Counterspell?

[GmanUK1965]

I thought I understood this spell but now I am confused. Every time a spell has been cast I can use counterspell unless I have just used it. I am presuming if two wizards have got counterspell but only one uses it, if a spell is cast afterwards the other wizard can still stop it? This is a question outside my main problem.

Here is where I definitely don't get it. I am in the house of grief in that nasty battle. I'm using two wizards and each has counterspell. Darkness has never been cast yet and any other spell has not been countered so counterspell has not been used yet.

The enemy casts darkness. Now I'm thinking, using my thoughts on every other spell that has been cast in the whole game, if counterspell is prepared it can be cast to stop the spell.
Nope, not in this case. Darkness is cast and no counterspell is allowed to be used. Why?

[GmanUK1965]

Even an answer of don't know is still an answer

[lerrissirrel]

I think a given character can only use it once per round as it's a "reaction"

[GmanUK1965]

Counterspell has never needed to be used yet in this situation so I think it should have been allowed to be used.

[Zsrai]

Did they use their Reaction for something else this round? Are they able to use their Reaction at all this round?

[TwoArmedMan15]

Counter spell is cast as a "reaction." Each character has only one reaction per round, and some other common abilities are reactions (opportunity attacks and the shield spell, for examples), so a character won't be able to counter spell if they already used their one reaction for something else.

Also, counter spell has a range (60 feet), so you can't counter spell if you're too far away from the enemy spell caster.

Counter spell also requires line-of-sight of the enemy spell caster, meaning you can't counter an enemy casting an AoE spell around a corner or if your character otherwise can't see (blinded, in darkness without dark vision, etc.).

Edit: I remembered that counter spell only works against actual spells. Spell-like abilities cannot be countered (even though there are some spell-like abilities with effects and names identical to spells, which makes things even more confusing...)

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Every round you (typically) get one Action, one Bonus Action and Reaction.

Counterspell uses your reaction for the round, so if you cast Counterspell you cannot take another Reaction until the beginning of your character's next turn.

[guard65]

This is what I suspect the cause it for certain spells not triggering counter-spell. The counter-spell mechanic is a reaction event that is triggered when the wizard is targeted. If the wizard it not targeted but it targets a spot on the ground (areas of effect) I don't see it triggering the counter spell reaction event.

[bzz]

Originally posted by TwoArmedMan15:

Counter spell also requires line-of-sight of the enemy spell caster, meaning you can't counter an enemy casting an AoE spell around a corner or if your character otherwise can't see (blinded, in darkness without dark vision, etc.).

You sure about that part ? Is this a recent change ? I remember in act3 an enemy spell caster countered my haste spell thru a wall, my guy who used haste wasn't even in combat. The other 3 were Idk if it's a bug or intended, i always thought it just worked that way

[SotiCoto]

Originally posted by guard65:

This is what I suspect the cause it for certain spells not triggering counter-spell. The counter-spell mechanic is a reaction event that is triggered when the wizard is targeted. If the wizard it not targeted but it targets a spot on the ground (areas of effect) I don't see it triggering the counter spell reaction event.

AoE spells can be used to get around Sanctuary, but they do seem to trigger Counterspell.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by guard65:

This is what I suspect the cause it for certain spells not triggering counter-spell. The counter-spell mechanic is a reaction event that is triggered when the wizard is targeted. If the wizard it not targeted but it targets a spot on the ground (areas of effect) I don't see it triggering the counter spell reaction event.

No, this is incorrect. As long as the caster you want to Counterspell is within range of your Counterspell, and you have a Reaction remaining this round, and you have checked the appropriate boxes to get the popup for it, then you will be given an opportunity to Counterspell.

The OP explicitly mentions already using their Reaction on casting a Counterspell, what they don't realize is that it's not one Counterspell per round, it's actually one Reaction per round. These almost seem to be the same thing, since Counterspell uses your Reaction, however...if you have used your Reaction to do something else instead, then you will get the same result - the Reaction does not reset until the beginning of your next turn. So, no Reaction remaining, no Counterspell.

[guard65]

Since I was guessing last time I looked up the spell mechanics to see whats what. From what I can see darkness only has a verbal component. Best guess no Somatic component and it obscures visibility? Still just a guess since I do not want to dig into the script.

Darkness
data "SpellFlags" "HasVerbalComponent;IsSpell;IsConcentration;Stealth;Invisible"

While Counter spell is heavy Observer based and uses these triggers:
data "Conditions" "not HasSpellCastBlocked(context.Observer) and IsAbleToReact(context.Observer) and not Self(context.Source, context.Observer) and Enemy(context.Source, context.Observer) and IsSpell() and not Uninterruptible() and not HasStringInSpellRoll('WeaponAttack') and not AnyEntityIsItem() and not SpellId('Shout_END_Gale_ActivateNethereseOrb')"

Whatever Gale spell Shout_END_Gale_ActivateNethereseOrb is?
I kill Gale if he shows his face.

[guard65]

Also noted "not AnyEntityIsItem" which would exclude item like arrows or scroll.