Silence

[AuraSeer]

If you don't want to let the Wizard make us of his high Will save, cast it on a coin and let the Arcane Trickster plant it on the Wizard via Ranged Legerdemain!

The more common tactic is to give that coin to a monk, and have him zoom in and grapple the wizard. Between the grapple and the silence, the victim is restricted to only spells that have no verbal, somatic, material, or focus components.

 

[Darklone]

And then you sent your monk into the grapple just to find out that the enemy spellcaster was a psion.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The more common tactic is to give that coin to a monk, and have him zoom in and grapple the wizard.

Summoned Air Elementals are nice as well.

-Hyp.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Not an Alteration? I think I like the Alteration school better for it.

IMC it's an Abjuration, and protects from shout spells and the like.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Note also that Silence is still misprinted as an Illusion. It is an Evocation.

Well, I would say that it's an Glamer that has some Abjuration effects.

Spells belong to only one school, but sometimes they have secondary effects that would seem more appropriate to another school. Nevertheless, they are generally classed according to their primary school.

Glyph of Warding, Explosive Runes, and Fire Shield are all Abjuration spells, and even though one of the functions of Abjuration spells is to "harm trespassers", the manner in which they do so is more like an Evocation.

Guards and Wards is an Abjuration, but many of its effects are Conjuration.

Polymorph is a Transmutation, but it has a Conjuration (Healing) side effect.

3E Eyebite was a Necromancy spell that could replicate an Enchantment effect.

So Silence has a side effect from another school. That doesn't mean its primary effect doesn't belong in the Illusion school.

I'd agree with Dinkeldog, though - if you're going to reassign it, Transmutation would be a better choice IMO than Evocation. It's more like Sculpt Sound than Darkness.

-Hyp.

 

[Kodam]

Hi!

If its not placed directly on the mage there's no save, no SR...don't you think that this is a bit too powerful for a second level spell? It makes almost all spellcasting impossible since very few wizards memorize that many silenced spells. In a typical dungeon-room you won't be able to move out without exposing yourself to the enemy. And the mage doesn't know where exactly the silence ends; he'd have to spend at least an standard action to make a listen check to be sure that he's out. He can't even activate most magical items...

All in all I think a save would be in order...

 

[fusangite]

Thanks for the responses so far. Very interesting.

While I'm interested in hearing people's opinions from a game balance perspective and a tradition perspective, my real question is not how should Silence work but how does the spell work as described in the 3.5E rules?

 

[Darklone]

SR should apply... after all it applies as well if you're standing in the area of effect of a fireball.

Edit: It doesn't help your buddies, but it helps you.

 

[Hypersmurf]

It makes almost all spellcasting impossible since very few wizards memorize that many silenced spells.

You only need one, and it's the one my clerics and wizards tend to prepare religiously - Silent Dispel Magic.

Alternatively, have a Bard with Joyful Noise handy

-Hyp.

 

[Kodam]

Hi!

You only need one, and it's the one my clerics and wizards tend to prepare religiously - Silent Dispel Magic.

Alternatively, have a Bard with Joyful Noise handy

Right, but you'd better roll high enough to succeed with that dispelling.

And even if you do: the silence will effectively buy its caster the initiative in the fight because the enemy must react (with dispel) and the silence-caster will then be able act HIS way.
In addition to that the second-level spell silence drains the enemy of a fourth level slot (if there's NO bard with joyful noise at hand ); quite good...

Kodam