Question_mark
AntiDjinn 06-04-07, 09:30 PM	Silence shuts down all verbal casters in its area without further attention from its caster. Control Sound can be used to stop a caster from using verbal components as well, but only as long as you concentrate. Also note that Control Sound does not affect an area, it is targeted, with the target being the sound to be manipulated. If you want hinder a wizard's casting you can target the sound of his voice. If you wish to affect a second wizard you need to end concentration on the first one (Solicit Psicrystal or an ally using Co-opt Concentration on you can help) and manifest the power again; the text of the power does not say you can switch from one target sound or group of related sounds to another with the same manifestation.