D&D 5E Casting spells with a Verbal component underwater

[Coroc]

First voted no, but then changed it to it depends, namely if you are either an aquatic or amphibic creature or under the effect of a water breathing magic (spell or potion or other).

Otherwise no.

Now tricky can you cast in free space ?

Answer No. Sound does not work in space. Sorry to all you star wars freaks your laser machine guns and X-wing fighters just do not make any sound at all in space. Funny question: Why would a laser make sound in the first place?

 

[Coroc]

I always forget those. Kind of like helmets. They cramp the style of my favorite sorts of characters, so I assume they aren't wearing them.

Ah but you know real heroes never wear helmets, every movie cannot be wrong

 

[GMMichael]

Ah but you know real heroes never wear helmets, every movie cannot be wrong

Eomer thinks you just said he's not a real hero.

By the way, not wearing a helm is a good way to increase the odds that your opponent gets a critical on you.

PS Fine. You can cast underwater if you have BOTH Freedom of Movement and Water Breathing already active on your character. Oh by the way, those two spells, in conjunction, make you vulnerable to lightning spells...

 

[Bacon Bits]

How about somatic? If non-proficient armor hampers those, do you need a swim speed to be sufficiently capable of making precise gestures in hampering liquid medium?

I would say water doesn't hamper your ability to make somatic movements, but somatic movement might very well compromise your ability to swim.

 

[Bacon Bits]

Eomer thinks you just said he's not a real hero.

Eomer is not a hero. He's a soldier.

Why do you think Eowyn had to take off her helmet before she killed the Witch King?

 

[toucanbuzz]

I'll waver on my original response after looking at prior editions and RAI.

From my original post: per designer Jeremy Crawford, the original intent was that IF you were holding your breath, you can cast a spell (you're breathing out, not in), but then you're no longer holding your breath.

However, this contrasts with the original AD&D design (from the add-on Complete Wizards), which provided specific rules that weren't originally covered on what might impair wizard casting. The "gag" was mentioned. While yes, you can make noise with a gag, perhaps even communicate to others, you couldn't cast with a gag because:

"[the wizard] must be able to enunciate each phrase or sound of a spell's verbal component clearly and distinctly for the spell to be successful."

The only mention of casting underwater was if the caster was under the effect of water-breathing. It's clear that yes you can make noise underwater, but not the clear and distinct enunciation required for Verbals. To combat this, AD&D had a spell called Vocalize that allowed wizards to bypass the verbal component.

In 3.5, the rule is same as Crawford described. You could cast (after making a Concentration check), but then you're no longer holding your breath and subject to the quick drowing rules.

So, it depends.

 

[Azzy]

I'd say if you can breathe underwater, you can speak underwater, and that includes casting verbal spells.

That's what I'd say, too.

For those that can't breathe underwater... you can talk or hold your breath.

 

[Bohandas]

Now tricky can you cast in free space ?

Answer No. Sound does not work in space.

Yeah, but you're exhaling air while you talk and it does work in air. The sound doesn't have to travel far enough to reach anyone in particular, not evem your own ears; it just has to be made.

 

[Bohandas]

Ah but you know real heroes never wear helmets, every movie cannot be wrong

What about the Power Rangers? And other characters whose actors can't do stunts? Or whose fight scenes need to be used in multiple unrelated shows?

 

[Dausuul]

Now tricky can you cast in free space ?

Answer No. Sound does not work in space.

Sound is not conducted through space; but space is not a silence spell. It doesn't prevent you making sound, it just keeps anyone from hearing you unless they are in physical contact. You can hear yourself speak, because the sound goes through your own body. If you put your mouth on someone else's ear, they can hear you.

That said, if you're unprotected in open space, you had better speak fast because the vacuum will suck the air out of your lungs very rapidly, and trying to hold your breath will rupture your lungs.