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Hey all was hoping some fine sages may be able to clarify a question. On pg. 207 of the Pathfinder Core it states:
"To complete the action, you must then cast an appropriate spell. As a general rule, a spell can only counter itself. If you are able to cast the same spell and you have it prepared (or have a slot of the appropriate level available), you cast it, creating a counterspell effect."
I'm a little confused by the comment in the parentheses. Does this mean that as long as you have say a 3rd level spell prepared you can in essence jettison it to counter a 3rd level spell? Doesn't seem right but not sure how else to interpret that comment.
I'm gusessing that "or have a slot of the appropriate level available" is only relevant to spontanious spellcasters like sorcerers etc.
MnM
That text is referring to spontaneous spellcasters (Sorcerers, Bards), who don't "prepare" spells, but instead use their spell slots to cast that they know.
So if a Fireball is cast, you can counter it if you are a wizard and have fireball prepared, or you're a sorcerer, know Fireball, and have an unused 3rd level spell slot. [Or cast dispel magic to counter of course.]
Hey all was hoping some fine sages may be able to clarify a question. On pg. 207 of the Pathfinder Core it states:
"To complete the action, you must then cast an appropriate spell. As a general rule, a spell can only counter itself. If you are able to cast the same spell and you have it prepared (or have a slot of the appropriate level available), you cast it, creating a counterspell effect."
I'm a little confused by the comment in the parentheses. Does this mean that as long as you have say a 3rd level spell prepared you can in essence jettison it to counter a 3rd level spell? Doesn't seem right but not sure how else to interpret that comment.
I'm pretty certain they are referring to spontaneous casters such as a sorceror.
For example:
Joe casts charm person at Amanda.
Tim is a wizard and has charmed person available, he can counter the spell.
Brian is a sorceror and knows the spell charm person and still has level 1 spell slots available, he can also counter it.
Pete is a wizard and knows charmed person but does not have it prepared, he can't counter it.
Larry the sorceror knows the spell charm person but has expended all of his level 1 spell slots, therefore can't counter it.
No problem. It's what this community's all about.
What if it was a wizard who had an open 1st level slot? Could they use the arcane energy from that slot to counterspell the charm person?
No, I don't think that would work. A sorcerer's or bard's unused spell slot has a magical 'charge', and when they cast a spell that magic is channeled outward in whatever form the spell takes. With a wizard, that charge is only there after they memorize a spell into it. If a wizard does not memorize her full compliment of spells the extra 'slots' are empty, and devoid of any arcane energy.