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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Alzrius" data-source="post: 4417604" data-attributes="member: 8461">It sounds like the scenario you're describing is more about detecting covert spellcasting than actually disrupting it.To actively disrupt a spell as it's being cast (that is, purposefully disrupting it instead of something happening that does it), you need to basically inflict damage during the actual act of casting the spell. As you noted, the most common way of doing this is with a readied action; simply put, the attacking character is deliberately waiting until the character starts to cast a spell, and then lashes out.Another way is if the spellcaster provokes an attack of opportunity from threatening characters. Most avoid this by making a Concentration check to cast the spell defensively.A third method is if the character is still suffering continuous damage from some effect when they start to cast the spell. If you directly hit a character with alchemist's fire, and later in that same round they want to cast a spell, they're still taking continuous damage because they have to take another 1d6 points of fire damage the next round also - that'd possibly disrupt their spellcasting.Presumably, if a character had an immediate action that could disrupt the spellcaster, they could elect to use it at the moment he began casting. That's debatable though.Beyond that, it's pretty difficult to actively stop a spellcaster from casting a spell while he's in the process of casting it.Regarding the scenario you described, bear in mind that normal spellcasting is not a covert affair. A character's somatic components are obvious motions, and his voice is spoken at normal volume (there are some feats and skill tricks (Complete Scoundrel) that can alter this); hence, the passing merchant and his bodyguards would have gotten a Spot check as you say vs. the elf's Hide check, but since "people talking" is a DC 0 Listen check, with a +5 modifier to the DC since your elf is 50 feet away, they will hear him casting the spell - since the notation says that if you beat that DC by 10 or more (e.g. DC 15 in this case) then you can understand what's being said. I'd rule that if they thus make a 15 on their Listen checks, they can realize it's magical speech, and thus make a Spellcraft check (DC 17 for detect thoughts) to realize what spell is being cast.Also, note that if they make their saves against having their thoughts detected, they know someone tried to use magic against them (though not who, or for what).</blockquote>

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