Underwater Spellcasting

[Thanee]

What would allow you to cast verbal spells underwater?

Water Breathing?

Freedom of Movement?

Necklace of Adaptation?

Anything else (apart from Silent Spell )?

Bye
Thanee

 

[myradale]

Since you can use somatic components with a single hand free, I've got to assume that they wouldn't be very large gestures. Having spent some time underwater, that kind of stuff should be reletively easy. Same goes with most material components (allthough they'd be kinda soggy) The only problems I see are with your verbals.
As long as a spell or condition that allows you to breathe underwater allows you to speak underwater, I can't see any problems.

Water breathing does, but what about alter shape and gills?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

RAW, there are no problems whatsoever with casting spells underwater, other than:

Fire: Nonmagical fire (including alchemist’s fire) does not burn underwater. Spells or spell-like effects with the fire descriptor are ineffective underwater unless the caster makes a Spellcraft check (DC 20 + spell level). If the check succeeds, the spell creates a bubble of steam instead of its usual fiery effect, but otherwise the spell works as described. A supernatural fire effect is ineffective underwater unless its description states otherwise. The surface of a body of water blocks line of effect for any fire spell. If the caster has made a Spellcraft check to make the fire spell usable underwater, the surface still blocks the spell’s line of effect.

 

[dcollins]

What would allow you to cast verbal spells underwater?

You don't need anything special, everyone can do it automatically. See rules for Underwater Combat and casting in the DMG/SRD: there are no restrictions placed on verbal components.

 

[Pinotage]

As others have mentioned, you can cast spells freely underwater without any penalty. However, in my game which features underwater combat, I do impose certain restrictions on underwater spellcasting which have been collected from a number of non-core books and house rules.

1) To cast a spell with a verbal component, you must be able to speak. Doing so while holding your breath requires a Concentration check against DC 15 + Spell Level and a Spellcraft Check against DC 15 + Spell Level. With Water Breathing (or Necklace of Adaptation), only the Spellcraft check is required. With Freedom of Movement, you can cast spells freely.

2) If you're in moving water and are casting a spell requiring a Somantic component, you need to make an appropriate Concentration check against the Water speed.

3) I adjudicate material components on a case-by-case basis, and do the same with the spell effect where required.

4) There are a whole bunch of other things that affect spellcasting, such as visibility.

Pinotage

 

[Thanee]

Alright. Thank you!

I guess I just have a hard time imagining someone to speak while submerged in water.

We'll be going on a hunt for a nasty kraken soon and we will have Freedom of Movement and Water Breathing (from a nice Ghaele Eladrin called by my sorceress, since our cleric has decided to stay dead), so I guess we have it covered then. I really do not want to not be able to cast Dimension Door in there as a standard action... you never know...

Bye
Thanee

 

[Jdvn1]

Anything else (apart from Silent Spell )?

A Wildshaped Druid (wildshaped into an aquatic animal) with Natural Spell? Yeah, I'd allow it.

 

[ARandomGod]

1) To cast a spell with a verbal component, you must be able to speak. Doing so while holding your breath requires a Concentration check against DC 15 + Spell Level and a Spellcraft Check against DC 15 + Spell Level. With Water Breathing (or Necklace of Adaptation), only the Spellcraft check is required. With Freedom of Movement, you can cast spells freely.

2) If you're in moving water and are casting a spell requiring a Somantic component, you need to make an appropriate Concentration check against the Water speed.

With a necklace of adaptaion you're surrounded by air... so I'd argue that you don't need the spellcraft in that case.

Of cousre I'd argue it because my spellcasters rarely take many levels of spellcraft.

With a ring of freedom of movement (or other means of having it on) I'd argue against needing the concentration check for somatic components. However I'm totally for it with 'normal' movement and water.

 

[ARandomGod]

Alright. Thank you!

I guess I just have a hard time imagining someone to speak while emerged in water.

We'll be going on a hunt for a nasty kraken soon and we will have Freedom of Movement and Water Breathing (from a nice Ghaele Eladrin called by my sorceress, since our cleric has decided to stay dead), so I guess we have it covered then. I really do not want to not be able to cast Dimension Door in there as a standard action... you never know...

Bye
Thanee

Actually, if you can breathe the water, it's easier to speak underwater... or at least sound carries better.

 

[ARandomGod]

What would allow you to cast verbal spells underwater?

Water Breathing?

Freedom of Movement?

Necklace of Adaptation?

Anything else (apart from Silent Spell )?

Bye
Thanee

Even better:

Pearl of the Sirines: This normal-seeming pearl is beautiful and worth at least 1,000 gp on that basis alone. If it is clasped firmly in hand or held to the breast while the possessor attempts actions related to the pearl’s powers, she understands and is able to employ the item.

The pearl enables its possessor to breathe in water as if she were in clean, fresh air. Her swim speed is 60 feet, and she can cast spells and act underwater without hindrance.

Moderate abjuration and transmutation; CL 8th; Craft Wondrous Item, freedom of movement, water breathing; Price 15,300 gp.

THIS is the item to get if you're considering underwater adventuring.