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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ilbranteloth" data-source="post: 6994865" data-attributes="member: 6778044">In general yes, and I maintained it from the original example. I'm a bit on the fence for that one though. The more I think about it, here's how I would handle it:What really matters here is how you handle spellcasting in a non-initiative system.First let me point out that there is the potential for abuse of the "until the start/end of your next turn" system in play in 5e. The way we handle that is a mix of common sense - that is it lasts until "the same point" next round, but since we aren't strictly measuring time, it's a bit nebulous. But the wording is designed to determine when the target gets another save, or is released from the magic, etc. So most of the time we just end it at the start or end of the round itself. If there's a problem that arises because of that, then an Initiative check is usually fair. I can't remember any actual problem we've had with the system yet, though.The second potential question, and more relevant to this one with the held chill touch is what to do for a Readied spell. Again, we usually handle this with an Initiative check. In that case, Vlad would not have had to Ready the spell at all, he would just need to have his Action available.You have some control over when your actions occur through the round, but if you are attempting to react to something with your Action, rather than your Reaction, then you might need to make an Initiative check. In this case you have two options when casting a spell:Cast it with your Action, with a potential Initiative check if necessary.Ready the spell, meaning you can cast it as a Reaction, but then you can't cast another spell without losing this Readied spell.Since you won't lose the spell slot, it probably wouldn't matter in many cases, but let's look a the specific example:Readied SpellVlad wanted to cast chill touch when a goblin appeared, and before they could hide again. Casting it as a Reaction more or less guarantees that possibility, and might even allow him to hit the goblin before it shoots an arrow:"I'll cast chill touch at the first goblin I see." Assuming Vlad's looking in the right general direction, when the goblin pops up, he casts the spell. At the same time, the goblin is aiming to shoot its arrow. In the bushes, the goblin probably didn't need to actually "pop up" but we'll assume its movement was enough to spot it.In this case, I wouldn't have a problem with an Initiative check to see if the chill touch strikes first, because if it does and is enough to kill the goblin, it won't fire the arrow.Not-Readied Spell"I'll cast chill touch on the first goblin I see, but I will use shield against the first arrow shot at me."So here, the arrows were unexpected, he would cast shield against the arrow, then would need to make an Initiative check to see if the goblin could hide before he cast chill touch. If the goblin hid first, then he wouldn't cast the chill touch yet.Note that the second round in my example shows what might happen - time continues. So if Vlad defended himself against the arrow with shield and lost site of the goblins, then he just wouldn't cast another spell, and "lose" his turn.I don't like this characterization, mostly because when you think about it, I don't think he's losing a turn at all, because real combat, or activities are turn based. It will just happen a few seconds later "in the next round."I like this example in part because in the original example, several of the characters took cover and hid from the ranged fire, instead of the usual D&D approach of everybody runs into battle. I think that's a rather realistic approach.</blockquote>

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