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Goldilocks Poll: Counterspell
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<blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 8222489" data-attributes="member: 2629"><p>Don't always do it. Read what my question was and recognize there was a condition there. D&D is an RPG. You're telling a story. It is great to have the NPCs act intelligently. If those are the only options in your mind, you're ignoring ample evidence that other possibilities are not only possible, but more common.Try using some non spellcasters if they always use it - because that means that almost all combats have a spellcaster. Counterspell only comes up as a possibility in about 10% of my encounters (of the appropriate levels) because only about 1 in 10 features spellcasting (if that.... probably less).</p><p></p><p>However, I will note that when you have a class like sorcerer in play, which knows very few spells, you have to realize that repetition of spells is expected in 5E.How do you plan for the breath weapon of a dragon? Will they use it once? Every round? How many PCs will be in it each time? Will the PCs save? </p><p></p><p>And what about those battles where the PCs roll nothing but ones and the DM rolls high all the time?</p><p></p><p>PCs can handle a range of difficulty. Not a single point. In that video I reference above there are <em>three</em> meteor swarms cast - and none of them were countered. If I told you that the bad guys were going to unleash three meteor swarms on a group of 5E PCs, most people would assume that was an immediate death sentence. Then - seriously - it would be well worth your time to watch the videos I have posted above to see how it can be a very exciting and engaging addition to the combat at 20th level. There is a video of just the uses of Counterspell throughout Critical Role as well (I posted that as well).</p><p></p><p>In the end: Many DMs run the game in a way that Counterspell is an exciting and engaging addition to the game. If you struggle with it, there are resources to help you make it a better experience. You don't need to use them, but so far it seems like the 'boring factor' is a self fulfilling prophecy - it is boring because you treat it as boring.</p><p></p><p>I have run a few campaigns to 20th level in 5E. I have played in a few as well. There were a lot more higher level games that did not go to 20. I've played one bard, as well as sorcerers, warlocks (who very rarely used it - but they were clutch uses) and wizards that have it. I've seen frustrated DMs who didn't like that we used it, but I've seen more DMs who use it as a moment for scene chewing frustration that makes the PCs feel <em>bad %$#</em> - and a lot of situations where the PCs hearts break when they realize they're 65 feet away when the key spell is cast. </p><p></p><p>You're free to banish it from your games - but I think that cuts off some very fun opportunities.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jgsugden, post: 8222489, member: 2629"] Don't always do it. Read what my question was and recognize there was a condition there. D&D is an RPG. You're telling a story. It is great to have the NPCs act intelligently. If those are the only options in your mind, you're ignoring ample evidence that other possibilities are not only possible, but more common.Try using some non spellcasters if they always use it - because that means that almost all combats have a spellcaster. Counterspell only comes up as a possibility in about 10% of my encounters (of the appropriate levels) because only about 1 in 10 features spellcasting (if that.... probably less). However, I will note that when you have a class like sorcerer in play, which knows very few spells, you have to realize that repetition of spells is expected in 5E.How do you plan for the breath weapon of a dragon? Will they use it once? Every round? How many PCs will be in it each time? Will the PCs save? And what about those battles where the PCs roll nothing but ones and the DM rolls high all the time? PCs can handle a range of difficulty. Not a single point. In that video I reference above there are [I]three[/I] meteor swarms cast - and none of them were countered. If I told you that the bad guys were going to unleash three meteor swarms on a group of 5E PCs, most people would assume that was an immediate death sentence. Then - seriously - it would be well worth your time to watch the videos I have posted above to see how it can be a very exciting and engaging addition to the combat at 20th level. There is a video of just the uses of Counterspell throughout Critical Role as well (I posted that as well). In the end: Many DMs run the game in a way that Counterspell is an exciting and engaging addition to the game. If you struggle with it, there are resources to help you make it a better experience. You don't need to use them, but so far it seems like the 'boring factor' is a self fulfilling prophecy - it is boring because you treat it as boring. I have run a few campaigns to 20th level in 5E. I have played in a few as well. There were a lot more higher level games that did not go to 20. I've played one bard, as well as sorcerers, warlocks (who very rarely used it - but they were clutch uses) and wizards that have it. I've seen frustrated DMs who didn't like that we used it, but I've seen more DMs who use it as a moment for scene chewing frustration that makes the PCs feel [I]bad %$#[/I] - and a lot of situations where the PCs hearts break when they realize they're 65 feet away when the key spell is cast. You're free to banish it from your games - but I think that cuts off some very fun opportunities. [/QUOTE]
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Goldilocks Poll: Counterspell
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