What are the limits of suggestion spells modified by silent spell?

[MorganS]

The Suggestion Spell has verbal and material components. Since sorcerers get Eschew Materials at first level, they only have the verbal component to deal with. Since Verbal Components are the spoken incantation, it seems that wording for the suggested course of action would have to be separate from the verbal component (otherwise how could a wand of suggestion operate), but there is nothing in the spell to restrict how the wording must be delivered - except that the language must be understood.

So if a sorcerer uses Silent Spell to avoid having to speak the incantation "in a strong voice", what restrictions are there on how the course of action is delivered?

Allowing the caster to pass a slip of paper to the victim would seem out of bounds, but how about whispered messages, the message spell, telepathy, and sign language (assuming it's understood)? Along the same lines, what if someone notices (spellcraft) a "suggestion" spell being cast on their buddy, but doesn't have a counter-spell ready. Could they scream in their buddy's ear to prevent the suggested course of action from being understood?

[Khuldar]

The rules say:
A language-dependent spell uses intelligible language as a medium for communication. If the target cannot understand or cannot hear what the caster of a language-dependant spell says, the spell fails.

So, for a normal caster:

Caster shouts Alakazam! and eats a bit of honey-roasted snake's tongue, turns to target and says "can I borrow a gold piece?"

Sorcerers can get by without a snack.

With silent spell:
Caster raises an eyebrow, thinks something arcane, turns to targets and says "Handout?"

In both cases the target needs to be able to hear and understand the command. That being said, if you want to walk into a bank and hand the teller a note saying "give me all the cash in your drawer" while casting a silent suggestion, I don't see that as game breaking.

As for the shouting in hie ear, it should work. If you can make it so the target can't hear and understand, they should be safe. How to judge if it works or not is up to the GM. Probably some sort of perception roll.

Hearing details of a conversation is a DC 0 check. If you apply the +5s for distracted and terrible conditions, that's a DC 10 check, plus +1/10ft the caster is away from the target. And that's assuming you are being very loud, as the example for terrible is a roaring dragon. If it's someone with no ranks and a bad Wis, you might be able to pull it off.

This is, of course, my opinion. YMMV, check with your DM, etc...

[Howie23]

Khuldar wrote:

Sorcerers can get by without a snack.

Highly amused. Thanks for that. :)

[MorganS]

Good points, which imply that telepathy should work fine too.

[Howie23]

MorganS wrote:

Good points, which imply that telepathy should work fine too.

Yeah, agreed. The spell components are silent, but the language dependent communication elements remain.

I think I need to rethink outsiders with telepathy and suggestion. :D