Counterspelling Wands

[Pinotage]

Quick question: Can a character normally counterspell a spell cast from a wand, staff or scroll?

Thanks

Pinotage

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

No. By the rules, a counterspell targets a spellcaster who is in the process of casting a spell. Wands and staves use the 'spell trigger activation' effect. Casting a counterspell requires a Spellcraft check to identify the spell being cast. Presumably this reflects the counter-speller recognizing the incantations and gestures, etc. Since those things don't take place with wands, there is no way for the counter-speller to identify and cast the appropriate counterspell in time.

I could probably be persuaded to allow the 'Dispel Magic' counterspell variation to affect a wand, since it doesn't require identifying and casting a specific counter. It's more like a shotgun approach to block anything that comes along.

 

[Li Shenron]

I am not sure... I thought you could use counterspell vs a scroll, but not vs a wand or staff.

 

[Halivar]

I am not sure... I thought you could use counterspell vs a scroll, but not vs a wand or staff.

I think that's because scrolls, unlike wands and staffs (staves?), are not spell completion items. You cast from a scroll as if it were in memory, including the use of any and all material, somatic, and vocal components. None of these are necessary (if I'm correct) more the use of spell-completion items.

 

[JimAde]

I think that's because scrolls, unlike wands and staffs (staves?), are not spell completion items. You cast from a scroll as if it were in memory, including the use of any and all material, somatic, and vocal components. None of these are necessary (if I'm correct) more the use of spell-completion items.

ACtually I think you have the terminology a little off. Scrolls are Spell Completion (meaning it's like you are casting the spell) while wands are Spell Trigger (point and click ).

So I agree: no regular counterspelling against wands, but I would allow use of Dispel Magic.

 

[Li Shenron]

I think that's because scrolls, unlike wands and staffs (staves?), are not spell completion items. You cast from a scroll as if it were in memory, including the use of any and all material, somatic, and vocal components. None of these are necessary (if I'm correct) more the use of spell-completion items.

Well... perhaps we're both confused I am quite sure that wands & staves don't reqiure any component (spell trigger items), while scrolls require vocal/somatic components but not material/xp components whose cost is included in the market price (spell completion item).

But about counterspelling, I really don't remember... :\

 

[hobgoblin]

the question i guess is this: could a spellcaster take a spellcraft check or similar to figure out what spell is being cast if said spell is comeing from a wand? if he can then he can counterspell it as it basicly rely on putting a kind of magical white noise up so as to nullify the magic being cast. dispel magic on the other hand could work anyways as its specific job is to take apart other magic, therefor the perfect counter for any unknown magic is dispel magic (as long as you dont fail that check)...