Counterspell Queries

[HeshKadesh]

1. If Counterspell can only be triggered if a spell you know or have prepared (or in spellbook) is being cast, but this takes the same reaction required to Recognize a spell - if you do not know what spell was being cast, you can never meet the requirements for Counterspell's trigger, and if you use the reaction to Recognize, you will use the reaction you need to trigger Counterspell.

Even with Free Action Recognize's, you cannot take a Free Action when it's not your turn, so that doesn't help unfortunately.

Some have said that you automatically recognize spells that you know/have prepared/are in your spellbook, but I've not seen this rule written, but that may just be me being blind. I have however seen abilities which make it more difficult to recognise spells you are casting (Bizarre Magic etc), but if Bizarre Magic hides the actual spell being cast, it doesn't make sense that someone having a non-bizarre magic spell known can instantly recognise it either.

The below assumes that there is a way for you to recognize and counterspell;
2. What happens if you mis-recognize a spell (as per a Critical Failure), that the DM advises is a different spell?
a - Can you use your reaction to attempt to Counterspell Reaction?
b - If so, do you expend the spell slot?
c - Do you automatically fail even if you have expended the spell slot?
d - Further to c, there is no specific requirement within the Wizard Counterspell to expend a spellslot with the prepared spell within it - is this intentional?

Is this addressed in any faq/errata/other books etc? I only have core and apg, sorry!

[Blave]

Identifying a spell, CRB p.305 wrote:

Sometimes you need to identify a spell, especially if its effects are not obvious right away. If you notice a spell being cast, and you have prepared that spell or have it in your repertoire, you automatically know what the spell is, including the level to which it is heightened.

Link to the PRD.

[HeshKadesh]

Now I feel a potato, I specifically checked that. Thanks for the prompt answer for point 1 :)

[thenobledrake]

There's no specific statement on what happens if you are wrong about what spell you're trying to counterspell - but there is a general trend in PF2 that if something is meant to not be fully apparent to the player it will have the "secret" trait assigned to it, and a vaguely related rule that states if something isn't a valid target for your spell you can't cast that spell on it. Indicating a likely intent to not have the player waste a spell slot on a counterspell attempt that can't be successful because it's not the right spell.

As for the counterspell feat not being specific that you expend the spell that is the same as what you are countering, that's down to imprecise language but the intent is clear - that's why the clever counterspell feat exists to open up the option to expend a different spell than the one you are countering.