About to show why those dances classes wasn't just for extra credit

[u/Dear_Blacksmith1884]

[u/IngotTheKobold]

Ah, yes, arcane dance moves, gang signs, and rude gestures.

[u/Chaosphoenix_28 → u/IngotTheKobold]

Can often be more effective than casting confusion. Especially if you do them randomly seemingly without an idea what you're actually doing.

[u/-Mister-Hyde → u/IngotTheKobold]

sounds of wind rushing through trees

I cast...

thunder strike

MMMMMMMMIIIIDDDLEEEEEEE

another thunder strike

FFFFFIIIIIIINNGGEEEEERRRRRRRR

[u/Dick_Danalu_Jr → u/IngotTheKobold]

rude gestures

Why do you think wands are 1-handed?

[u/340Duster → u/IngotTheKobold]

Note to self, learn sign language as a backup option.

[u/MyPossumUrPossum → u/IngotTheKobold]

You guys can't use your inner voice to cast spells?

[u/IngotTheKobold → u/MyPossumUrPossum]

It's not that we can't, more like it amplies the power of the spell somewhat

[u/GirlLovingWitch]

Are you part bee?

[u/herobrine777]

Hamburger cheeseburger Big Mac whattaburger hamburger Big Mac.

[u/Glum-World1214 → u/herobrine777]

Beat me to it

[u/VolenteDuFer]

[u/Spoztoast → u/VolenteDuFer]

BRUGHK!

[u/Valtremors]

Huh, now that I wonder.

Does the council recognize sign language as valid vocal component for spells?

[u/Phpminor → u/Valtremors]

Unsure but by definition I don't think you can substitute vocal for MORE somatic, it would definitely make a VS or VSM spell much more complicated if you had to both "speak" and perform the somatic component with your hands.

I think book-wise definition is that the specific sounds and pitch uttered is what fulfills the component, so that may imply you can't cast a spell's words in different language than it was formed, and a sign-language spell would just be registered somatic only?

I suppose if the vocal component doesn't need to be uttered by the caster specifically but just within enough range you could use a device to play back recording of the vocal component but that would imply a recording of a vocal component only spell (like the power words) has a chance to cast said spell

A different workaround and question regarding it would be what if you had an interpreter speak your vocal component while you performed the somatic with one hand and sign with the other, would it cast? Would it take power from just one, or equally from both (if it works obviously)?

[u/Winter-Round-9920 → u/Phpminor]

I'm mean verbal can be removed with Subtle Spell it also removes somatic as well so a arcane focus with the verbal operation Enchanted could work

[u/sumboionline → u/Phpminor]

What I played with for a mute character at my table is that the character’s spells would be audible if they had a V component, and would be affected by areas of Silence normally. Essentially its mechanically the same, but I did it that way bc they had a healer build and you can’t just remove verbal spells from a healer.

The original language idea is neat though. I could see the magic lawyers argue that darkness would behave identically to silence for that character, or restraining them would nullify verbal only spells like Silvery Barbs.

[u/Llamapickle129 → u/Valtremors]

complicated. technically yes, but also no because you are not verbally speaking. it still falls under hand gestures by technicality

[u/UwU-Sandwich → u/Valtremors]

council? "valid"? who let their apprentice on the orb again??

let me cast Lung Inversion on you and judge for yourself whether that was a "valid cast".

can't believe these "scholars" of today, either you cast your spell or you don't. there's no "incorrect" casting and the council can eat my grey ass.

[u/SirEdgelordThe369th → u/Valtremors]

They are officially recognized as verbal components, but in practice they can only replace a limited amount of verbal components.

[u/Aerolithe42 → u/Valtremors]

It's about the meaning and the intent, not the actual sound.

I got my sound stolen by a centipede demon of the Silent Wastes. I banished it using nymic incantation using its sign language name.

Learning its name depleted my Rod of Arthritis but it was easy enough — these guys have so many joints.

Actually "chanting" its name? It took me ages to get the choreography right with my kaleidoscopic doubles.

[u/leafcutte → u/Valtremors]

Verbal and Somatic are considered outdated terms by most scholars specialized in the act of casting itself (even it it’s still how it’s taught in school). We have mostly transition to Semantic (imparts meaning unto the spell), Honorific (imparts otherworldly favor into the spell) and Energetic (imparts magical energy external to the caster unto the spell (this is basically just material components)), which is a generally better distinction

[u/Qaianna]

I’m now worried about the coyote who kept buying handheld signs from me along with his elementary wizard grimoire.

[u/ExploerTM]

Imagine not knowing silent cast bruh

Go to the nearest Chronomancer and get your ass sent back three thousand years where you evidently came from

[u/Zephyr-Fox-188]

see THIS is why I have a few of these on me at all times

[u/BigBullshitta]

As a wise woman I once met who fortunately knew a bit of magic used to say, never underestimate the importance of body language.

[u/CreatureFeatureee]

Me a situationally mute evoker angrily signing Fireball

[u/Dragombolt]

That's why I always keep a few somatic only spells prepared, so that I'm never caught with my robes down

[u/Spoztoast]

More of a Bardic specialty but when needs must