Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 El_Condoro Feb 27, 2015 3:48:10	Can a spellcaster cast a spell with a verbal component while they are deafened?   I cannot find anything in the rules (the deafened condition says only that saves that rely on hearing are failed) but the description of the (V)erbal component, and how I imagine spells to be cast, would seem to indicate that to get the "specific pitch and resonance" needed would require the caster to be able to hear them.   The situation that provoked this discussion came about when we were about to attack some yuan-ti. Previous encounters taught us about their suggestion ability and we thought, since suggestion requires the target to be able to hear and understand the suggestion, we would all stuff up our (characters') ears to avoid the yuan-ti suggestions. We also knew being effectively deafened would make communication difficult but lesser of two evils...   So, what do you think: casting while deafened is OK or not?
#2 Phobos Feb 27, 2015 9:47:04	What?   As long as the caster can speak, and the intended target can hear the words.  If defened is due to a cone of silence (on the caster or target), then no. I beleive the words (sound) must be uttered, and heard, to trigger the spell.   In your example, the spell CAN be cast, as your defness has no bearing on the spell caster.  But I'd argue not beign able to hear the words, nullifies the effect.  If you don't want to give them that much power, then perhaps add advantage on the save.
#3 El_Condoro Feb 27, 2015 14:59:42	What I meant was if the *spellcaster* can't hear their own words/utterances etc when they cast their spell. The desciption of verbal components on PHB p. 203 mentions "particular combination of sounds, with specific pitch and resonance" so, if a caster can't hear the sounds they are making, can they meet the requirements of a verbal spell? Real life example: singers have fold-back speakers so they can hear their own voices and without them can sound off. If a spellcaster is "off" maybe their spell fails? Your advantage on save idea seems a good one.
(Reply to #3) Macv12	El_Condoro wrote: