Can you counterspell a spell-like ability?

[Ridley's Cohort]

On one hand, it seems that a penalty to a Spellcraft check is the right way handle this. Just like you would handle Silent or Stilled spells.

On the other hand, some spell-like abilities are not really spells at all but simply require a comparable amount of concentration and therefore share spell mechanics, e.g. Lay on Hands. I would say LoH is more like a special kind of positive energy channeling in the spirit of Turning Undead. The argument could be made for some creature spell-like abilities as well, even if the ability is mechanically represented by a named spell in the PHB.

 

[mikebr99]

How do you reconcile the idea that SLAs provoke AoOs into that? I've always considered that someone using a SLA must have to noticeably stop and concentrate for a moment, which is a sign they're casting SOMETHING, even if you don't know exactly what.

they are dropping their guard, to concentrate, which provokes an AoO. So does concentating on a skill, like spot or search for instance.

concentration = concentration.

Mike

 

[MerakSpielman]

This came up IMC because my low level PCs were fighting Nixies, and having to fend off a barrage of Charm effects every round. One of the Sorcerer's few spells was Charm Person.

In this case, Charm Person is the only spell-like effect a nixie can do, so if it's in any way obvious that they're using a spell-like ability, the sorcerer knows it's Charm Person. So a spellcraft check would almost seem unnecessary.

 

[Black Knight Irios]

This came up IMC because my low level PCs were fighting Nixies, and having to fend off a barrage of Charm effects every round. One of the Sorcerer's few spells was Charm Person.

In this case, Charm Person is the only spell-like effect a nixie can do, so if it's in any way obvious that they're using a spell-like ability, the sorcerer knows it's Charm Person. So a spellcraft check would almost seem unnecessary.

As I said before, I would allow a counter with Dispel Magic or Dispel Magic, Greater but not with the same spell as in a normal counter attempt!
That that is impossible is written in the PHB and the RPHB somewhere!

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

they are dropping their guard, to concentrate, which provokes an AoO. So does concentating on a skill, like spot or search for instance.

concentration = concentration.

Using Spot provokes an AoO?

 

[liquid]

No, spot doesn't, search does. At least that's how I run it. Spot is catching something out of the corner of your eye. Search is taking the time to look. You take your eyes off the target, and it's all over but the crying.

 

[tarchon]

Did they take that out of the 3.5 PHB? In the 3.0 PHB, there's a section on p. 158 ("Special Abilities") that says how dispel and counterspelling interact with (Sp) and (Su), the gist being that neither can be counterspelled; supernaturals can't be dispelled but they can be antimagicked, while spell-like are generally dispellable (presumably subject to the usual limitations on dispel magic). Generally, spell-likes in 3.0 are like... spells except (1) no material components (2) no counterspelling (3) no armor penalty check. They can be dispelled, they do attact AoOs, and they can be disrupted.

 

[Black Knight Irios]

From Rules of the Game: All about Spell-Like Abilities Part 2
· A spell-like ability cannot be used as a counterspell, and it is not subject to counterspells. A counterspell involves recognizing a spell as it is being cast, then quickly altering that same spell so as to create an opposite effect that cancels out the original spell. A spell-like ability is essentially hardwired into its user's psyche, and its power is released mentally. The process is sufficiently different from spellcasting so it that doesn't allow a foe to identify the spell-like ability, and a counterspell cannot interfere with the spell-like ability's magical energy as it can with a spell. As noted earlier, a spell-like ability is subject to dispelling (provided the spell it duplicates is subject to dispelling). When a spell-like ability can be dispelled (as most of them are) one can effectively counter them with a dispel magic spell. While spell-like abilities are not normally subject to counterspells, dispel magic is not really a counterspell. When you use dispel magic as a counterspell, what you're really doing is casting a quick, targeted dispel effect at the correct moment to negate the enemy spell and not creating an opposite magical effect that cancels your enemy's spell.

As you see a Dispel Magic is able to counter a (Sp) if the spell duplicated by it, is subject to dispel magic.

 

[mikebr99]

Using Spot provokes an AoO?

Really depends on how you use it...

Action: Varies. Every time you have a chance to spot something in a reactive manner you can make a Spot check without using an action. Trying to spot something you failed to see previously is a move action. To read lips, you must concentrate for a full minute before making a Spot check, and you can’t perform any other action (other than moving at up to half speed) during this minute.

You are in a fist fight, in a bar, because you are a Drow... some cutie is mouthing something to you across the room, and you really want to know what she is saying to you.​

How is this kind of concentration any different then you (being the Drow) invoking your Darkness to get the hell away from the village idiot?​

Mike​

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