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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Volund" data-source="post: 7238912" data-attributes="member: 6872597">The question was how the counterspeller would know what spell was being cast. With S and M spells (he he) you would have some other visual cue about what spell was being cast, so even if you couldn't hear the words, they might recognize the M or S component being used. If you are making the point that if you hear the spell then it is too late to Counterspell, yes, absolutely. I think this highlights the issue of whether Counterspell should even work on Reaction or Bonus Action spells with only V components. It probably shouldn't be possible to Counterspell Shield or Misty Step. But the rules say you can use Counterspell that way, so we will have to suspend our logic about how it is possible to hear a quick verbal spell and then react with your own verbal spell to interrupt it before it is completed.Personally, to keep things simple, I would just let PC's and NPC's decide to use Counterspell after the spell is announced. After all, in games I play in the PC's don't tell the DM "I'm making some casting actions with my hands," they just announce the spell and then the DM decides whether the enemy caster will Counterspell. It should work the same for everyone. The rules don't go into much detail about how Counterspell actually works. "Interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell" implies that Counterspell goes off before the effect of the spell is seen, but the rules don't give any process for determining what spell they are in the process of casting. So you can invent a process that applies to everyone equally, adding an extra layer of complexity to casting and combat, or else skip it and make knowing the spell being cast an inherent property of Counterspell. Alternatively, it would also be simple to just make "I begin to cast a spell" a rote statement for casters, giving the opponent a chance to either say "OK" or "Counterspell" without knowing what was being cast. I favor simplicity over realism, but I acknowledge that others like more verisimilitude in their D&D, or enjoy inventing new game processes to fill in the holes in the rules.</blockquote>

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