D&D (2024) Is Counterspell less frustrating now?

[TiQuinn]

It just needs to not exist.

It has no real reason to exist. It just makes the game objectively worse.

Dispel magic is fine, but Counterspell needs to go. Just making it 10% less obnoxious isn't a solution.

On the other hand, I’ve enjoyed using counterspell in games and having a chain of them go off to see who wins. It’s like having a shootout with spells. It doesn’t happen often but when it does, it’s been exciting for the players to see what happens.

 

[TheSword]

Sorry for Necro’ing but I used this spell for the first time as a PC at the weekend. In 5.0 it was always off the spellcasting list previously because it felt a bit blaggy - particularly if a kind DM lets you know what spell is cast in advance or a bit naff if you don’t.

The new version feels useful and poweful but without being blaggy. It has a chance of stopping a spell. I used it twice in that session, once it worked, once it didn’t and it was used once by the enemy wizard against me. It definitely saved the party’s life though because that fireball would have resulted in a TPK i think. Or certainly taken out 3 players.

I like the fact that it effectively forces a Concentration check.

I like that it’s not automatic and a casters skill can keep it at bay.

I like that it only ever uses a 3rd level slot.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Sorry for Necro’ing but I used this spell for the first time as a PC at the weekend. In 5.0 it was always off the spellcasting list previously because it felt a bit blaggy - particularly if a kind DM lets you know what spell is cast in advance or a bit naff if you don’t.

The new version feels useful and poweful but without being blaggy. It has a chance of stopping a spell. I used it twice in that session, once it worked, once it didn’t and it was used once by the enemy wizard against me. It definitely saved the party’s life though because that fireball would have resulted in a TPK i think. Or certainly taken out 3 players.

I like the fact that it effectively forces a Concentration check.

I like that it’s not automatic and a casters skill can keep it at bay.

I like that it only ever uses a 3rd level slot.

Used it and had it used on me in a recent session. I actually like it, there is a player in the group that stopped taking it because of the nerf.

 

[TheSword]

Used it and had it used on me in a recent session. I actually like it, there is a player in the group that stopped taking it because of the nerf.

Yeah it felt balanced. Worth taking but not like I was sticking it to the DM. And when he used it on me and I failed the save I wasn’t sore because I didn’t lose the spell slot.

Action economy is a much bigger thing for enemies than it is for PCs, whereas spell slots are far more important for PCs than enemies.

 

[Zardnaar]

Early days. It seems a kick in the nuts for PCs. It's basically a tempo loss now.

PCs using it are burning through spell slots very fast. NPC keeps their spell slot in effect loses their action.

Makes sorcerers a lot better.

 

[TheSword]

The fact the DC of the Con save is the Counterspell Spell DC is good too. DC 16 is still pretty hard for many casters to pass. Particularly NPCs without feats or Con proficiency.

 

[Zardnaar]

The fact the DC of the Con save is the Counterspell Spell DC is good too. DC 16 is still pretty hard for many casters to pass. Particularly NPCs without feats or Con proficiency.

That as well.

You almost need 2-4 npc support mooks with counterspell if PCs use it much.

5E spellcaster tend to be glass cannons.

Mage CR6 40 hp up to liches. Gladiators CR 5 has 112 hp. 2014 anyway.

 

[Chaltab]

I'm not the biggest fan of the new counterspell in theory, though I haven't ever taken it.

I had it used against a character casting a level 4 spell and thought it would have no effect. The DM surprised me by saying we were using the 2024 version which I don't think we'd discussed before. So that was kind of annoying. Also it was a magic item spell, not using a spell slot so I lost the use.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Reading through some of this thread has convinced me to adopt the 2024 version. I don't think the 2014 version has actually ever come up for us yet (our higher level games have been self-contained theme adventures, and there weren't much in the way of high-level PC casters, and I never thought to give it to monsters).

That being said, I wonder if a higher level spell could be designed that works more like the 2014 version (though probably always requiring a check).

 

[ECMO3]

I really don't like the spell slot is not lost BS. It should be like a save or suck. They did a lot of this with the 2024 rules though.