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View Full Version : Can you cast spells with a mute character ?



Grifthin
2010-02-11, 01:28 AM
So - I want to play a Mute divine caster for the next party - is there any way that I can play a mute healer ? besides still spell feat is there any other way of doing it ?

Godskook
2010-02-11, 01:33 AM
Mute != silent, so talk to your DM about allowing grunt-based verbal components. As far as RAW methods, I don't know of any in particular, although spell thematics might do it for you.

drengnikrafe
2010-02-11, 01:33 AM
You're thinking of the Silence Spell feat. Or something like that. Just sayin'.
Sudden silence spell.
Only casting spells that have no verbal componant.

gorfnab
2010-02-11, 01:33 AM
Feat - Nonverbal Spell (http://realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Nonverbal_Spell)

Also look into the Boumman race from the Planar Handbook. They get a bonus to Wis (useful to most healer types) and basically have a racial vow of silence.

Crafty Cultist
2010-02-11, 02:07 AM
if you count can count it as a flaw(or two- it's more severe than the sample flaws) you could get silent spell and another feat(I think it was favoured metamagic, can't remember right now) that reduces the level modifier of a metamagic feat

KeithIsTheMan
2010-02-11, 02:33 AM
Your character could hum a little tune or specific sequence of pitches for each spell. Good enough for a verbal component?

faceroll
2010-02-11, 02:43 AM
Your character could hum a little tune or specific sequence of pitches for each spell. Good enough for a verbal component?

Not by RAW.

ericgrau
2010-02-11, 03:01 AM
You utter phrases of arcane power in a strong voice while making complex gestures. I don't think grunts qualify. Just take silent spell and turn the weakness into a strength: Silence yourself and get close to other casters. Use stealth. Etc.

Totally Guy
2010-02-11, 04:38 AM
I think the better question is can you accept all the roleplaying disadvantages that come with choosing to play a mute character?

Not saying it can't be done and still be fun but it does limit variety of the conflicts you can actively participate in.

Innis Cabal
2010-02-11, 04:58 AM
Feat - Nonverbal Spell (http://realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Nonverbal_Spell)

Also look into the Boumman race from the Planar Handbook. They get a bonus to Wis (useful to most healer types) and basically have a racial vow of silence.

Going to quote this. Because it answeres the question perfectly, and was the express reason for the feats creation.

Zom B
2010-02-11, 08:19 AM
I think the better question is can you accept all the roleplaying disadvantages that come with choosing to play a mute character?

Not saying it can't be done and still be fun but it does limit variety of the conflicts you can actively participate in.

I played a Saurial (http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Saurial) cleric once, and it was one of my most favorite characters. The resource I linked to lists smells and their meanings, and I just responded with what the other players were smelling. They caught on eventually to the different meanings.

Amiel
2010-02-11, 08:27 AM
Yeah, pretty sure you're talking about Silent Spell (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#silentSpell); although you could take Still Spell for the 'no need for somatic components' clause. Otherwise, you could also invest in Eschew Materials (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#eschewMaterials), but you'll still need Silent Spell if you wish to retain spellcasting capacity.

Optimystik
2010-02-11, 08:30 AM
Nonverbal Spell is what the OP wants. Without it you have this: (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ask/20070215a)


Q: Dear Sage,
When you cast charm person, can the verbal component sound like regular conversation and the somatic component look like normal gestures, such as shaking hands?
--Roy

A: No. You can’t cast charm person by saying hi and shaking someone’s hand.

A spell’s verbal components don’t sound like normal speech, and a spell’s somatic components don’t look like normal gestures. When someone’s casting a spell, it’s pretty obvious that they’re casting a spell (though not always obvious what spell they’re casting).

There are plenty of feats, class features, and skill tricks that can let you conceal or alter a spell’s verbal and somatic components. The right combination might allow you to pull off the trick you’re describing.

Viletta Vadim
2010-02-11, 09:32 AM
I believe there's a race in the Planar Handbook that's mute and gets an ability that allows 'em to cast spells anyways.

As for playing a mute healer in particular? Spells are unnecessary. Dread Necromancer, have everyone take Tomb-Tainted Soul. Binder, bind Buer (spell-likes don't have verbal or somatic components). Virtually anything, use UMD for healing wands. Psionics can heal, despite not being very good at it.

Optimystik
2010-02-11, 10:17 AM
I believe there's a race in the Planar Handbook that's mute and gets an ability that allows 'em to cast spells anyways.

Buomman can speak, they just choose not to. They need the Nonverbal Spell feat to cast spells safely - without it, they break their vow and take penalties.


Psionics can heal, despite not being very good at it.

A Sangehirn Erudite makes a great healer, actually - see my first post :smallsmile:

Actually, I was mistaking this with another thread. Sangehirns are here. (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040625c) They get the ability to manifest some handy personal-range powers on party members.

EDIT: changed Egoist to Erudite - forgot that being a Sangehirn restricts your power list :smalltongue: