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Trying to grasp how this one works, the limits of doing so, and the requirements for a (wizard) character. Mainly double checking my existing understanding.
Basic Counterspell steps:
1: As I read it, the act of countering a spell requires a readied action to counter spells. So I'm unable to counterspell if I don't act before my opponent (even though my action is to wait and see what they do).
2: Once the opponent attempts to cast a spell, I attempt a spellcraft check. As I read it, there is no loss in failure, since my readied action is only used when I attempt step 3 after positively identifying the spell attempted to cast.
3: Once the spell being cast is identified, I then attempt to cast the same spell. Assuming I cast successfully, my version of the spell causes their spell to fail. As I read it, there is no caster level check or DC requirements, just that it is the same spell. Failing or succeeding at this step both result in loss of my prepared spell.
So as I read it, actually having a high caster level or primary casting stat do not directly influence this option. Having a lower casting stat or lower class level means less spells prepared, so it indirectly influences this ability, but not directly.
As for the limitations, I require being able to cast the spell as a standard action, it must be prepared, I must be able to pass the spellcraft check, and I must be able to act before the caster attempts to cast, so I can ready the action.
Without additional counterspell abilities, a basic wizard will only be able to counter the spells they themselves have already prepared. So the realistic counterspelling ability of a non-specialized counterspeller is that they can only counter the spells which they would commonly cast. So the popular spells, like magic missile, are functionally easier to counterspell, purely because other wizard are more likely to have it prepared.
Do I have this right?
Furthermore, can spells from wands be used to counter spells or be countered?For example, if I had readied my action to counterspell, and I had a wand of magic missile in hand, would I be able to use it to counterspell if my opponent happened to be casting magic missile? Or would I have to cast my prepared magic missile? What if they were casting magic missile from a Wand, rather than a prepared version?
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Counterspells
It is possible to cast any spell as a counterspell. By doing so, you are using the spell's energy to disrupt the casting of the same spell by another character. Counterspelling works even if one spell is divine and the other arcane.
How Counterspells Work: To use a counterspell, you must select an opponent as the target of the counterspell. You do this by choosing to ready an action. In doing so, you elect to wait to complete your action until your opponent tries to cast a spell. You may still move at your normal speed, since ready is a standard action.
If the target of your counterspell tries to cast a spell, make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the spell's level). This check is a free action. If the check succeeds, you correctly identify the opponent's spell and can attempt to counter it. If the check fails, you can't do either of these things.
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. If the target is within range, both spells automatically negate each other with no other results.
Counterspelling Metamagic Spells: Metamagic feats are not taken into account when determining whether a spell can be countered.
Specific Exceptions: Some spells can counter other specific spells, often those with diametrically opposed effects.
Dispel Magic as a Counterspell: You can usually use dispel magic to counterspell another spell being cast without needing to identify the spell being cast. Dispel magic doesn't always work as a counterspell (see the spell description).
You have the steps laid out correctly. Here are a few caveats:
1. Yes, it requires a readied action. I'm not sure what you mean about going before your opponent. Except for the first round, and then only if you have a lower initiative score, you are always going before your opponent. You ready an action to counterspell on your turn, and then when it is his turn and he casts a spell, you can attempt to counterspell. It doesn't matter if this overlaps a round.
2. Yes, this is correct. If you succeed in the spellcraft check, you can attempt to counterspell, which uses the readied action, and your new initiative is right before your opponent's. If you fail your spellcraft check, you cannot use your readied action, and you keep your place in the initiative order as if nothing happened. The spellcraft check is a free action that you can perform when it is not your turn.
3. This is also correct, but I would call it using your prepared spell (or the proper spell-slot for a spontaneous caster), rather than losing it, either way, it is used up.
(4.) Yes, there is no comparison of caster level or casting ability score or modifier. You counterspell by having the correct spell to use. When using dispel magic as a general counterspelling spell is when you need to make the caster level check as per the spell description.
In practice, I find that counterspelling is very rare, as it potentially wastes your own action in the turn (by failing the spellcraft check or not having the correct spell to use) compared to taking an effective action of your own. Characters built to specialize in counterspelling (such as the feat Improved Counterspell) can more reliably use that readied action.
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This post by SKR (former designer for Pathfinder) says you can't counterspell with a wand.
You can't properly alter the spell in a wand to cast it as a counterspell (with the exception of "opposite" spells that always counter each other, such as haste and slow).
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If you are really interested in playing the counterspell subgame, I'd recommend checking out the Counterspell focused school in the APG. I have it and I've had a fun few moments. When the enemy caster tries to cast a Lightning Bolt as his standard action, getting to say 'Nope' while I cross a Resilient Sphere off my prep list is golden. (We've read Counterspell Mastery to require use of Improved Counterspell. I think that's correct, but the APG words things very poorly)
Otherwise, yeah: playing the counterspell game without Improved Counterspell, Dispel Magic (or Greater Dispel Magic) or having a VERY good idea of what the enemy caster's spell list looks like is not a good idea. Even with those tools, it's a little iffy but with big payoff potential.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 8
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I think there's also an alchemical power component that adds +1.
- Power Component Flask of acid (10gp) Dispel Magic (M): Using acid as a material component while attempting to dispel or counterspell a spell or effect with the earth subtype gives you a +2 bonus on your dispel check. This bonus applies whether you are using dispel magic, greater dispel magic, or some other spell that you can use for counterspelling (for example, if you have the Improved Counterspell feat).
- Reagent Cold Iron (5gp) +1 caster level for the purpose of abjuration caster level and dispel checks
- Reagent Myrrh (4gp) +1 caster level for the purpose of abjuration caster level and dispel checks
I'm not sure if you can stack the bonuses from different power components.
EDIT "Reagents do not stack with either themselves or one another, and are expended after use."
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So, then: Full Monty dispeller would be able to sling a dispel at +7 CL before further itemization beyond 5gp of cold iron/cast.
Now to comb through umpteen supplements looking for other ways to amp dispel checks/caster level.
Looks like the alternate racial isn't PFS legal (also doesn't allow abjuration, sadly), but the feats Dispel Focus and Greater Dispel Focus (from Monster Summoner's Handbook) each add +2 to dispel checks
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Looks like the alternate racial isn't PFS legal (also doesn't allow abjuration, sadly)We looking at the same thing? Overwhelming Magic from the Inner Sea Races splat that grants Spell Focus as a bonus feat in lieu of Weapon Training and Elven Magic?
Cause I'm looking at the AR and not seeing it specifically banned.
You are correct that I was looking at the wrong thing... Thought you meant the Illustrous Urbanite racial from Heroes of the Sheets.
My preferred form of counterspell is to ready an action to damage the caster, forcing a concentration check with a damage penalty. :-)
/cevah
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So now my topic about countering spells without dispel magic is now exclusively about countering spells with dispel magic....lol.
Anyway, thanks for the help confirming this one. I was kinda surprised in my reading that the caster level and spell's level for the caster's class have no direct bearing on countering spells if you are able to cast the same spell to counter.
I do have one more question, related, than I can't quite pin down:
If I ready an action to counter spell, and after either identifying or failing to identify the casting spell, I don't counterspell, is my counter spell action still readied should another spell be cast before the start of my next turn?
As I read it, I don't have ready the counterspell against a specific caster. If the spellcraft check fails, or if I simply don't have a duplicate of the spell to counter with, then I do not even attempt to cast a spell. Kinda unclear if not casting a spell in this instance means the entire readied action is wasted, or if I remained readied until I identify a spell I do counter (or at least one I attempt counter).