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That's opinion, not fact. The issue is that this situation leads to people making assumptions, either correct or false. I have spellcasters in games that range from 9th to 19th level. And yeah, I've had it come up quite a bit (see my earlier post). And I've illustrated how it doesn't...

But how do you know they're cheating? You don't. So instead you will make an assumption that someone who is skilled at pitching various spell 'looks' at their opponent are in fact cheating. And maybe as the DM you'll insinuate that and the other players will begin to think that. And the...

I did suggest that evil beings, like bandits or monsters, be the ones to instigate trouble. But placing a pessimistic and crass perspective on the average commoner in the game is not the first place I would go. Yeah, you can do it, and I have, and there's certainly a trope of best intentions...

As long as they hire the best qualified candidate for the job, I've got no problem with it.

I agree with this. A player writing down a spell name so they won't cheat? Why do we need this rule again? Oh, to ensure that combat didn't devolve into identifying every spell. Instead combat will devolve into writing them down, apparently.

Come on. You KNOW that's not true! ;)

That 15+Spell Level Arcana DC is going to cull a lot of non-casters from this activity, not to mention those PCs have uses for their reactions, too. But, in some cases, you are correct! Also another reason my Wizard will be using a Simulacrum more often.

Looks like Adventurer's League is not compelling use of this spellcasting rule but will abide with DM's who elect to enforce it. So the 'optional' rule is not so optional now at a table with a DM who elects to run this way, if you play AL...

The first thing they address is the specific magic items (potions and scrolls) identified as being available to Adventurers' League are in fact, not available to Adventurers' League. I like that they preface this with a statement that their intent is to make as much of XGtE available but need...

So the Gamehole Con 'State of D&D' podcast mentioned a big AL survey going out this week. Any news on how that's going to be done? I assume as a standard D&D web page survey akin to the ones done for UA?

It's a bit of both, in my experience. A weak rules set that provides opportunities for fudging creates temptation.

I know there's a temptation a DM to toss in a twist on the PCs' good actions. I've done it myself. But over time I've come to realize that while it makes an interesting story in and of itself, it doesn't serve what the game's real purpose is - telling the story of the PCs as wise and competent...

I've had several games that included 'Counterspell Volleys' in the recent past. You know, Caster A casts a spell determined to be of threat, Caster B responds with a Counterspell, Caster A Counterspells back, Caster C counters that Counterspell, Caster D enters the fray with their own...

I like the Seven Samurai approach. The people remain good enough but word of their wealth has attracted bandits and/or treasure-hungry monsters.

Well there it is. Looks like Crawford is firmly in the shoot first and ask questions later camp.

Pretty much. As I recall, it's restricted to non-2-handed weapons.

You hit on a crux of this whole discussion. At the heart is perhaps a feeling that Counterspell is too powerful. I've seen it used, often in a flurry of back-and-forths, to good effect. However every casting of it is a 3rd level or higher spell, which are very limited caster resources, so in...

I think they did their best. The biggest rub for me was the short, 2hr slot times having significant chunks taken out of them while tables were being formed.

I see. The point is, as you've surmised, that one caster (PC or NPC) is casting Counterspell blind. That doesn't seem fair from either a player or DM perspective as they're both burning resources on a hunch, rather than an informed decision (or chance at an informed decision).

I played an AL game recently with a guy who has a 20th level devotion paladin. The rest of our characters were no slouches but his divine aura was literally the linchpin of our success. It was the difference between victory and having our lives snuffed out in just a couple of rounds.