A History of Silence

Silence has always been a problematic spell for me. It is a wildly powerful AoE that shuts down enemy casters, often without a saving throw when players cast it on a rock, arrow, or other such nonsense. I decided to go back through the books and understand how we arrived at the modern incarnation of the Silence spell from its humble OD&D roots through the split of the AD&D and Basic/Expert lines (and did they treat it differently). Finally, I give the OD&D version a “B/X Treatment” to bring it back in line with what I am reading as “original intent.”

OD&D Supplement #1: Greyhawk (1975)

Silence, 15 ft. Radius

This spell allows the user to either cast Silence upon himself and his party so as to move with no sound or to cast the spell upon some object or thing to silence it. Duration: 12 turns. Range: 18"

This is the first time the Silence spell shows up (directly following the Little Brown Books) and it does not indicate that it interferes with conversation or spellcasting. In fact, the main thrust of the spell reads like it is meant to be cast on oneself or party to make them quiet. The spell does not indicate that there is a save against it, another nod that it is not weaponized.

Holmes Basic (1977)

Silence: 15' Radius

Level: clerical 2; Range: 180 feet; Duration: 12 turns

Allows the user to cast silence in a large area so as to prevent sound or allow his party to move noiselessly. It can be used to silence some object as well. Note conversation is not possible under a silence spell.

Here we have the Holmes interpretation of the Silence spell and it picks up the note about conversation. However, it also once again puts forward the idea that the intent of the spell is to help the party move noiselessly about the dungeon. There is also another subtle change in the language of this spell indicating that it can be cast over an area, previously the spell read as needing to be cast on (a) person(s) or object. Again, there is no save listed as the spell has not yet been weaponized.

“A New Look at Illusionists” by Rafael Ovalle (Dragon #12 February 1978)

Displacement 10’ radius: As clerical silence in description, duration and range, but the effect is

displacement.

Personal Silence: As clerical silence for caster.

The cited article is a fascinating look at illusionists building off the illusionist that first appeared in Strategic Review Volume 1 Number 4 and then elaborated on in Dragon #1. Hence, the spell references in these descriptions can only be assumed to harken back to the Silence 15 ft Radius spell introduced in OD&D Supplement #1 Greyhawk. “Personal Silence” in particular being added to the illusionist class makes me think that the Silence spell was not universally understood at this point in time to hinder spellcasting (otherwise this would be an extremely limiting spell slipped into an article that was generally pumping up the power level of illusionist).

AD&D Players Handbook (1978)

Silence, 15’ Radius

Level: 2 Range: 12" Duration: 2 rounds/level Area of Effect: 30' diameter sphere Components: V, S Casting Time: 5 segments Saving Throw: None

Explanation/Description: Upon casting this spell, complete silence prevails In the area of its effect. All sound is stopped, so all conversation is impossible, spells cannot be cast, and no noise whatsoever issues forth, The spell can be cast into the air or upon an object. The spell of silence lasts for 2 rounds for each level of experience of the clerk, i.e. 2 rounds at 1st level, 4 at 2nd, 6 at 3rd, 8 at 4th and so forth. The spell can be cast upon a creature, and the effect will then radiate from the creature and move as it moves. If the creature is unwilling, it saves against the spell and if the saving throw is made, the spell effect locates about one foot behind the target creature.

The weaponization of Silence appears to happen first in AD&D. Holmes made it an area effect that prohibited speaking, in the 1st edition Player's Handbook this was codified to mean that spells couldn’t be cast and its offensive potential was realized with the inclusion of a saving throw.

Moldvay Basic (1981)

Silence 15’ Radius

Range: 180’ Duration: 12 turns

This spell will make an area with a 30’ diameter totally silent. Conversation and spells in this area will be prevented for the duration of the spell. This spell does not prevent a person within the area from hearing noises made outside the area. If cast at a person, the victim must save vs. Spells, or the spell effect will move with him! If the saving throw is successful, the spell will remain in the area in which it was cast, and the victim may move out of it.

Moldvay takes the nod from AD&D maintaining basically the same spell. The only noticeable difference is the duration which does not scale like it does in AD&D.

Rules Cyclopedia (1991)

Silence 15' Radius

Range: 180' Duration: 12 turns Effect: Sphere of silence 30' across

This spell makes the area of effect totally silent. Conversation and spellcasting in this area are impossible for the duration of the spell. This spell does not prevent a person within the area from hearing noises outside the area. If cast on a creature, the victim must make a saving throw vs. spells or the spell effects will move with the creature. If the saving throw is successful, the spell remains in the area in which it was cast, and the victim may move out of the area.

As expected, minor wordsmithing from the Moldvay version. Now - indulge me when I introduce one more spell that is NOT Silence.

Cook Expert (1981)

Invisibility 10’ Radius

Range: 120’ Duration: Special

This spell makes the creature it is cast on and all creatures within 10’ at the time of casting invisible. This area will move with the person it is cast upon. This spell otherwise acts as an invisibility spell, but the creatures in the area of effect who move more than 10’ away from the creature the spell is cast on will become visible.

My supposition is thus: Silence was initially intended to be the counterpoint to invisibility, “auditory invisibility” could have been another name for it. However, it required more rulings at the table. If I say something, can I be heard? Dungeonmasters might rule that you can’t because you can’t make any sounds. That makes conversation impossible. Then it's a small hop to making casting impossible. The biggest deviation in understanding of the spell was perhaps Holmes when the spell transitioned from a spell that targeted creatures or objects to an area of effect spell with a radiating effect instead of a personal effect on those effected.  Clever players figured out that based on ruling they could use the spell to shut down enemy casters, so Dungeonmasters added a saving throw - and the weaponization of the spell was complete. The next spell that specifically strips spellcasters of their spellcasting cannot be obtained until level 5 Feeble Mind, which is not AoE and does not have the same out of combat utility - objectively a weaker spell than Silence 15 ft Radius at level 2.


I have a version of Silence 15 ft Radius if it stayed closer to its OD&D roots with a nice clean Moldvay/Cook update.

The Gibbering Blog (2023)

Silence 15’ Radius

Range: 120’ Duration: 12 Turns

This spell makes the creature it is cast on and all creatures within 15’ at the time move silently. This area will move with the person it is cast upon, but the creatures in the area of effect who move more than 15’ away from the creature the spell is cast on will begin making sound. If any effected creature speaks, the spell immediately ends. This spell can also be cast on an object so that the object creates no sound, for example it could be cast on a door before it is bashed down.