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<blockquote data-quote="CleverNickName" data-source="post: 9331015" data-attributes="member: 50987">I had a chance to test this out at last Friday's game.&nbsp; It works really, really well.First, I gave a group of hobgoblins this ability:Disrupt Spell: As a readied action, the hobgoblin can counter a spell that it can see being cast within 30 feet.&nbsp; To counter the spell, the hobgoblin must first make a successful Intelligence (Arcana) check, and the DC is equal to 10 + the incoming spell's level.&nbsp; This ability otherwise works as per the Counterspell spell.They were otherwise just bog-standard hobgoblins--they weren't spellcasters, they weren't even trained in Arcana.&nbsp; I described them as standing vigilantly, their weapons at the ready and watching the characters' every move, hoping to distract or interfere at the first sign of an incantation.Having to decide whether to attack or ready a counterspell every round, and weighing the costs and benefits of spending both an Action and a Reaction to stop an incoming spell, made combat a lot more dynamic and interesting.&nbsp; Spellcasting became a lot less reliable and required careful consideration and tactics.&nbsp; Hobgoblin archers were harrying the warlock, negating his Eldritch Blast cantrip half the time.&nbsp; The cleric having to cast healing spells from cover, where the readied hobgoblins couldn't see her.&nbsp; That sort of thing.I probably won't make it a permanent house-rule, but I liked it well enough.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="CleverNickName, post: 9331015, member: 50987"] I had a chance to test this out at last Friday's game. It works really, really well. First, I gave a group of hobgoblins this ability: [INDENT=2][B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Disrupt Spell: [/COLOR][/B][COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]As a readied action, the hobgoblin can counter a spell that it can see being cast within 30 feet. To counter the spell, the hobgoblin must first make a successful Intelligence (Arcana) check, and the DC is equal to 10 + the incoming spell's level. This ability otherwise works as per the Counterspell spell.[/COLOR][/INDENT] They were otherwise just bog-standard hobgoblins--they weren't spellcasters, they weren't even trained in Arcana. I described them as standing vigilantly, their weapons at the ready and watching the characters' every move, hoping to distract or interfere at the first sign of an incantation. Having to decide whether to attack or ready a counterspell every round, and weighing the costs and benefits of spending both an Action and a Reaction to stop an incoming spell, made combat a lot more dynamic and interesting. Spellcasting became a lot less reliable and required careful consideration and tactics. Hobgoblin archers were harrying the warlock, negating his Eldritch Blast cantrip half the time. The cleric having to cast healing spells from cover, where the readied hobgoblins couldn't see her. That sort of thing. I probably won't make it a permanent house-rule, but I liked it well enough. [/QUOTE]

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