Counterspelling

[Dragon Mage]

Is it possible to counterspell a spell that is being cast quickened? If not can someone direct me the RaW? Thanks

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Quickened spells are no different in this regard from normal spells.

Thus, you can counterspell a quickened spell.

Relevant SRD Text:

COUNTERSPELLS

It is possible to cast any spell as a counterspell. By doing so, you are using the spell’s energy to disrupt the casting of the same spell by another character. Counterspelling works even if one spell is divine and the other arcane.

How Counterspells Work: To use a counterspell, you must select an opponent as the target of the counterspell. You do this by choosing the ready action. In doing so, you elect to wait to complete your action until your opponent tries to cast a spell. (You may still move your speed, since ready is a standard action.)

If the target of your counterspell tries to cast a spell, make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the spell’s level). This check is a free action. If the check succeeds, you correctly identify the opponent’s spell and can attempt to counter it. If the check fails, you can’t do either of these things.

To complete the action, you must then cast the correct spell. As a general rule, a spell can only counter itself. If you are able to cast the same spell and you have it prepared (if you prepare spells), you cast it, altering it slightly to create a counterspell effect. If the target is within range, both spells automatically negate each other with no other results.

Counterspelling Metamagic Spells: Metamagic feats are not taken into account when determining whether a spell can be countered.

Specific Exceptions: Some spells specifically counter each other, especially when they have diametrically opposed effects.

Dispel Magic as a Counterspell: You can use dispel magic to counterspell another spellcaster, and you don’t need to identify the spell he or she is casting. However, dispel magic doesn’t always work as a counterspell (see the spell description).

... and ...

QUICKEN SPELL [METAMAGIC]
Benefit: Casting a quickened spell is a free action. You can perform another action, even casting another spell, in the same round as you cast a quickened spell. You may cast only one quickened spell per round. A spell whose casting time is more than 1 full round action cannot be quickened. A quickened spell uses up a spell slot four levels higher than the spell’s actual level. Casting a quickened spell doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity.

Special: This feat can’t be applied to any spell cast spontaneously (including sorcerer spells, bard spells, and cleric or druid spells cast spontaneously), since applying a metamagic feat to a spontaneously cast spell automatically increases the casting time to a full-round action.

 

[ElectricDragon]

It is important to note that Stilled Silent spells and spells without somatic and verbal components can't be identified with the Spellcraft check.

As a house rule, I have added manipulation of material and focus components to that list for the Spellcraft check to identify a spell being cast (at +5 to the DC if that is all you can use to identify the spell).

Still, nobody uses counterspell, ah well.

Ciao
Dave

 

[Infiniti2000]

Still, nobody uses counterspell, ah well.

Wait until you get to the levels of an archmage or the usage of duel ward.

 

[Zurai]

Wait until you get to the levels of an archmage or the usage of duel ward.

Archmage Mastery of Counterspelling helps, but it still requires you to ready your action (ie, waste your turn if they choose not to cast a spell that you really want to counter). There are magical items and spells that help in that regard, but you end up specializing yourself too much.

 

[Dragon Mage]

Thanks for the help!

Yes Dual Ward is what started all this. Even with that, it uses up an immediate action from the high level wizard with quicken spell.