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On Spells and Spell-like Powers |
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[Also see MELEE, Meleeing An Opponent Spell Caster]
These functions are fully
detailed in the PH.
Their commencement is dictated
by initiative determination as with other
attack forms,
but their culmination is
subject to the stated casting time.
Both commencement and/or
completion can occur simultaneously with missile discharge, magical device
attacks,
and/or turning
undead.
Being struck by something
during casting will spoil the spell.
Spell-casters will always
insist that they are able to use their powers during combat melee.
The DM must adjudicate the
success of such use.
Consider this:
The somatic (movement) portions
of a spell must be begun and completed without interruption in a clean,
smooth motion.
The spell as a whole must
be continuous ond uninterrupted from beginning to end.
Once interrupted, for any
reason whatsoever, the spell is spoiled and lost (lost as if used).
Spells cannot be cast while
violently moving -- such as running, dodging a blow, or even walking normally.
They are interrupted by
a successful hit - be it blow, missile, or appropriate spell
(not saved against or saveable
against).
Thus,
casting a spell requires
that a figure be relatively motionless and concentrating on the effort
during the entire course of uninterrupted casting.
For example, a magic-user
casting a fireball must be in sight of the intended AREA of effect during
the course of the spell
(although an associate could
be there to open a door intervening between caster and target area at an
appropriate time - provided the timing was correct, of course).
The caster cannot begin
a spell, interrupt it just prior to completion,
run to a different area,
and then complete the spell;
interruption instantly cancels
it.
Unless a spell has no somatic
components, the caster cannot be crouching, let alone prone, during casting.
<can you cast spells while walking? cf.
contrarian>
It can thus be understood
that spell casting during a melee can be a tricky business,
for a mere shove at any
time can spoil the dweomer!
Any spell can be attempted,
but success is likely to be uncertain.
Use the following procedure
for spells cast during melee:
1. Spell
casters must note what spell they intend to CAST at the beginning
of each round prior to any
knowledge of which side has initiative.
2.
[aka 'Attacks
of Opportunity / Any
Weapon
vs.
Spell
Caster]
[aka 'Attacks
of Opportunity / Melee
Weapon
vs.
Spell
Caster
/ Option 1: Simple Version'] [also see
Option
2: Complex Version]
Attacks directed at spell
casters will come on that segment of the round
shown on the opponent's
or on their own side's initiative die, whichever is applicable.
(If the spell caster's side
won the initiative with a roll of 5, the attack must come then,
not on the opponent's losing
roll of 4 or less.)
Thus, all such attacks will
occur on the 1st-6th segments of the round.
3. Intelligent monsters able to recognize the danger of spells will direct attacks against spell casters if not engaged by other opponents so as to be prevented from so doing.
4. The spell caster cannot
use his or her DEX bonus to avoid being
hit
during spell casting; doing
so interrupts the spell.
5. Any successful attack,
or non-saved-against attack upon the spell caster interrupts the spell.
Because spell casting will
be so difficult, most magic-users and clerics will opt to use magical devices
whenever possible in melee, if they are wise.
4. The spell caster cannot use his or her DEX bonus to avoid being hit during spell casting; doing so interrupts the spell.
5. Any successful attack, or non-saved-against attack upon the spell caster interrupts the spell.
Because spell casting will
be so difficult, most magic-users and clerics will
opt to use magical devices
whenever possible in melee, if they are wise.
Q: Does a spell-caster
have to remain
motionless for an entire
round
when he casts a spell? If
not, what
else can he do?
A: The rules seem
to imply, but don?t actually
say, that a full round of
motionlessness
is required to cast a spell.
Several
Lake Geneva campaigns rule
that a magicuser
must remain stationary only
as long
as the casting time of the
spell. After casting
a spell, the magic-user
can move during
the remainder of the round,
but he
cannot attack or cast another
spell. For
example, a fireball takes
3 segments, so
the magic-user casting it
could have 7
segments worth of movement
after casting
the spell: See page 102
of the Players
Handbook for per-segment
movement
rates. These campaigns also
allow fighters
to attack, then move. If
your campaign
does not allow fighting
?on the run,? make
magic-users stay put when
casting spells.
If you can?t fight on the
run, you can?t cast
a spell on the run, either.
(145.56)
Q: Can magic-users
move during a
round when they cast spells?
A: A magic-user must
remain stationary
only as long as the casting
time of the
spell. After casting a spell,
the mage can
move during the remainder
of the round.
For example, a fireball
takes three segments;
therefore, the mage casting
it could
have seven segments worth
of movement
after casting the spell.
See page 102 of the
Players Handbook
for per-segment movement
rates.
(150.9)
ska wrote:
Gary---
When your gaming group played OAD&D as long as a magician "won" initiative (assuming the 1d6 dice being used to determine initiative) could any spell be gotten off prior to attack as long as the spell did not take more than a round to cast?
Thanks
Just so!
That encouraged spell-casters to stay in the rear of the party too...
Cheers,
Gary
ScottyG wrote:
Gary, there is one line
in the DMG that has caused more debate than any other I'm ware of. In reference
to spell casting: "Their commencement is dictated by initiative determination
as with other attack forms, but their culmination is subject to the stated
casting time." One view is that the line means that casting begins on the
segment indicated by the initiative result, and the casting time is added
to it to determine when the spell will be cast. For example, a m-u with
an initiative result of 4 is casting a magic missile (casting time: 1 segment).
The spell would occur on the 5th segment.
My opinion is that the first
half of the quote simply means that initiative determines who starts acting
first, and has nothing to do with the segment the casting begins. Longer
spells will still take longer, but if the casting time is the same, the
caster that began casting his spell a moment sooner than the other will
get his spell off first.
Scott
A 1 segment casting time
duration means that the spell is cast in the initiative segment indicated
by the die roll. In your example of a 4, that's when the spell is cast.
Each casting-time segment above 1 is added to the 4 to find the segment
of casting, so a spell with a casting time of 3 segments would be cast
in the 6th segment. all action begins at the start of a segment and just
before the next spells being cast are active.
Does that clear it up?
Cheers,
Gary
ScottyG wrote:
It does. So that means that
a high initiative result, and a high casting time could result in a spell
not being cast until the next round? A 6 segment spell being added to an
initiative result of 6.
Scott
Yes, a long spell can stretch
into the next round. however, a 6-segment casting time would add 5 to the
number of the initiative segment that casting began, as it covers 1 segment.
in your example, the spell would be case in segment 1 of the folowing round
(6 + 5 = 11, so that's the 1st segment of the next round.) If the caster
isn't disturbed, that's often a good thing...
Cheers,
Gary
ScottyG wrote:
Wow, I must have misunderstood
you the last time this came up. That's how I originally used to do it,
but I changed my method because I thought you stated that all actions begin
at the beginning of the round. Always learning new things around here.
Scott
The action of casting a
spell, or doing anything else, begins in the segment of the round indicated
by initiative score, at the start of that segment.
Cheers,
Gary
ScottyG wrote:
In a situation like this,
does the spell caster have to wait for the following (the 3rd round in
this case) to begin casting another spell, or can he take some action in
the 2nd round after the spell is cast on the 1st segment?
Scott
No. Spellcasting takes up
the entrie round in which it was actually activated, so there is no chance
to cast twice in a round or even begn a new spell in the same round that
one was successfully or unsuccessfully cast.
Cheers,
Gary
DMPrata wrote:
Gary, please forgive me
if I belabour this issue, but 24 hours ago I thought I understood initiative.
This is a new concept for me, and it effectively invalidates the 20-page
initiative explanation I posted yesterday, so I want to be sure I have
it right before I go back to the drawing board.
A fighter attacks a magic-user. The fighter rolls a 3, and the MU rolls a 6. If I understand you, the MU's spell will begin in segment 3, and take effect (casting time minus one) segments later. The fighter's attack will come in segment 6.
No, each individual's action
begins in the segment indicated. the fighter will attack in segment 3,
the M-U begin the spell in segment 6.
I think that's straightforward.
Multiple attacks will be in following successive segments, or delayed as the character wished.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
-A spell caster does not
loose their spell if hit before they cast within that round. (ex. a MU
intends on casting MM but is hit on seg 2 before he can begin casting his
spell on segment 3.)
A spell-caster struck and
losing HPs thereby before completion of spell casting does indeed have
the casting interrupted, the spell fails and is lost.
If the spell isn't begiun,
then the hit does not affect his intent unless he wishes to alter it.
Quote:
-To loose a spell the MU
would have already had to started casting (ex. MU starts casting Fire ball
on seg. 1 but is hit on seg 2 before the spell goes off).
correct.
-A MU does not loose his
dex. bonus to AC until after he begins casting, and regains his AC after
his spell has been cast.
(ex. MU intends on casting
web,
but can't act until seg 3.
From seg 1-2 he gets his
AC bonus of -2 so his AC is 8.
On seg 3 he must stop all
positioning and begin casting eff. loosing his dex bonus.
Thus from seg 3 to seg 5
his AC is a 10.
The spell goes off on seg
5, and the MU gets his AC dex bonus back on seg 6. [/quote]
correct, and I generally allow a spell-caster
to retain his dexterity bonus to AC even when he is casting.
- bold, size added
Anonymous wrote:
Gary, if a spell caster
stated they intended to cast a fire ball spell before initiative is rolled,
they loose initiative (and the enemy attacks) can they then choose to cast
a different spell (since they have not yet begun casting the spell). (ex.
a magic user runs into a monster. Before initiative is roled the MU states
he will cast a fire ball spell. The MU looses initiative and is attacked
but the creature misses. Can the magic user at that point choose to cast
a different spell other then fire ball? Say, opt to cast a magic missile
spell realizing this particular creature would not be effected by fire.
A change of spell means
that that the spall-caster's action for the round was doing just that,
changing his mind.
Getting actions for PCs before the round commences fixes the action, and changing it is possible but limited to not so acting, not to doing something different, just doing nothing because the PC is "dithering."
Quote:
If the MU wins initiative
must he cast the spell he stated he would cast before initiative was roled?
For instance if the Monster will go on segment 6 and the MU can start casting
on seg. 3, can he choose to change the spell he chose to cast (with the
idea that for 2 segments before he can go he has a moment to change his
mind), or is he committed to that spell.
Once again Gary, thanks
for your close association with your fans. 
This is the same situation as n oted above. The planned spell must be cast or nothing can be done as the realization that it would be a waste comes, and a new spell is planned for. So again the PC would do nothing that round.
Cheers,
Gary
Anonymous wrote:
Scotty, do the rules actually
say that a spell caster looses their spell if they are hit before thier
action segment? I'm just not sure where your getting this from (besides
"thats how everyone plays it").
Just because a player states
that at somepoint in the next round they will perform a certain action,
does not mean they are saying there going to start immediatly. Any inteligent
MU is going to get behind some cover before they start casting. Your example
of "At the start of each round, the DM says something like, "the human
in robes begins casting a spell".
is not correct IMO. The
DM should say something like, "there is a guy in robes that looks like
they are about to start casting a spell". Just as you would say "you see
a fighter preparing to hit you with a sword".
As far as I recall, I do
believe that I write a stipoulaion in the rules that a spell-caster struck
in process of casting lost the spell then and there.
Statement of intended action
means thatis what the PC is contemplating and meaning to do.
Arguing against making a
player stick to such a statement is weaseling 
Cheers,
Gary
Anonymous wrote:
...
-EGG "correct, and I generally allow a spell-caster to retain his dexterity bonus to AC even when he is casting."
This makes as much sense to me as anything else I've read.
And thanks again EGG, I didn't
mean to pull at so many teeth.
Gary, thanks again!
As the rules are for a RPG
not a cmbat simulation, you bet it makes sense!
the would-be spell-casted
doesn't suddenly become immobile, go blind and deaf when in the act of
casting a spell 
Cheers,
Gary
- bold, size added
CapN wrote:
What if the enemy spellcaster
suddenly cast hold person, cause blindness[i] and [i]cause deafness at
you? 
That would be some combination
casting, easily observed and ducked in the overly complex warmup obviously
required for it
Gary
uote:
Originally Posted by ScottGLXIX
Greetings Colonel, I have
a follow up to the spell casting and initiative question you answered above.
When attacking a spell caster,
the DMG gives two methods for determing if the attack or the spell occur
first,
either the segment indicated
by the initiative roll,
or a method based on speed
factor.
What about in situations
where the attacker has multiple attack routines, like an archer, or a fighter
with two attacks?
Will the first attack occur
first regardless of casting time, or does the spell caster have the normal
chance of getting his spell off before the first attack occurs?
Scott
Hi Scott 
A spell-casted loosing a
one-segment spell such as magic missile is pretty hard to stop.
All of my mage PCs have
spells of one segment casting time for tight situations,
The physical attack must
occur on the segment before a spell is cast to disrupt it--unless concentration
is required to keep the spell going.
Multiple attacks don't matter,
as the first happens on the segment of the round indicated, then another
follows thereafter.
So if the first of multiple
attacks occurs before the spell is cast, and it hits, that's the one that
matters most.
Of course the second attack
might be even more important, such as one that kills the spell-caster...
Cheers,
Gary
Magical
Device Attacks:
These attacks are the spell-like
discharge functions of rods, staves, wands and any similar items.
These attacks can occur
simultaneously with the discharge of missiles, spell casting, and/or turning
undead.
The time of such discharge
by any magical device is subject to initiative determination.
(See also Combat Procedure,
below.)
Effect
Of Cover On Spells and Spell-like Powers:
Hard cover will increase
chances for saving throws as noted.
Cover equal to 90% (or better)
will also give the target creatures the benefit of no damage whatsoever
if the appropriate saving throw is successful.
Monster
Charm Power:
The magical charming power
of creatures such as nixies && vampires
is much more powerful than that of the simple charm
person spell.
While it will eventually
wear off, until it does, the charmee is subject to mental commands by the
charmer, unlike either the charm person or charm monster spell.
This means that a monster-charmed
character does not need to speak the creature's language to understand
commands from the
monster which charmed it,
although only basic emotions or simple commands can be mentally communicated
to the charmee unless some mutual language is common to both the charmer
and the charmee.
While the charmed character
is not an automaton, he || she will certainly hasten to carry out whatever
instructions or commands are received from the charmer, except those which
are obviously self-destructive.
This relatively complete
control of the charmee's mind enables the charmer to make the victim almost
totally subject to its will, including giving up personal possessions,
betraying associates, and so forth.
Mental communication between
charmer and charmee extends only to sight range or up to a 60' radius if
not in sight range.
Magic circles of protection
(spells or specially drawn) will break the communication link and seemingly
cause the charm to be broken, but unless magically dispelled, or until
the power of the magic wears off, the effect is again evident when the
charmee is outside such protection.