How to deal with players tending to fix any curse/spell effect with Finite Intantatem counterspell?
Either make them roll for it, or explain why it wouldn't work at all
The general rule is roll when the outcome is in doubt. This means players don't need to roll when there's no chance a spell would fail, but it also means they can't roll if there's no chance it would succeed. No regular student is fast or powerful enough to cast a counterspell against Voldemort, for example. There's simply no scenario where that could succeed
If you can't think of any reason the spell would fail (which would trigger a roll) or simply not work, you should let the players cast it successfully
Other things to think about: What are the results of using the counterspell? What new problems does it create? What new mysteries does it uncover? How does it spark the next step in the adventure? And, when saying something won't work & players can't roll for it, always make sure you offer an alternative. Players can't counterspell Voldemort, but maybe they could evade or trick him instead
Thank you! What confuses me is that the Spells & Conditions block says:
A healing spell can clear the Injured, Hexed, or Unconscious Conditions, if the spell’s effect would heal the cause of the Condition.
Does that mean, that you don't need to pick or buy for xp points any healing spell, since even if you do, it has requirements to work, while 1st year Finite spell can fix any of the 7 years spells without these requirements?
Hm. I'm not sure I understand your question – Finite Incantatem is a Defence spell, not a Healing spell. And Healing spells are not required to clear Conditions, they just have the ability to do so, if successfully cast
Finite Incantatem would only be able to clear a Condition caused by another spell, while Healing spells can clear Conditions caused in other ways (cuts, broken bones, etc)
Does that help at all?
I would follow how its depicted in the books & movies – sometimes the spell you're trying to end is too powerful, sometimes the caster isn't skilled enough, sometimes a more specific counter-spell is called for: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/General_Counter-Spell