D&D 5E Two magic-related rules questions

[jeffh]

A couple things in 5th Edition I strongly suspect my current GM is ruling incorrectly, however, it's also possible that I'm just making assumptions based on how things worked in prior editions that might not be valid any longer in 5E.

1.
If a monster has innate spellcasting (example: a drider or drow casting Faerie Fire), is this treated like casting a spell, with the same limitations? I know it doesn't require material components, but does it still require concentration? Can it be done in the area of a Silence spell?

(I see no reason this wouldn't be treated like any other caster, but the GM I'm currently playing with insists they don't require concentration and I think he let them do it inside a Silence spell at least once.)

2.
Can a wand be used inside the area of a Silence spell? I could have sworn they required a verbal command. Again, this GM allowed us to do this. I'm fairly sure this ruling (in our favour this time) was also incorrect.

 

[Greenstone.Walker]

1. If a monster has innate spellcasting (example: a drider or drow casting Faerie Fire), is this treated like casting a spell, with the same limitations? I know it doesn't require material components, but does it still require concentration? Can it be done in the area of a Silence spell?

It is exactly like casting a spell, including the requirement for material component. If it has a verbal component then they can't cast it while silenced.

For example, a drow's racial darkness spell requires their concentration.

Having racial magic not require material components seems to me to be a reasonable house rule (I don't have my book so I can't check if any racial magic actually requires M component).

Having racial magic not require verbal components seems a bit overpowered to me. It seems reasonable that something you've been doing since birth/puberty/whatever should not have many requirements, but most players will assume "silence shuts down magic" and will be upset when it doesn't/

On the other hand, as a GM I would without hesitation change the rules for strange races. For example, in a campaign where the Underdark is unknown and scary it would be dramatic if drow and dvergar and svirfneblin have different rules for their innate magic.

2. Can a wand be used inside the area of a Silence spell?

Depends on the wand - some will, some won't. When I hand out magic items, I always note on the item what components (V and/or S) it requires.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Based on the guidelines given for innate spell casting (MM p10) I see nothing that indicates these spells are cast any differently than regular spells.

Many wands empower the user to use charges from it to power the casting of spells. These are cast as exactly like the spell (except needing a focus or material components). Other wands function with the use of a command word, and others (such as a wand of secrets) can be used without making a sound. The wand of paralysis also seems to be just a point and shoot device. So a lot depends on the wand being used.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

I rule no M components or need for a spell focus but otherwise as normal. So if Fonzie the Drow casts a spell he needs to snap his fingers and say "ayyyyy" to cast it, even if he is butt nekkid. Chachie the Wizard on the other hand can still cast the same spell but he would also need to wear the leather jacket. You get the idea.

 

[Rya.Reisender]

Well, if you cast it from an item like a staff, then the staff itself is the material component (arcane focus).

I wouldn't generally allow to ignore Material component, but it could very well be that some body part is actually an arcane focus.