D&D (2024) Playtest 8 Spell Discussion

[Maxperson]

I'm not the one who brought up the Harry Potter movie. I am also not the one who declared it was a bad example because it was not a DnD movie. You have only started declaring that movies don't count AFTER a DnD movie that counters your position was put forth. If the movie agreed with you, you would use it as evidence.

But you are the one who took a joke by me and tried to special plead the movie into being an exception.

Books, movies and shoes have not followed RAW. Neither the movie, nor any special ability by a character after release are RAW.

Then why did you make the distinction? A distinction you want to get rid of now that it doesn't support you.

It was humor.

Rules are not rules is your new position? Well, I will counter that rules are rules.

RAW are the default rules of the game. Any book outside the PHB had optional rules which equate to official house rules. They are not RAW, because you can't expect them to be used, and something that is not used in the game is not a game rule.

Are the other books written? Yes. That does make them RAW, though.

Except she doesn't have that ability. We discussed that already.

Doesn't matter. Go look up Edgin's stat block. He has all kinds of bard spells he never used in the movie. The stat blocks are nor RAW, nor are they something you can use to show RAW.

They were released as an exercise in fun.

So there is no RAW for Artificers? No RAW for any sorcerer except the wild magic or Draconic?

Optional rules, yes. Default RAW, no.

You do realize that if I corrected someone who said "we are only playing RAW" by removing 80% of the player options, they would look at me like I'm insane.

As would I if you removed 80% of the PHB.

It means the rules... as they are written, without adding or changing them.

What rules does Tasha's add to my game? Can you tell me, or do I have to tell you?

 

[Chaosmancer]

But you are the one who took a joke by me and tried to special plead the movie into being an exception.

Books, movies and shoes have not followed RAW. Neither the movie, nor any special ability by a character after release are RAW.

It was humor.

So it was only humor that caused you to deny that a popular depiction about how spellcasting worked, which involved an example of the quiet chanting discussed, didn't count? And only now are we taking refuge in "it was a joke"?

RAW are the default rules of the game. Any book outside the PHB had optional rules which equate to official house rules. They are not RAW, because you can't expect them to be used, and something that is not used in the game is not a game rule.

Are the other books written? Yes. That does make them RAW, though.

So there are only 31 monsters in DnD, per RAW? And the highest CR by RAW is 1? Would explain why people complain the game is too easy, there isn't a challenge for players beyond level 3!

And I don't expect many rules in the PHB to be used, so what gives them special privileges? The only place you quoted that you think supports this position is the DMG... which isn't RAW by your definition. And also, of COURSE the DMG doesn't mention the other books of rules, it came out before any of them were written. That would be like pointing to the Aeneid and stating that since it doesn't mention the Germanic Tribes, they must not have been important to the History of Rome.

Doesn't matter. Go look up Edgin's stat block. He has all kinds of bard spells he never used in the movie. The stat blocks are nor RAW, nor are they something you can use to show RAW.

They were released as an exercise in fun.

He used plenty of those abilities in the movie. They just didn't appear as obvious spells. That seems kind of obvious.

Optional rules, yes. Default RAW, no.

As would I if you removed 80% of the PHB.

What rules does Tasha's add to my game? Can you tell me, or do I have to tell you?

All the rules of Tasha add rules to your game. You can choose not to use them, but you can also choose to ban Conjure Animals, or clerics, or Gnomes. The fact that you can choose to ban rules doesn't make them not rules for the game.

Seriously, you do know how expansions work, like on a conceptual level, correct? Because by your utterly baffling position, expansions don't exist. Because they could never expand the game, just give the option of expanding the game, which is somehow different. In a game, where every rule, is optional.

 

[Maxperson]

So it was only humor that caused you to deny that a popular depiction about how spellcasting worked, which involved an example of the quiet chanting discussed, didn't count? And only now are we taking refuge in "it was a joke"?

No. It's fact that the movie and the associated stat blocks are not RAW. The joke was in naming two different things that are the same thing. It's not RAW.

So there are only 31 monsters in DnD, per RAW? And the highest CR by RAW is 1? Would explain why people complain the game is too easy, there isn't a challenge for players beyond level 3!

There are no RAW D&D monsters. All the rules are in the PHB =/= everything in the PHB are rules. Monster stat blocks are not RAW at all. There are no rules there. There are only things which access the rules. For example, it's not RAW that sprites have 2(1d4) hit points, but hit points and interactions with weapons and spells are explained in the PHB, so that portion of the stat block accesses PHB RAW.

And I don't expect many rules in the PHB to be used, so what gives them special privileges?

That seems silly. Why do you think that? I heavily house rule my games and I still use the vast majority of PHB rules.

The only place you quoted that you think supports this position is the DMG... which isn't RAW by your definition.

Okay. So what. It still explains where the rules are. You are also not correct. The PHB itself when reading it says to "Go forth now. Read the rules of the game." in the preface. The DMG tells you that it is guidelines. And the Worlds of Adventure section of the PHB says that the rules in the PHB allow you to play in any setting. Then the Using This Book section of the PHB talks about all the rules. And there are lots more in the PHB as well.

So the rules of the game(PHB) tell you that the PHB is the rules of the game.

And also, of COURSE the DMG doesn't mention the other books of rules, it came out before any of them were written.

There are no other books that contain default RAW.

He used plenty of those abilities in the movie. They just didn't appear as obvious spells. That seems kind of obvious.

No he didn't. He only used what could have been bardic inspiration. He did not cast any spells.

All the rules of Tasha add rules to your game.

Show me one default rule from Tasha's that is in my game. Just one. My Tasha's says the following, "Tasha's Cauldron of Everything offers a host of new options for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and our journey through those options is accompanied by the notes of the wizard Tasha."

Maybe you just don't understand what an option is. An option is something that you have to OPT INTO, not out of. Tasha's cannot add a single thing to my game without me going out of my way to add it in myself. Not one thing in Tasha's is in my game by default.

You can choose not to use them, but you can also choose to ban Conjure Animals, or clerics, or Gnomes. The fact that you can choose to ban rules doesn't make them not rules for the game.

Yep. You clearly don't understand what an optional rule is.

Seriously, you do know how expansions work, like on a conceptual level, correct?

Absolutely I do. I know what an option is. I very much understand that not one single thing in any book outside the rules that are in the PHB is in my game unless I opt into it. On a conceptual level those books are there to provide options to the DM that he may or may not use per his desires.

Because by your utterly baffling position, expansions don't exist. Because they could never expand the game, just give the option of expanding the game, which is somehow different. In a game, where every rule, is optional.

Every rule is not an optional rule. That's a false claim. The DM can use rule 0 to house rule his game so that some default rules are gone or changed, but that's not the same as them being optional rules that you have to..........................OPT INTO. To change a default rule you have to.....................OPT OUT.

Do you understand the difference between "opt in" and "opt out?" Because it's a pretty major difference.

 

[Chaosmancer]

No. It's fact that the movie and the associated stat blocks are not RAW. The joke was in naming two different things that are the same thing. It's not RAW.

They are rules written by the official creator of the rules of the game. That is the definition of RAW. And while the movie is itself not "RAW" as it is not rules, it does represent a counter-point to your interpretation of RAW. Namely, it demonstrates that quiet chanting is a thing that exists. Something I can also do with videos like this

There are no RAW D&D monsters. All the rules are in the PHB =/= everything in the PHB are rules. Monster stat blocks are not RAW at all. There are no rules there. There are only things which access the rules. For example, it's not RAW that sprites have 2(1d4) hit points, but hit points and interactions with weapons and spells are explained in the PHB, so that portion of the stat block accesses PHB RAW.

So even the monster statblocks in the PHB aren't RAW, because they aren't rules? If I wanted to play a game that was purely RAW, I couldn't have monsters? If I accepted this logic, then the game is fundamentally non-functional as a game, because the only thing that can exist per RAW is player characters. No traps, no monsters, no NPCs, all of them would not be RAW.

This is extreme to the point of being ludicrous.

That seems silly. Why do you think that? I heavily house rule my games and I still use the vast majority of PHB rules.

Because there are many rules in the PHB I don't expect to be used? I don't understand how that is silly. Even what you said right above me states that YOU don't expect many of the rules in the PHB to be used.

Okay. So what. It still explains where the rules are. You are also not correct. The PHB itself when reading it says to "Go forth now. Read the rules of the game." in the preface. The DMG tells you that it is guidelines. And the Worlds of Adventure section of the PHB says that the rules in the PHB allow you to play in any setting. Then the Using This Book section of the PHB talks about all the rules. And there are lots more in the PHB as well.

So the rules of the game(PHB) tell you that the PHB is the rules of the game.

Where in the PHB does it tell you that nothing printed after the PHB is to be considered the rules of the game? Again, the PHB was printed FIRST of course it doesn't say to reference books that didn't exist.

And all of the supplement books (which are called RULE supplements) also state that they contain Rules for the game. So, if that is good enough for the PHB, why not for the other books?

No he didn't. He only used what could have been bardic inspiration. He did not cast any spells.

False

Show me one default rule from Tasha's that is in my game. Just one. My Tasha's says the following, "Tasha's Cauldron of Everything offers a host of new options for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, and our journey through those options is accompanied by the notes of the wizard Tasha."

Maybe you just don't understand what an option is. An option is something that you have to OPT INTO, not out of. Tasha's cannot add a single thing to my game without me going out of my way to add it in myself. Not one thing in Tasha's is in my game by default.

Yep. You clearly don't understand what an optional rule is.

You opt into every rule. Seriously, you just above told me that you heavily homebrew. Yes, Tasha's offers new options THAT WHAT A RULES EXPANSION DOES. But an optional rule is still a rule that is written. There is a difference between using an optional rule AS WRITTEN (RAW) compared to an optional rule that you homebrewed (Not RAW)

Absolutely I do. I know what an option is. I very much understand that not one single thing in any book outside the rules that are in the PHB is in my game unless I opt into it. On a conceptual level those books are there to provide options to the DM that he may or may not use per his desires.

Which does not change their status as rules, which are written. Rules are Rules. RAW does not mean "The Rules which are default to the game" That would be RWADTTG, not RAW.

Every rule is not an optional rule. That's a false claim. The DM can use rule 0 to house rule his game so that some default rules are gone or changed, but that's not the same as them being optional rules that you have to..........................OPT INTO. To change a default rule you have to.....................OPT OUT.

Do you understand the difference between "opt in" and "opt out?" Because it's a pretty major difference.

It is only a major difference if there is some other authority enforcing those rules. Do you have a WoTC official with a stick ready to sue you for not using a rule you forgot to "opt out" of using? No. It is a distinction that serves no practical purpose except to narrow yourself to single source and declare that you do not need to acknowledge any official material that exists. You have literally cut 2/3rds of the core rules out of the game, solely to say that only one rule book exists for Dungeons and Dragons.

 

[Maxperson]

They are rules written by the official creator of the rules of the game. That is the definition of RAW. And while the movie is itself not "RAW" as it is not rules, it does represent a counter-point to your interpretation of RAW. Namely, it demonstrates that quiet chanting is a thing that exists. Something I can also do with videos like this

Nah. First, that's not how RAW works. Not everything written by the creators is RAW. Hell, most of it isn't rules at all, and that's even if you incorrectly view the DMG and/or MM as rules and not guidelines and stat blocks.

I also refuted quite chanting thing many pages ago. Even if you can quiet chant in real life, you cannot do it to cast spells because specific beats general and we have specific rules that allow for quiet spellcasting. Since there are specific rules that allow it, the general rule is that it is not already quiet. I also showed how verbal had to be loud enough to be heard over a loud combat in order for counterspell to work.

You've fallen way behind the time with this.

So even the monster statblocks in the PHB aren't RAW, because they aren't rules?

What statblock is a rule?

If I wanted to play a game that was purely RAW, I couldn't have monsters?

18th!(or something. I forget how many you're at now.)

This is extreme to the point of being ludicrous.

And to the point of being a Strawman. Never said that.

Because there are many rules in the PHB I don't expect to be used? I don't understand how that is silly. Even what you said right above me states that YOU don't expect many of the rules in the PHB to be used.

When did I say that?

Where in the PHB does it tell you that nothing printed after the PHB is to be considered the rules of the game? Again, the PHB was printed FIRST of course it doesn't say to reference books that didn't exist.

Have you missed in every splatbook where it says that they are OPTIONAL rules? I'll quote it again for Tasha's.

"IT'S ALL OPTIONAL
Everything in this book is optional. Each group, guided by the DM, decides which of these options, if any, to incorporate into a campaign.
You can use some, all, or none of them. We encourage you to choose the ones that fit best with your campaign's story and with your_ group's style of play."

So show me which ones are mandatory unless I opt out. Because those mandatory unless I opt out rules are the only ones that can be rules in my game simply by virtue of the book having been printed. The rest are not rules in any game unless the DM opts to make them rules.

Xanathar's as similarly entirely optional rules.

Optional rules =/= default rules. Default rules = used to run the game. Optional rules = rules the DM can choose to enhance the default rules when running the game.

And all of the supplement books (which are called RULE supplements) also state that they contain Rules for the game. So, if that is good enough for the PHB, why not for the other books?

Still confused by the word optional?!? The word optional has meaning and that meaning makes everything in the splatbooks different from the PHB rules.

You opt into every rule.

No you don't. You cannot opt into a default game rule. You can only opt out.

Seriously, you just above told me that you heavily homebrew. Yes, Tasha's offers new options THAT WHAT A RULES EXPANSION DOES. But an optional rule is still a rule that is written. There is a difference between using an optional rule AS WRITTEN (RAW) compared to an optional rule that you homebrewed (Not RAW)

False. A rules expansion adds new default rules. A book of options expands nothing unless the DM chooses to bring rules in to expand the game. Until then it's only a potential expansion of the rules.

Look at it like this. If the DM and players never buy or look at Tasha's, how has Tasha's expanded their game? A splatbook cannot expand the game by its mere existence. It can only expand the game if the DM chooses to pull things out of it to expand the game with.

It is only a major difference if there is some other authority enforcing those rules. Do you have a WoTC official with a stick ready to sue you for not using a rule you forgot to "opt out" of using?

This is also false. Or more accurately, a Red Herring deliberately designed to deflect from the fact that there is a major difference between opting into a rule and opting out of one. Nobody here is discussing rules you have forgotten about. Those forgotten rules, though, are still a default part of the system.

No. It is a distinction that serves no practical purpose except to narrow yourself to single source and declare that you do not need to acknowledge any official material that exists.

Um, you don't need to acknowledge splatbooks. Or is there a rule in the PHB that requires you to acknowledge them? Please point that rule out to me.

You have literally cut 2/3rds of the core rules out of the game, solely to say that only one rule book exists for Dungeons and Dragons.

I didn't cut any rules out of the game(excepting my house ruled changes to the PHB rules). WotC cut them out and rightly so. The DMG is for advice to the DM, not rules on running the game. And MM stat blocks have never been rules. Stat blocks only use existing game rules.

If you have a problem with all of the rules to run the game being in the PHB, take it up with them. They are the ones who declared that. Not me.

 

[Yaarel]

I also showed how verbal had to be loud enough to be heard over a loud combat in order for counterspell to work.

The particular point above was shown to be invalid.

Rather the Counterspell spell relies on sight, not sound. It doesnt matter if the target is loud, quiet, or silent. The spell description specifies:
"Casting Time: 1 reaction which you take when you see a creature casting a spell."

Any loudness of a spell is irrelevant for Counterspell.

Counterspell works against quietly chanted spells or silent spells.

 

[Maxperson]

The particular point above was shown to be invalid.

It was not.

Rather the Counterspell spell relies on sight, not sound.

Right. A verbal only spell REQUIRES it to be loud enough to attract sight to the caster withing the split second they are casting the spell. The counterspeller literally cannot be looking in every direction for 30 feet around. Further, if it's quiet, you literally cannot see the spell being cast, since the caster could be saying that Jack is cheating on Diane and not casting a spell. It's nearly impossible for someone to see a verbal spell being cast without hearing the mystical words.

It doesnt matter if the target is loud, quiet, or silent. The spell description specifies:
"Casting Time: 1 reaction which you take when you see a creature casting a spell."

It absolutely matters for the above reason. A quietly verbal spell will in fact be missed most of the time in a chaotic and noisy battle.

Any loudness of a spell is irrelevant for Counterspell.

No it isn't as I show above.

Counterspell works against quietly chanted spells or silent spells.

No it doesn't as I show above.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Nah. First, that's not how RAW works. Not everything written by the creators is RAW. Hell, most of it isn't rules at all, and that's even if you incorrectly view the DMG and/or MM as rules and not guidelines and stat blocks.

I also refuted quite chanting thing many pages ago. Even if you can quiet chant in real life, you cannot do it to cast spells because specific beats general and we have specific rules that allow for quiet spellcasting. Since there are specific rules that allow it, the general rule is that it is not already quiet. I also showed how verbal had to be loud enough to be heard over a loud combat in order for counterspell to work.

You've fallen way behind the time with this.

No, we do not have specific rules for quiet spellcasting. We have specific rules for SILENT and STILL spellcasting. Which I hope I don't have to explain is different than being quiet.

Also, no, you didn't fully demonstrate that. You assumed that counterspelling a verbal only spell would require that you hear the spell, but that is not how counterspell works. You need to see the creature you are counterspelling. If you have a creature who is invisible and casts a spell, even if it is verbal only, you cannot counterspell it. Because specifically Counterspell states it must be a creature you can see.

What statblock is a rule?

All of them. Rules don't have to be sentences. 16-10 = 6/2 = +3 is a rule as well.

18th!(or something. I forget how many you're at now.)

Oh joy, we are going to keep playing this game. Okay, tell me how I run a 100% RAW game with elements that are not RAW, since I'm such a terrible person.

When did I say that?

Right here in the quote I was quoting: "I still use the vast majority of PHB rules". Vast Majority, even if it means 80% of them, means that there are many rules you are not using.

Have you missed in every splatbook where it says that they are OPTIONAL rules? I'll quote it again for Tasha's.

"IT'S ALL OPTIONAL
Everything in this book is optional. Each group, guided by the DM, decides which of these options, if any, to incorporate into a campaign.
You can use some, all, or none of them. We encourage you to choose the ones that fit best with your campaign's story and with your_ group's style of play."

So show me which ones are mandatory unless I opt out. Because those mandatory unless I opt out rules are the only ones that can be rules in my game simply by virtue of the book having been printed. The rest are not rules in any game unless the DM opts to make them rules.

Xanathar's as similarly entirely optional rules.

Optional rules =/= default rules. Default rules = used to run the game. Optional rules = rules the DM can choose to enhance the default rules when running the game.

Still confused by the word optional?!? The word optional has meaning and that meaning makes everything in the splatbooks different from the PHB rules.

No you don't. You cannot opt into a default game rule. You can only opt out.

RAW is "Rules as Written". Not Default rules. Not The Default rules. Not only the rules that are default that you don't opt out ot.

RULES
AS
WRITTEN

Sure, expansion content isn't the default, non-expansion content. But that doesn't mean that they are not the rules of the game, as the rules of the game are written. You keep using the term RAW to mean things that are not what RAW means.

Optional rules still have RAW and Homebrew versions. Optional rules still have RAW and RAI interpretations. Stop misusing the word.

False. A rules expansion adds new default rules. A book of options expands nothing unless the DM chooses to bring rules in to expand the game. Until then it's only a potential expansion of the rules.

Look at it like this. If the DM and players never buy or look at Tasha's, how has Tasha's expanded their game? A splatbook cannot expand the game by its mere existence. It can only expand the game if the DM chooses to pull things out of it to expand the game with.

Are you seriously asking how a rules expansion expands the game, if you don't buy it? This isn't philosophy where we need to determine if a tree falls in a forest. Before the expansion existed, there was no rules expansion, whether or not you purchase the expansion doesn't change the fact that after being published it exists. This is like trying to claim that since I don't own Dragonlance the Dragonlance setting was never published. It is nonsense.

This is also false. Or more accurately, a Red Herring deliberately designed to deflect from the fact that there is a major difference between opting into a rule and opting out of one. Nobody here is discussing rules you have forgotten about. Those forgotten rules, though, are still a default part of the system.

The difference between and opt in rule and an opt out rule, is when you are punished for breaking it. If you have to opt out of a contract, and fail to do so, then you are bound by that contract. DnD doesn't work that way. There is no practical difference in DnD in whether or you previously opted in or opted out of a rule. You could opt in, and then change your mind, and nothing happens.

Um, you don't need to acknowledge splatbooks. Or is there a rule in the PHB that requires you to acknowledge them? Please point that rule out to me.

I didn't cut any rules out of the game(excepting my house ruled changes to the PHB rules). WotC cut them out and rightly so. The DMG is for advice to the DM, not rules on running the game. And MM stat blocks have never been rules. Stat blocks only use existing game rules.

If you have a problem with all of the rules to run the game being in the PHB, take it up with them. They are the ones who declared that. Not me.

You are just flat speaking nonsense. You want the PHB to acknowledge books that didn't exist when it was published? Monster Statblocks are rule elements, just like Class Tables or the equipment list.

 

[Maxperson]

No, we do not have specific rules for quiet spellcasting. We have specific rules for SILENT and STILL spellcasting. Which I hope I don't have to explain is different than being quiet.

Same difference. You're playing semantical games here. The entire point of "quiet" casting is to keep it secret.

Also, no, you didn't fully demonstrate that. You assumed that counterspelling a verbal only spell would require that you hear the spell, but that is not how counterspell works.

I assume nothing. You can't see verbal spellcasting because it looks no different from any other talking. The only way to tell, since a lip reading feat isn't in the game that I can remember, is to hear it and by sound have your eyed drawn to a caster.

All of them. Rules don't have to be sentences. 16-10 = 6/2 = +3 is a rule as well.

You need to learn what a rule is. Stat blocks are not rules, as the DMG tells you. You're in a bit of a quandry here. If you argue that the DMG consists of rules, then you have to accept that the DMG and MM are not rules. If you accept what the DMG says about all the rules being in the PHB, then the DMG and MM are not rules. You have to literally argue that the DMG is lying to you in order to be correct here.

Oh joy, we are going to keep playing this game. Okay, tell me how I run a 100% RAW game with elements that are not RAW, since I'm such a terrible person.

By running a game with elements that aren't RAW. It's that easy. An orc doesn't have to be a rule in order to be in the game. I mean, orcs are OAW(orcs as written), but are not RAW(rules as written). Orcs are not rules.

Right here in the quote I was quoting: "I still use the vast majority of PHB rules". Vast Majority, even if it means 80% of them, means that there are many rules you are not using.

Okay, but this was your claim.

"And I don't expect many rules in the PHB to be used, so what gives them special privileges?"

What "I don't expect many..." means is that you expect few. If I say that I don't expect many kids to show up at my son's birthday party, it means few kids are expected to show up. If you say that you don't expect many cards in the new MTG set to be worth anything, it means you expect few to be worth something. That's how English works.

Perhaps you meant, "I expect that there are many rules in the PHB that won't be used." That leave open that many will be used. Words mean something. I'll leave it to you to explain which of those two things(assuming you didn't have a third thing that I can't even begin to see) you meant.

RAW is "Rules as Written". Not Default rules. Not The Default rules. Not only the rules that are default that you don't opt out ot.

It's not a rule if it isn't in the game. Optional rules are not rules until and unless they are optioned in.

Sure, expansion content isn't the default, non-expansion content. But that doesn't mean that they are not the rules of the game,

Yes it does. The rules of the game are the ones that I must abide by unless I house rule them out or change them.

Literally nothing is a rule unless it is in the game that I run, and no optional rule is unless I decide to option it in. This is a fact that you cannot avoid.

Are you seriously asking how a rules expansion expands the game, if you don't buy it?

Explain to me how my game is expanded if I don't buy it.

The difference between and opt in rule and an opt out rule, is when you are punished for breaking it. If you have to opt out of a contract, and fail to do so, then you are bound by that contract. DnD doesn't work that way. There is no practical difference in DnD in whether or you previously opted in or opted out of a rule. You could opt in, and then change your mind, and nothing happens.

This is false and demonstrated that you don't understand what an optional rule is. Your False Equivalence with contracts is noted and rejected since it has no bearing on RPG rules. The game rules are not a contract. There is no punishment involved.

Monster Statblocks are rule elements, just like Class Tables or the equipment list.

Yep! They are not rules, exactly like class tables and equipment lists. You have this mistaken belief that interacting with rules makes something a rule. It doesn't.

 

[Yaarel]

A verbal only spell REQUIRES it to be loud enough to attract sight to the caster withing the split second they are casting the spell.

You are homebrewing the above requirement.

The Counterspell has a spell effect that can affect any visible spellcaster.

The power of the spell description is to target and deflect, even after the target is in the process of casting and the effects of the casting are apparent.

The counterspeller literally cannot be looking in every direction for 30 feet around.

Counterspell is a magical spell and can literally do anything. Because magic.

Further, if it's quiet, you literally cannot see the spell being cast, since the caster could be saying that Jack is cheating on Diane and not casting a spell. It's nearly impossible for someone to see a verbal spell being cast without hearing the mystical words.

If a spell is verbal-only, people can see the lips moving, throat tensing, concentration, and so on.

Counterspell only requires visibility. Not comprehension.

It absolutely matters for the above reason.

Your reason to yell out spells is homebrew.

A quietly verbal spell will in fact be missed most of the time in a chaotic and noisy battle.

The Counterspell spell description lacks a sound requirement and lacks a hearing requirement.