Identifying spells being cast

[Xar]

I have got a player in my group who insists that with a Spellcraft check (DC 15+spell level) he can identify every spell that is cast in his sight (arcane and divine). So far so good, but now he thinks that he can do this as a free action, as many times as he wants, without readying it...

After all, he says, he is a wizard and he should be able to instantly recognize what spells are being cast so he can decide to counterspell or not... But in my view this hopelessly slows down combat and takes away the mystery from enemy spellcasters. Besides, how could a first level mage recognize spells that he can't even cast yet, or will be never able to cast (like divine spells)?

I can't seem to find any answers to this in the core books, so who is right?

 

[hong]

You should beable to use Spellcraft as a free action to identify a spell being cast. To _counterspell_, however, requires a readied action. So unless he's readied an action, he knows what spell is going off but can't do anything about it.

I'd limit this use of Spellcraft to be usable only on spells on his own spell list. A wizard won't know jack about cleric spells or how they work, and vice-versa. Also, completely new spells (ie those not in the PHB, or researched from scratch) won't be identifiable regardless.

 

[kreynolds]

You should beable to use Spellcraft as a free action to identify a spell being cast. To _counterspell_, however, requires a readied action. So unless he's readied an action, he knows what spell is going off but can't do anything about it.

I'd limit this use of Spellcraft to be usable only on spells on his own spell list. A wizard won't know jack about cleric spells or how they work, and vice-versa. Also, completely new spells (ie those not in the PHB, or researched from scratch) won't be identifiable regardless.

I agree. Here's a stumper for ya' though. What if he has the Improved Counterspell feat? It allows you to counterspell with any spell from the same school that is one level or higher. Although, in this case, I guess you would need to cast detect magic to find out what school the spell is from if the spell was completely new to you (ie not in the PHB, or researched from scratch). I guess the only reason you know what school of magic a spell is from with a successfull spellcraft check is because you know the spell.

 

[mzsylver]

You should beable to use Spellcraft as a free action to identify a spell being cast. To _counterspell_, however, requires a readied action. So unless he's readied an action, he knows what spell is going off but can't do anything about it.

I'd limit this use of Spellcraft to be usable only on spells on his own spell list. A wizard won't know jack about cleric spells or how they work, and vice-versa. Also, completely new spells (ie those not in the PHB, or researched from scratch) won't be identifiable regardless.

i agree with the first paragraph. sometimes it is VERY good to know that evil priest just cast POISON (so you can back the heck away!)

the second part is incorrect. there is only one spellcraft skill, so you know about all spells. what about that rogue who took spellcraft so he could Use Magic Device better? do you limit him to strictly arcane or divine spells?

i am not sure how i feel about new, nonstandard spells. since they are special i like the idea that you cant identify them.

later! =)

 

[hong]

I agree. Here's a stumper for ya' though. What if he has the Improved Counterspell feat?

Questions like that are why I'm banning the FRCS and Magic of Faerun from my game.

 

[kreynolds]

Questions like that are why I'm banning the FRCS and Magic of Faerun from my game.

Wow. Really? You dislike them that much? I get a real kick out of 'em! What about them do you not like?

 

[kreynolds]

there is only one spellcraft skill, so you know about all spells.

If that's true, then why don't all sorcerers know every spell?

 

[Veldrane]

If that's true, then why don't all sorcerers know every spell?

Well, any character with high Spellcraft is supposed to have studied the ways of magic a lot, and can recognize the various effect of spells, that doesn't mean he can cast'em... ...think about every high tecnology item you see around or sport moves... ...you know what they are, and you know what they do, but in no way you can copy or actually do them...

 

[kreynolds]

Well, any character with high Spellcraft is supposed to have studied the ways of magic a lot, and can recognize the various effect of spells, that doesn't mean he can cast'em... ...think about every high tecnology item you see around or sport moves... ...you know what they are, and you know what they do, but in no way you can copy or actually do them...

I don't think I can swallow that. "You know the spell but you don't know the spell." Pretty thin argument.

Maybe the best way for me to think about it is this: If you make a successful spellcraft check, you either a) remember reading about the spell in some book, b) remember hearing about the spell someplace, c) have seen the spell cast before, or d) you just understand the basics of the spell well enough to know how to counterspell it. Yeah, that's better. I can accept that. I know, I'm wierd.

 

[Crothian]

I don't think I can swallow that. "You know the spell but you don't know the spell." Pretty thin argument.

Maybe the best way for me to think about it is this: If you make a successful spellcraft check, you either a) remember reading about the spell in some book, b) remember hearing about the spell someplace, c) have seen the spell cast before, or d) you just understand the basics of the spell well enough to know how to counterspell it. Yeah, that's better. I can accept that. I know, I'm wierd.

Well, how do arcan spell caster recognize Divine spells? The arcane spell users can't cast these spells, but they still know enough about them to recongize what has been cast. Same applies for Sorcerers trying to identify a spell they can't cast. Same applies to a wizard trying to identify a spell not in his own spellbook.