CA Spellduel Rules?

[dcollins]

What's the basic gist behind the Complete Arcane spellduel rules? (Does it change the functioning of magic in any way, or just suggest in-game rules for how wizards would agree to compete with each other?)

 

[shilsen]

It's the latter - basically a set of rules and conventions that are followed by the combatants and those assisting, with modifications based on whether a duel is lethal or nonlethal. I think the only new rule is that during a nonlethal spell-duel, spells that require a roll to hit can be used at a -4 to hit to do nonlethal damage.

 

[dcollins]

Super, thank you!

 

[helium3]

It's the latter - basically a set of rules and conventions that are followed by the combatants and those assisting, with modifications based on whether a duel is lethal or nonlethal. I think the only new rule is that during a nonlethal spell-duel, spells that require a roll to hit can be used at a -4 to hit to do nonlethal damage.

So I can take a -4 penalty to do non-lethal damage with a scorching ray? Does that apply to disintegrate as well?

 

[shilsen]

So I can take a -4 penalty to do non-lethal damage with a scorching ray? Does that apply to disintegrate as well?

Actually I missed something - it's only spells that require a "melee attack roll" which can be used at -4 for nonlethal damage. So no Scorching Ray or Disintegrate.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I thought it also allowed you to 'pull' the damage from a spell so as to cause less damage than normal.

 

[helium3]

Face it. Non-lethal mage-dueling just doesn't work elegantly if you try to stick with the standard D&D3.5 spells and also keep things non-lethal. That makes sense, since D&D magic is primarily designed around killing stuff.

 

[dcollins]

So I just leafed through this last weekend, and I saw that the starting agreement looks like this:
(Round 1) Cast spell on self.
(Round 2) Ready counterspell.
(Round 3) Begin spell duel (I guess, anything goes at this point).

So, in the continuing discussion of "how useless is my counterspelling", I'm wondering what is the point of the round 2 mechanic? I guess A readies, B readies, then A attacks & B has a chance to counterspell? And then I guess the next turn goes to B because the ready action "occurs just before the action that triggers it", giving them an attack against a non-countering A, I guess?