D&D 5E Has the old "ready to cast silence upon spellcasting" trick finally been stopped?

[Stalker0]

Looking over the rules, I wanted to check something.

Readying a spell now requires that you cast the spell, and hold it "using concentration" until the trigger is met.

Silence the spell requires concentration normally, and since you can't double concentrate, it would appear that you can no longer ready the silence spell. If that's true, its an elegant way to defeat one of the wackiest maneuvers that has long been in dnd.


Do I have it right, or am I missing something?

 

[Agamon]

No, I think it works in such a way that once you start a 2nd thing that requires concentration, the first one ends, which happens anyway when you cast the readied spell.

However, you have to actually cast the spell when readying it, rather than just get ready to cast it. So if you do this and then don't run into a spellcaster as expected, you wasted a spell slot.

 

[Li Shenron]

No, I think it works in such a way that once you start a 2nd thing that requires concentration, the first one ends, which happens anyway when you cast the readied spell.

I read it the same way. You can ready a spell that requires concentration. The only drawback is that if you have a previous concentration going on, readying the next spell already halts the previous.

However, you have to actually cast the spell when readying it, rather than just get ready to cast it. So if you do this and then don't run into a spellcaster as expected, you wasted a spell slot.

At first sight, I think this is the case, but it might get clarified later. It's possible that this is not a wanted effect. Maybe the wanted effect is only that you have to choose the spell when readying (rather than wait and see what the other spellcaster is casting), and they might clarify that not completing the casting doesn't waste the slot.

 

[pming]

Hiya.

Looking over the rules, I wanted to check something.

Readying a spell now requires that you cast the spell, and hold it "using concentration" until the trigger is met.

Silence the spell requires concentration normally, and since you can't double concentrate, it would appear that you can no longer ready the silence spell. If that's true, its an elegant way to defeat one of the wackiest maneuvers that has long been in dnd.

Do I have it right, or am I missing something?

The "Silence" spell doesn't need to be concentrated on because it's not done being cast...that's what the "hold" part of the spell is. For example, you wouldn't expect a readied Fireball to actually appear as a big ball of searing hot magical flame and just kinda hover there waiting to 'explode and do damage', right? You would interpret the 'hold' of the spell to be an almost-completed type thing where the caster holds the last little "oomph"...and when the timing is right...BLAMMO! A big ball 'o flame. Same thing with Silence. It's not actually 'fully cast'....ergo, the requirement to concentrate to maintain Silence isn't needed.

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[_sheepy_]

It is still possible to silence someone on their spellcasting, however it won't stop them from casting that first spell.

My logic:

1. You ready your silence spell. Spell not cast yet, in theory you haven't even started doing any gesture, no concentration necessary.
2. He / she cast a spell. The spell takes effect.
3. Your can now cast your prepared silence, now you concentration on the casted silence spell.
4. He / she can no longer cast spells with V component, such as cannot use Shield as an reaction. However it may be possible to move to an unsilenced area.

 

[MechaPilot]

It is still possible to silence someone on their spellcasting, however it won't stop them from casting that first spell.

Won't it stop their spell? Can't you set the trigger as an enemy begins casting a spell? A silence spell reaction that takes place before the ending of the spell should prevent the completion of the spell, right?

 

[jadrax]

No, I think it works in such a way that once you start a 2nd thing that requires concentration, the first one ends, which happens anyway when you cast the readied spell.

However, you have to actually cast the spell when readying it, rather than just get ready to cast it. So if you do this and then don't run into a spellcaster as expected, you wasted a spell slot.

Reading the basic rules, I believe this is totally correct.

The "Silence" spell doesn't need to be concentrated on because it's not done being cast...that's what the "hold" part of the spell is.

Readying *any* spell require concentration. See what is currently page 72.

It is still possible to silence someone on their spellcasting, however it won't stop them from casting that first spell.

You cast a Ready spell as a Reaction, so it will go before your opponent casts there spell, thus stopping it. See what is currently page 72.

Won't it stop their spell? Can't you set the trigger as an enemy begins casting a spell? A silence spell reaction that takes place before the ending of the spell should prevent the completion of the spell, right?

The answer appears to be Yes to all of these questions.

 

[Stormonu]

If you could have readied the Silence spell, you could have already just have cast it on your action at the enemy spellcaster. How was this a problem before?

 

[Particle_Man]

If you could have readied the Silence spell, you could have already just have cast it on your action at the enemy spellcaster. How was this a problem before?

I assume it is because if you cast silence first, then on the enemy's turn the enemy can move out of the silence zone and then cast "I kill you dead!" on you.

If you ready the silence spell, then wait and concentrate, then, when the enemy is trying to cast the spell "I kill you dead!" on you, you activate the silence spell and ruin the enemy's chance to kill you dead, and cause them to lose their spell slot to boot!

 

[Stormonu]

Well, I'll be. Up through at least 3E, you could cast silence on an area, object or creature. On the latter two, it would move with the object/creature. Doesn't look like you can do that any more in 5E.

That sucks.