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General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
The Readied Spell Abyss
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<blockquote data-quote="Lancelot" data-source="post: 7352663" data-attributes="member: 30022"><p>My personal rulings:</p><p></p><p>1) Actions can't be readied outside combat. There is no way a PC can ready a spell such that it goes off before initiative is rolled. But that's already been noted above, so let's move on...</p><p></p><p>2) Yes, most readied actions are observable. The archer is aiming his bow at the door. The caster has just chanted a bunch of words and made some hand gestures, and is now facing the door with energy crackling around her hands (or is still chanting and gesturing to "hold" the spell). However, I would rule that a spell with no V or S components is not observable. Hence, some benefit to the sorcerer's Subtle Spell metamagic option.</p><p></p><p>3) Any spell is observable (even if it's a <em>suggestion</em> rather than a <em>fireball</em>), as long as it has V or S components. The caster is waving their hands around and chanting.</p><p></p><p>4) A readied spell can be identified with an Arcana check. You recognize the words or gestures, even if it doesn't have visible "energy".</p><p></p><p>5) No, I would not allow <em>dispel magic</em> on a readied spell. As per RAW, there is no spell in effect yet. There is a potential for a spell; nothing more. The correct way of taking out a readied spell is <em>counterspell</em>. As per RAW, this interrupts a creature in the process of casting a spell. A readied spell is still in the process of casting it - there is no target yet, no effect in play, and the casting will not be completed successfully (i.e. the spell will be lost) if the trigger for the readied action doesn't go off before the start of the caster's next turn.</p><p></p><p>You might disagree with the last one, but you asked for how I rule it - and that's how I rule it. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lancelot, post: 7352663, member: 30022"] My personal rulings: 1) Actions can't be readied outside combat. There is no way a PC can ready a spell such that it goes off before initiative is rolled. But that's already been noted above, so let's move on... 2) Yes, most readied actions are observable. The archer is aiming his bow at the door. The caster has just chanted a bunch of words and made some hand gestures, and is now facing the door with energy crackling around her hands (or is still chanting and gesturing to "hold" the spell). However, I would rule that a spell with no V or S components is not observable. Hence, some benefit to the sorcerer's Subtle Spell metamagic option. 3) Any spell is observable (even if it's a [I]suggestion[/I] rather than a [I]fireball[/I]), as long as it has V or S components. The caster is waving their hands around and chanting. 4) A readied spell can be identified with an Arcana check. You recognize the words or gestures, even if it doesn't have visible "energy". 5) No, I would not allow [I]dispel magic[/I] on a readied spell. As per RAW, there is no spell in effect yet. There is a potential for a spell; nothing more. The correct way of taking out a readied spell is [I]counterspell[/I]. As per RAW, this interrupts a creature in the process of casting a spell. A readied spell is still in the process of casting it - there is no target yet, no effect in play, and the casting will not be completed successfully (i.e. the spell will be lost) if the trigger for the readied action doesn't go off before the start of the caster's next turn. You might disagree with the last one, but you asked for how I rule it - and that's how I rule it. :-) [/QUOTE]
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