D&D 4E Interrupting spell-casting in 4e

[Jack99]

So, am I missing something, or haven't we heard of any way to interrupt spell-casting in 4e?

Am I also correct when I read that only area spells are subject to OA's (assuming an opponent is adjacent to the caster, of course)?

Assuming the above is correct, I can only think of scorching burst and sleep that can be interrupted, or is my mind playing tricks on me?

 

[frankthedm]

IIRC being injured no longer disrupts 'spells' or powers. :/

 

[Mort_Q]

Given how interrupts work, there are likely more (if not different) ways to interrupt spell-casting in 4e.

The real question is, do you need to have a specific power to do it, or just a readied action?

 

[Wolfwood2]

So, am I missing something, or haven't we heard of any way to interrupt spell-casting in 4e?

Am I also correct when I read that only area spells are subject to OA's (assuming an opponent is adjacent to the caster, of course)?

Assuming the above is correct, I can only think of scorching burst and sleep that can be interrupted, or is my mind playing tricks on me?

I expect that anything that will interrupt a spell can also interrupt a martial ability such as, "hit baddie with my sword really hard". Consequently "interrupts" will be an exception-based power, rather than something everybody can do.

I don't expect even a successful attack of opportunity will stop spells, anymore than it keeps a ranger from firing his bow.

 

[Daniel D. Fox]

I like the fact that there is no longer interrupted spellcasting. However, that required a total system change to bring spell damage in line with other Powers.

D&D is built upon the premise that spellcasting tends to be more powerful at higher levels versus other classes' output. We just need to change our paradigm. The entire system, from what we've seen, seems to be much more balanced in terms of numbers.

 

[abeattie]

So, am I missing something, or haven't we heard of any way to interrupt spell-casting in 4e?

Am I also correct when I read that only area spells are subject to OA's (assuming an opponent is adjacent to the caster, of course)?

Assuming the above is correct, I can only think of scorching burst and sleep that can be interrupted, or is my mind playing tricks on me?

I think we'll have to wait until we see a more complete listing of what powers can do. Maybe there are counter-spell powers?

Given that the powers we've seen are all single-action (cast it, use it, done), there may not be interupts. (but we can always make them for monsters)

 

[Jack99]

Hmm the PrRC states the following, quoting the Scalegloom Rules Appendix:

An opportunity attack interrupts the action that triggered it

.. or when an enemy makes a ranged or area attack, you can make an opportunity attack against that enemy

But wouldn't that mean that if a person tries to move away from you (using a move action), a successful OA would cancel such movement? And if that was true, wouldn't that make the fighter's "Combat Superiority" quite a bit worse?

 

[Mort_Q]

Interrupting an at-will power could be fairly easy, as it isn't that big of a loss. There are already powers shown that force attackers to re-roll... perhaps that's enough.

Interrupting a daily, would be more like interrupting a top slot spell in 3e.

 

[Nikosandros]

Possibly, interrupt means that the attack is completed before the triggering action, not that the action itself is disrupted.

 

[Kordeth]

But wouldn't that mean that if a person tries to move away from you (using a move action), a successful OA would cancel such movement? And if that was true, wouldn't that make the fighter's "Combat Superiority" quite a bit worse?

"Interrupt" just means "occurs before the action is completed," not "stops the action from happening." If I get an Opportunity Attack because you move away from me, I smack you before you move, but you then complete your move--unless of course I'm a fighter, or I kill you with the hit, or I trip you or use some other power that renders you unable to move.