Somatic Semantics

[Thief Of Navarre]

What's your interpretations of spellcasting gestures in D&D! Is it pyras's comic finger waggling, evangelistic arm flailing or something like the ninja's traditional hand seals?

Apart from ingame interpretations there isnt really anything I could find on the subject so Im interested to see what people think.
Go!

[Doubtful]

I'm going to guess that many offensive spells are close to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EBlPy0byK8

[Thief Of Navarre]

Thats amusing, so amusing I think I need a grow myself a rediculous tache.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8yjNbcKkNY

*edit* Seriously, no-one else?

[Silas North]

I would guess the spells with armor failure chance would be complex, like a street mime having a drug-induced panic attack.

...I'm never going to Mardi Gras ever again.

[Urithrand]

I think it depends on the spell. Some I envision nothing more than a wave of the hands or a click of the fingers, but for some of the more complex ones I have images of intricate patterns and tracing runes in the air. I imagine the more powerful and experienced the wizard, the less effort this takes too.

[Silas North]

This is true. Hell, spells are technically supposed to have a 'casting time' and despite their likely less complex gestures, the divine ones seem to be a bit longer on average (or so I've heard). And higher level spells are supposed to be harder to concentrate on, hence the way they affect Concentration skill DC checks.

Whether it's tracing runes in the air or just holding out your hand and making a short speech in some kooky language, I kind of like how the rules on this are relaxed. If someone wants their pc to cast his or her spells by flapping their arms and cawing like a crow, go for it. Just don't expect to be taken seriously if you go that far.

[Spacedog]

Interpretive dance based on the purpose of the spell.

[Urithrand]

If someone wants their pc to cast his or her spells by flapping their arms and cawing like a crow, go for it.

You totally just gave me an idea for a character concept...

[Thief Of Navarre]

You totally just gave me an idea for a character concept...

Mmm druidy. Thanks for the input, its one of the few things that puzzles me about D&D (aside from the constant rule changing)

[Silas North]

.... its one of the few things that puzzles me about D&D (aside from the constant rule changing)

The sourcebooks constantly contradict each other and nerd-arguments often get brought up. That's why the rules change and also why I perfer novels to sourcebooks (though they aren't always perfect either).

Luckily, many of the 'rules' of D&D are more like guidelines. I believe the creators expected people to take their own little stories in their own directions. The malleable system of D&D is both its best, and worst, quality.

P.S. I can't stop laughing at Space's idea. The idea of a wizard duel between someone like Pyras and Ahriman looking like West Side Story cracks me up LOL

[Vonjan]

For sorcerers i always saw it as something thats from within..like a mute making gestures as sign language. a wizard well its all base on his memory of the spell but its more artificial because he has to gather the strength of the spell from around him.
the divine well thats another thing..Paladin i see them taking ink and finger painting it rapidily to invoke the strength of there gods..and the cleric from his tome he carries with him at all time like a preacher....call me wrong but it's kinda funky.

[Sir Kharn]

for clerics..someone posted a link to an anime clip that had a cleric praying to power up his party before a fight....but i'll be damned if i can find it..i think it was one of the DM's that posted it..