D&D 5E Casting in melee

[Agamon]

Note that you can move freely around someone (or possibly even through larger/smaller creatures), and never provoke an opportunity attack; they are only triggered when you *leave* someone's reach. In a lot of ways, it's more freedom than previous editions.

Not to mention Disengage lets you move and provoke no opportunity attacks at all. It uses your action, but it does let you waltz past the front line if there's room (or even if there isn't, if you're a halfling).

 

[Psikerlord#]

Not to mention Disengage lets you move and provoke no opportunity attacks at all. It uses your action, but it does let you waltz past the front line if there's room (or even if there isn't, if you're a halfling).

yes the wizard is going to get mobbed pretty bad in 5e (or he would, if he were actually a threat, but currently he isnt much of one). hold person etc give saves every round, and are only effective if you have a good martial on hand to smack the guy, anyway!

 

[Nikosandros]

Not seeing any flaws here. Wizard in melee is the greatest threat the Wizard should be facing anyway.

I'm not sure that I understand. Are you arguing that since it's dangerous for a wizard to be in melee then it's OK to be able to cast without restrictions?

 

[evileeyore]

I'm not sure that I understand. Are you arguing that since it's dangerous for a wizard to be in melee then it's OK to be able to cast without restrictions?

Yup.

 

[Li Shenron]

If I'm reading the rules correctly, there are no penalties for casting a spell while in melee with an opponent (besides getting disadvantage if the spell requires a ranged attack).

What do you think of this? This would be the first edition in which a caster can use with impunity hold person or charm person while in melee.

This doesn't match what actually occurred in play. In both 3E and 4E, casters could often cast spells in melee and have no problems with it at all. 3E had Concentration and the five-foot step, 4E had various implements and abilities that allowed ranged or area spells to be cast without fear of disruption.

What MerricB says. I've rarely encountered a spellcaster who didn't manage to cast a spell in melee if she wanted to.

The main blocker IMXP is always the fear of getting close to enemy attacks, not the rules which were designed to hamper close-quarter spellcasting, because there is always a workaround for them.