Editing Yagura:SRD:Casting Spells (section)

==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 a spell (or the use of a spell-like ability) by another character. Counterspelling works even if one spell is divine and the other arcane.

You can counter any spell that traces its line of effect through your square. This counterspelling area can be extended by 5 feet by wielding a magic wand or a magic weapon with which you are proficient (wizards commonly use staves for this purpose). Reach or ranged weapons can be used but still only extend the counterspelling area by 5 feet. To counter a spell, you make an Attack of Opportunity on the spell against an armor class equal to the spell's saving throw DC, or the DC it would have if the spell allowed for a saving throw. As this is not a melee or ranged spell you add your casting ability modifier to your base attack bonus to determine your attack bonus. If the spell is of a higher level than you can cast, your attack automatically misses. If you hit, you gain [[Yagura:SRD:Spellcasting_Strain|strain]] as if you had just cast a spell of equal level to the spell you are counterspelling (the final level of the spell after metamagic feats have been applied is the level of the spell for these purposes), and the spell is successfully dispelled.

When a spell is dispelled by an opponent the spell is cast (or ability used) but takes no effect.

You need not cast any specific spell in order to counterspell, you simply take strain. However, thematically the idea is that the same spell, a very similar spell, or a spell with an opposing effect is used, and for dramatic purposes a successful counterspell should be described in this fashion.

=====Readying to Counterspell=====

You can follow the normal rules to ready an action in case an opponent casts a spell. You can declare your readied action to be a counterspell, in which case the only difference between this and the normal counterspell rules is that an attack of opportunity is not used but your normal actions are.

Of course, you can also cast any other spell as a readied action in order to force your opponent to make a Concentration check, or you can use the ''dispel magic'' spell to counter a spell being cast (see the spell description).