Counterspelling. How often do you use it in your campaign?

[Agamon]

My campaign is pretty magic-lite. One of the two wizards the party's fought so far had a Ring of Counterspells with Dispel Magic in it. She never used it, the party's cleric got the ring, and he still has had no chance to use it.

 

[BluWolf]

WE hav eonly used it once and that was when I was playing the party mage as an NPC becasue the player was absent.

When I announced what I was doing everyone looked at me like I had three heads.

 

[Rydac]

In my campaign there have been very few true counterspell attempts, but a decent amount of reactive counterspell via dispel magic.

I'm surprised at some of the responses which find counterspelling a waste, instead opting to do damage first. We've seen combat moments where the enemy mage's fireball was going to do more damage to us than our mage hitting them for example. It truly does depend on the situation and the amount of spellcasting opponents you face. My experience is it can definitely play a strong role.

 

[Ziggy]

I play an abjurer (currently 7th level), and have used counterspell (based on dispel magic) fairly often (in at least 4 or 5 combats).

He is not a heavy hitter with offensive spells, but focused on buffing and protection. A well-timed counterspell is often the difference between a held frontline fighter (=almost certain kill) and a victory. You feel pretty useless when fighting non-magic using monsters (using only magic missile and flaming sphere) but that's life.

.Ziggy

 

[green slime]

Interesting point someone made about being able to counterspell a Cure X Wounds ...

I think I'll put that to some use in the game, I think...

So far in the campaign, there hasn't been any counterspelling.

Seeing as it would seems to require at least two feats (Improved and Reactive) to become effective, it really isn't an option that most PCs are going to go for...

But it is probably a better action to ready a counterspell, should it be required, than just blast off a MM or such-like...

 

[Gez]

Once. My gnome wizard tried to cast a fireball, and it was counterspelled by the villain. Then, we found out that since we'd been stripped of our possessions, I couldn't cast fireball (here is what happens when you're tired). So, we've replayed the scene, and in fact, we've never used counterspell.

To put it simply, it's too hard to counterspell. Without special feats or houserules, IIRC, you have to recognize the spell being cast, to have an initiative greater or equal to your opponent, to ready an action for counterspelling, and to have the same spell as your enemy ready. When you've got Lightning Bolt and you suspect your opponent may too, you usually try to fry him before he fry you than to counterspell his attempt.

 

[novyet]

It's come up in about 35% of combats involving enemy spellcasters. The only thing I don't see too often is counterspelling with the same spell or it's counter, most people just use dispel magic or greater dispelling.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

The problem with counterspelling.

Well for one there is the simple problem of the sheer size of the DnD spell list. This means that a smart mage will always have an odd memorized that you are not going to know. This limits direct counter-spelling.

You can use Dispel Magic though to counterspell some people will say.

Yep, dispel magic a 3rd level spell.

3rd level why does that spell level stick out so much?

Oh yeah

Fireball
Lightning Bolt
Fly
Haste
Vampiric Touch

3rd level happens to be the most popular firepower spell level a mage gets. I know this was more so in 1E and 2E but the image is still there in so many peoples minds. So how many mages really want to mem a bunch of dispels instead of any of the above spells?

Personally if my mage was going to be big into counterspelling I would haste myself in advance and have a wand to counterspell with and hold my partial action all the time. Only really effective way to do it.

 

[KidCthulhu]

Is counterspell theoretically effective? Yes. Is it cool and showy? Yes. Does anyone use it? No. So why?

It's just not worth it. The cost in held action, lost opportunity, etc. is just not worth the readied action. Dispel Magic is much better spent as an area spell removing protection and enhancement from your enemies and readied actions are much better spent doing damage. That's really it.

I've never used Counterspell in any of the games I play in, nor have I ever heard of anyone using it until this thread. That should tell you a great deal about the practical usability of counterspell.

 

[Rashak Mani]

Make a POLL asking how frenquently people counterspell...