Silence - does it give a saving throw...

[Kunimatyu]

Two fun silence tricks.

Cast silence on a coin. Place coin between teeth. Close mouth. (no silence, b/c it's a burst effect)

Then, walk up to enemy caster. Ready to smile when he casts.


Another one:

Place sovereign glue on one side of silenced coin. Toss coin at caster as a ranged touch attack(or a normal ranged attack, if you want it to hit skin not armor).

 

[Elemental]

It's even more annoying as the ultimate counterspell.

You ready an action to cast silence on a rock at the foot of a spellcaster as soon as they start casting a spell. Bam, their spell fails, and they get no save, and the silence remains past that round even (and can be moved if you know what object you cast it on and can move it).

No, no, you want to cast it at a point in space 2 inches above their head. That way, you can't destroy the pebble.

Silence is very cheesy. The ultimate "off switch" for spells, unless everybody grabs Silent Spell or Rods of Silencing to combat this mighty level 2 illusion. Plus, it makes the cleric in full plate sneakier than the rogue with +20 Move Silently.

 

[green slime]

Not really. It only has a small radius, so casting it on an immobile point in space, or are cast pebble, while it may cause one spell to fizzle, it isn't going to hamper that enemy spellcaster too much. Enemy spellcasters are no more rooted to the ground than PC spellcasters.

 

[Mistwell]

Not really. It only has a small radius, so casting it on an immobile point in space, or are cast pebble, while it may cause one spell to fizzle, it isn't going to hamper that enemy spellcaster too much. Enemy spellcasters are no more rooted to the ground than PC spellcasters.

So you think it's okay that a second level spell can counter a ninth level spell with no save?

 

[green slime]

So you think it's okay that a second level spell can counter a ninth level spell with no save?

If that 17th level spellcaster is twit enough to let themselves get caught like that, yes. There is absolutely no way the character casting silence can be 100% sure that that tired old tactic is going to work against such a crafty, old dodger that a 17th level spell slinger is. What I don't like about it, is that, IIRC, it is only available to divine spellcasters, and that a reasonable counter hasn't appeared from the game designers responsible for the game.

There are a thousand and one different things I don't like about the present ruleset with regards to magic. IMO, it has been handled horribly for the sake of a few sacred cows. Lets face it, the present system is an awesome cashcow. Entire books have been produced, containing but mild variations on spells, and half-hearted attempts to patch up glaring holes.

The game has become far more of a tactical event, and yet extremely powerful magics remain low level. Silence is only one of many. Other pet dislikes include the invisibility family (although it got radically nerfed) and fly.

To suggest that powerful spellcasters wouldn't have developed counters to various well-known tactical shennanigans, is ludicrous. And hey-presto, we have seen the emergence of the teleport alarm, teleport delay series of spells. I predict the arrival of a Zone of Sound spell, within which, silence (along with a few other minor effects) will be negated. It will also be available as an amulet or ring.

 

[pallandrome]

Actually, NONE of my high level casters have ever been even SLIGHTLY discommoded by Silence. I usually use a silenced Mage Hand to launch the object of the silence back at the initial caster. A level 1 spell counters a level 2 spell, and Hilarity Ensues. And before you ask, yes, all of my high level casters have Detect Magic made perminant on them, in case the object of the spell is not readily apparent. If you don't care to spend that much time, just pick up the object in question and put it into your backpack. It is an emination, after all.

EDIT: It would be reasonable to take a free action to put your foot down on top of the silence stone, assuming it's small enough to put your foot over. Otherwise dropping a cloak over it should do. But then, at higher levels, that cloak is probably magical

 

[RigaMortus2]

Silence can be a drawback when trying to sneak up on people as well. We've used to to break down doors and stuff in the middle of a dungeon, so that nearby enemies won't hear us.

But if you cast silence on yourself, and intend to sneak up on guards, they may not be able to hear you approaching, but once you get close enough, the sudden silence may alert them that something is up.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I just realised that Silence is not on the Sorcerer's spell list. Are there any other spells that would allow somone to block sound in an area that is on the Sorcerer's spell list?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Hypersmurf]

I just realised that Silence is not on the Sorcerer's spell list. Are there any other spells that would allow somone to block sound in an area that is on the Sorcerer's spell list?

Limited Wish?

-Hyp.

 

[IcyCool]

Actually, NONE of my high level casters have ever been even SLIGHTLY discommoded by Silence. I usually use a silenced Mage Hand to launch the object of the silence back at the initial caster.

Would mage hand be able to affect the object in question?