[5E] Interrupting a Spellcaster via Ready Action

UngeheuerLich · Mar 2, 2019

Torquar said:
Yes, about the same amount of time. And since the caster started first, they finish first. The attack lands after the spell is finished.

A caster can manage two spells a round plus movement with 1 action cantrips and a bonus action spell. Combat magic in 5e is fast.

There is no "Interrupt Casting" action in 5e, nor is casting a 1 action spell subject to Concentration checks for suffering damage. An unprotected Wizard swimming through acid isn't required to make a Concentration check to cast a 1 action spell.

I would always go with the interpretation that is more fun. I would not want it to be an action that drags combat. But in a situation where a readied crossbow is pointed at the wizard and it is: "hold still or I shoot", then it would be appropriate to have the bolt attack resolved first.

On the other hand maybe it would be better to just start combat and rolling initiative, maybe with advantage on the initiative check for the crossbow shooter. Maybe I´d allow the wizard a bluff check to negate the advantage or allow for a surprise round. On a failed bluff check I might even give the wizard disadvantage on the dex check. Remember that initiative is only a dex check on which the DM can give advantage or disadvantage depending on the circumstances.

UngeheuerLich · Mar 2, 2019

misquote, sorry

UngeheuerLich · Mar 2, 2019

MarkB said:
You're still acting after the triggering event "the Mind flayer makes gestures with its hand and mutters words" finishes, though.

make it: when he moves his hand even a quarter of an inch or mutters a single word. Power word spells would go off first, all other spells with verbal or somatic components will probably would certainly not be triggered after the caster has finished moving his hands that far.

MarkB · Mar 2, 2019

UngeheuerLich said:
make it: when he moves his hand even a quarter of an inch or mutters a single word. Power word spells would go off first, all other spells with verbal or somatic components will probably would certainly not be triggered after the caster has finished moving his hands that far.

And you've now successfully attacked the Mind Flayer before he started spellcasting, unless he was paralysed until that very moment - which you could have done without readying an action. Heck, I'd have your readied action be triggered the moment you end your turn - the Mind Flayer certainly isn't bothering to keep his hands immobile while everyone else is acting.

DND_Reborn · Mar 2, 2019

Torquar said:
If you and your group want to make up house rules to penalize casters, go for it. RAW your readied attack isn't interrupting a 1 action spell in 5e.

And if you want to ignore the situation you are playing in, however unrealistic your game becomes, that is your prerogative. If you like granting your casters benefits, go for it.

As others have pointed out in other threads before, there is no RAW. All the rules are subject to interpretation and at best are "rules as ruled".

But, I think SA would disagree with you. We won't know for certain until it is specifically addressed, however consider the following SA:

Can a readied action occur during an enemy’s triggering action, such as between its first and second attacks when it uses Multiattack?
A readied action occurs immediately after its trigger. If you defined the trigger as an attack, your action happens after that attack.

You can use a readied action during your enemy's triggering action. You can attack between two attacks made by your enemy using your readied action. If the triggering action is casting a spell, then the readied action (hitting the caster, for instance) can occur during it. Will it interrupt the spell and ruin it? That is up to the DM, which is what the OP was asking how others view it.

There is no RAW ruling or interpretation on this. You way is your way, but that doesn't make it "official" either.

Ristamar · Mar 2, 2019

The arguments revolving around semantical triggers and timing are largely irrelevant. The designers have stated it was a deliberate decision to not allow casting interruption aside from Counterspell. You're free to create houserules around that limitation, but it does circumvent the intent of the basic rules.

MarkB · Mar 2, 2019

dnd4vr said:
But, I think SA would disagree with you. We won't know for certain until it is specifically addressed, however consider the following SA:

Can a readied action occur during an enemy’s triggering action, such as between its first and second attacks when it uses Multiattack?
A readied action occurs immediately after its trigger. If you defined the trigger as an attack, your action happens after that attack.

You can use a readied action during your enemy's triggering action. You can attack between two attacks made by your enemy using your readied action. If the triggering action is casting a spell, then the readied action (hitting the caster, for instance) can occur during it.

You do realise that you've just directly contradicted the very ruling you quoted, right? It states clearly that the readied action occurs after its trigger. If the trigger is casting a spell, the readied action cannot both interrupt the spell and occur after it.

Torquar · Mar 2, 2019

dnd4vr said:
And if you want to ignore the situation you are playing in, however unrealistic your game becomes, that is your prerogative. If you like granting your casters benefits, go for it.

As others have pointed out in other threads before, there is no RAW. All the rules are subject to interpretation and at best are "rules as ruled".

If by "granting casters benefits" you mean allowing them to operate as the rulebook says, sure.

dnd4vr said:
But, I think SA would disagree with you. We won't know for certain until it is specifically addressed, however consider the following SA:

Can a readied action occur during an enemy’s triggering action, such as between its first and second attacks when it uses Multiattack?
A readied action occurs immediately after its trigger. If you defined the trigger as an attack, your action happens after that attack.

You can use a readied action during your enemy's triggering action. You can attack between two attacks made by your enemy using your readied action. If the triggering action is casting a spell, then the readied action (hitting the caster, for instance) can occur during it. Will it interrupt the spell and ruin it? That is up to the DM, which is what the OP was asking how others view it.

There is no RAW ruling or interpretation on this. You way is your way, but that doesn't make it "official" either.

And if the "Cast a Spell" action was made up of sub-actions, the interruption of which caused a concentration check or the spell failed you might be on to something. Notice how the Multiattack quote makes no mention of your action stopping the first attack, or any of the subsequent attacks.

It seems like you're coming at this with an earlier edition mindset, this isn't Ad&d or 3.5. In 5e magic works a little different, and casters are a lot harder to lock down. Aside from the aforementioned acid-diving Wizard, Deafness no longer prevents casting, nor is casting preventing if the caster is Grappled or Restrained if they have one hand free (hand, not arm).

DND_Reborn · Mar 2, 2019

MarkB said:
You do realise that you've just directly contradicted the very ruling you quoted, right? It states clearly that the readied action occurs after its trigger. If the trigger is casting a spell, the readied action cannot both interrupt the spell and occur after it.

You do realize this is English and the word "that" regarding the attack means the triggering attack, not the entire attack action, right?

MarkB · Mar 2, 2019

dnd4vr said:
You do realize this is English and the word "that" regarding the attack means the triggering attack, not the entire attack action, right?

Yeah, it occurs after one attack. Just like it occurs after you cast one spell.

[5E] Interrupting a Spellcaster via Ready Action

UngeheuerLich

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UngeheuerLich

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UngeheuerLich

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MarkB

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DND_Reborn

The High Aldwin

Ristamar

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MarkB

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Torquar

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DND_Reborn

The High Aldwin

MarkB

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