D&D 5E Goldilocks Poll: Counterspell

[CleverNickName]

There's a bit of discussion about Counterspell in the 5th Edition Rules in the forum, and I'm curious what you (yes you!) think about it.

If 5E's counterspell was a bowl of porridge, and you were Goldilocks, how would you rate it?

• Too hot: the rules go too far! This spell is completely overpowered.
• Too cold: they nerfed my beautiful counterspell! Now it's too weak to be of any use.
• Just Right: it works just the way I want it to, with just the right amount of complexity and fun.

 

[TheSword]

Nerfed. You need to know the spell being cast as part of the action.

 

[Krachek]

Goldilocks should have read the ingredients list right from the start. Counterspell didn’t change over time. Only the application DM have made of it!

 

[Dausuul]

• Too toxic: This porridge is actually radioactive sludge.

It isn't that it's too powerful or too weak. It's that the whole design of the spell is bad. It encourages casters to burn through their resources even faster (like they needed any more encouragement to do that), and the result is a whole bunch of nothing happening, which makes for SUPER EXCITING COMBATS, guys.

And that's not even getting into the "fix" which forces the DM to stop and ask "The bad guy is casting a spell, any counters?" every single time, instead of just narrating the spell and carrying on.

If this were Harry Potter the RPG, I would want counterspell to be part of an intricate back-and-forth of bluffs and counterplays and arcane gambits. However, this is D&D, and the fighter and the rogue should not have to sit through twenty minutes of tepid wizard-on-wizard action. So I think counterspell should just grant advantage on the initial saving throw against the target spell. You get to see the spell's visible effects (if it has any) before deciding whether to counter, and you cannot even cast counterspell against a spell that grants no save.

 

[BookTenTiger]

Works for me! I get really excited every time I get to cast it as a wizard. As a DM I feel bad when my spellcaster enemy doesn't get to do its big bad thing, but there are many other ways for enemies to fail.

 

[Flamestrike]

• Too toxic: This porridge is actually radioactive sludge.

It isn't that it's too powerful or too weak. It's that the whole design of the spell is bad. It encourages casters to burn through their resources even faster (like they needed any more encouragement to do that), and the result is a whole bunch of nothing happening, which makes for SUPER EXCITING COMBATS, guys.

• Make yourself unseen when casting. You need to be able to see your target to counterspell it. Total cover, heavy obscurement and invisibility work wonders.
• Move so you're more than 60' away when you cast.

Interestingly, readied spells cant be countered (unless countered while the Ready action is being taken). After that, the release of the spell cant be countered.

 

[Horwath]

Too weak.

I would again have Dispel magic and Counterspell in the same spell.

Just add reaction cast time option to Dispel magic for counterspelling usage.

Identifying spells should be free action with DC 10+spell level Arcane check, 15+SL is too much with flattened increase of skill bonuses.

 

[Stormonu]

So far, no problems with in the games I'm running/playing. Being in range, having to know the spell being countered has kept it from being overused.

 

[Dragonsbane]

Too weak.

I would again have Dispel magic and Counterspell in the same spell.

Just add reaction cast time option to Dispel magic for counterspelling usage.

Identifying spells should be free action with DC 10+spell level Arcane check, 15+SL is too much with flattened increase of skill bonuses.

This.

Dispel Magic
3rd level abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V S
Duration: Instantaneous

This spell can be used in at least two ways:
Dispel Magic: Choose one creature, object, or magical effect within range. For each spell or effect on the creature, object, or areas, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability score +1 per level of the spell slot expended VS a DC that equals 10 + the spell or effect level + the caster’s spellcasting ability score modifier. On a success, the spell or effect ends. Make a separate check for each magical effect on a creature, object, or areas.

Counterspell: When another spellcaster begins casting a spell, you can attempt a counterspell as a reaction. You must expend a spell slot and then make an ability check using your spellcasting ability score +1 per level of the spell slot expended VS a DC that equals 10 + the spell or effect level + the caster’s spellcasting ability score modifier. On a success, the spell is countered. Counterspell cannot counter magical items or innate creature abilities. Counterspell cannot counter another counterspell.

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, your ability check bonus increases (see above).

 

[Li Shenron]

Just fine with a good DM.