No, it’s not. If a character tries something and the cleric shouts guidance, the character trying something stops, waits for guidance to be cast, then resumes their action.
No, it doesn’t. You have to twist the game and not let the players have control over their characters to prevent it. Once or twice and suddenly everyone is constantly asking for guidance prior to trying things instead of the cleric shouting it out. It’s still annoying.
If a player says "I sneak down the hallway" then that is what he is doing. If the cleric's player says I run up and grab his shoulder then that too happens. If it is worded a little differently "Guys I can sneak down the hallway....sure I will cast guidance" that is fundamentally different.
If you are letting your cleric change what another character is doing by shouting "I cast guidance" before he does it you are actually taking control AWAY from the first player.
Let you players tell you what their characters are doing and then let them face the ramifications for such. Also as DM you call for checks instead of letting them roll checks automatically.
Two things. First, Xanathar’s is all optional content. It’s not RAW in the same sense as the PHB. Second, guidance is an action to cast with concentration of 1 minute. Cast it before you enter then negotiate. Negotiate for a minute or two, step outside, get another guidance, go back inside and negotiate some more. Overcoming the “roadblocks” you suggest are trivial.
No it only lasts 1 minute, not 2 minutes. You need to cast it in the middle of the negotiation to keep it up for more than a minute. You would need to use extend spell metamagic (when you cast it) to get 2 minutes out of it.
So you cast it out of sight/sound of the merchant, then you walk up to him and you probably have about 40 seconds left before the spell ends.
Again, not RAW, optional rules presented in Xanathar’s. Also, it’s an Arcana check. And if there was ever an instance for proficient-only use of skills, identifying a specific spell being cast is it. Unless you think literally everyone in the entire world is so casually familiar with magic they can all…down to the youngest child…identify specific spells being cast just from the components on sight.
It is an Intelligence (Arcana) check, which means it is intelligence if the person in question is not proficient. It is a DC 15, which makes it probably about as hard as hitting a baseball thrown by a 13 year old.
Any proficiency requirement is typically due to a DC that would be impossible without it and 15 is not high enough to be that. For example if it was a 26 DC it would be impossible without proficiency. There is no rules (optional or not) that I am aware of that state only someone proficient can attempt a skill check.
So yes according to the [optional] rules anyone can attempt to identify the spell down to the smallest child. If you want to homebrew that then fine, but that is homebrew.
Further identifying the spell is not nearly as big a deal as knowing someone just cast a spell.
But you’re also skipping this line. “This Intelligence (Arcana) check represents the fact that identifying a spell requires a quick mind and familiarity with the theory and practice of casting.” So you’re giving everyone in your setting the Arcana skill for free if you let anyone and everyone ID spells on sight.
No that is why it is a DC check. That is what the 15 to identify the spell, but there is no check to identify someone is casting a spell. Being practiced at casting spells gives you advantage on the check (if it is from your spell list), so casters are more likely to succeed, but the basic knowledge comes from your intelligence score (and proficiency if you have it).
Magic is a like a helicopter, everyone knows what it is and knows it when they see it. Identifying a spell is like identifying a helicopter when it quickly flys by overhead. Few are going to be able to know that unless they have knowledge of such things. That knowledge could be from general knowledge (intelligence) or it could be from specific knowledge like if he is a Pilot, Engineer or Soldier (proficiency), but everyone can look up and see if he knows what kind of helicopter it is.
This is the DM making a call. Nowhere in the rules does it say anything about a +10 to Insight or tossing the character.
Absolutely it is. It is role playing the merchant who just witnessed someone cast a spell on himself before the negotiation started.
Do whatever you think is reasonable as the DM, but doing nothing is hardly reasonable. Maybe he responds with a counterspell or dispel magic instead. Maybe he does nothing.
This is your interpretation of the rules, not RAW. There’s a difference. Verbal components don’t need to be screamed or shouted. And again, you’re conveniently forgetting that it’s a 1 minute concentration spell. Cast it before you’re in the hall with the guards.
According to the rules designer casting a spell gives away your location if hidden unless you use subtle spell. Further according to him, verbal components must be loud enough to be heard (unless you use subtle spell).
No, they don’t. You just think they do. World of difference.
Yes they do. That is what the subtle spell metamagic is intended for and if you are letting characters cast without being noticed all the time then you are nerfing that metamagic and greatly increasing the propensity to use spells in social situations.
