Execution of magic-use

[Horoku]

How do you guys handle magic use, as a DM?
Like, do you or the players, when casting Fireball for example, just describe the basic action:
"Jacob gestures and speaks echoing words of power, and a glowing bead flies from his fingertip to the center of the orcs, blossoming into a blazing ball of violet fire!"

Or

Do you come up with a verbal and somatic component to include in the spell's description, like:
"Maneuvering his hands in ever-tightening cyclic patterns (possibly pantomiming it), and uttering the words "Rin-sho-tak!", Jacob throws a glowing ball of sulfur at the orcs, which blossoms into a blazing ball of violet fire!"

Or is it something in-between? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[snarfoogle]

I guess this isn't a topic about a campaign world where every magic-user is executed, then.

 

[Horoku]

eheh... I guess that was bad wording on my part. I meant execution as in "process of enforcement," or something to that extent. Sorry 'bout that.

 

[Ibram]

How do you guys handle magic use, as a DM?
Like, do you or the players, when casting Fireball for example, just describe the basic action:
"Jacob gestures and speaks echoing words of power, and a glowing bead flies from his fingertip to the center of the orcs, blossoming into a blazing ball of violet fire!"

Or

Do you come up with a verbal and somatic component to include in the spell's description, like:
"Maneuvering his hands in ever-tightening cyclic patterns (possibly pantomiming it), and uttering the words "Rin-sho-tak!", Jacob throws a glowing ball of sulfur at the orcs, which blossoms into a blazing ball of violet fire!"

Or is it something in-between? Inquiring minds want to know!

I'd never tell the players the name of the spell being cast. Its always something like "The sorcerer mutters something under his breath and makes a strange gesture with his hands, sending bolts of light arching through the air towards you".

Players tell me the name of the spell the I usualy add a bit of discriptive text.

 

[shilsen]

I usually use a description blending components and visual flavor for the first time an NPC (or my PC, if I'm playing and not DMing) uses a particular spell. After that, if they encounter/use the same spell, I just use the name. Haven't seen any of the other players use a description yet.