Dispel Magic vs "Constant" effects

Apologies if this has been covered before, but I wasn't able to find it from a cursory search of the forums.

One of my players had a question for me and I wasn't exactly sure how to run it.

The 16th-level Psychic ability, Constant Levitation states that you're under a constant Fly spell. The player who's thinking about picking it up asks if that's "just always on," and I said, "yes, unless you get hit with dispel magic."

But that made me realize that I'm not sure how those interact. The Feat specifically says a constant fly spell, so it can be dispelled, but nothing says for how long. For now, I figured I'd default to 10 minutes, as if the feat were a magic item, but is there a RAW answer for this?

We know how constant spells work for monsters. Creature Ability: Constant Spells

Basically, Its the flyspell with unlimited duration, if it gets counteracted you can just recast it, at-will for the same amount of actions it would take to normally cast the spell.

Thanks NorrKnekten!

We know how constant spells work for monsters. Creature Ability: Constant Spells

Basically, Its the flyspell with unlimited duration, if it gets counteracted you can just recast it, at-will for the same amount of actions it would take to normally cast the spell.

99% agree with this, however I would clarify that the character is most likely not actually casting the spell, they need only spend the same amount of actions to get it going again (to justify the expense of spending a spell slot to counteract the effect in the first place).

I'm not sure it makes a big difference that the character isn't actually casting a spell, but I think its something to bring up.

99% agree with this, however I would clarify that the character is most likely not actually casting the spell, they need only spend the same amount of actions to get it going again (to justify the expense of spending a spell slot to counteract the effect in the first place).

I'm not sure it makes a big difference that the character isn't actually casting a spell, but I think its something to bring up.

I am aware and agree, But its debated wether the "Normal spellcasting actions" is the cast a spell activity or not. I believe each table can handle that at their own leisure since the difference would be that it triggers reactions and feats that has Cast a Spell as a requirement/trigger, And ofcourse that it would be affected by stupified's flat check. Constant spells being counteracted to begin with is such an edge case.

It would be very satisfying to dispel the Grim Reaper's constant haste then use 4th rank haste slots to Counterspell his attempts to restore haste.

Claxon wrote:

99% agree with this, however I would clarify that the character is most likely not actually casting the spell, they need only spend the same amount of actions to get it going again (to justify the expense of spending a spell slot to counteract the effect in the first place).

I'm not sure it makes a big difference that the character isn't actually casting a spell, but I think its something to bring up.

I am aware and agree, But its debated wether the "Normal spellcasting actions" is the cast a spell activity or not. I believe each table can handle that at their own leisure since the difference would be that it triggers reactions and feats that has Cast a Spell as a requirement/trigger, And ofcourse that it would be affected by stupified's flat check. Constant spells being counteracted to begin with is such an edge case.

I hadn't considered that people might debate whether or not the actions spent count as the "cast a spell activity" but you're right.

Upon further consideration on this topic, and thinking of innate spells (which constant spell effects probably should count as)....innate spells are cast. Unlike PF1 where spell like abilities were special and didn't count as real spells and didn't have somatic or material components, etc in PF2, they are really spells (although don't allow you to qualify for anything) but I think otherwise have the same component requirements that casting from a spell slot does.

Having said all that....I think the actions spent would end up counting as the "cast a spell" activity.

Of course, I can't imagine this whole thing really mattering or coming up very often in play (with respect to constant spells).

Early in production, there was apparently a desire for spellcasting to be accomplished by spending multiple different single actions that ultimately combine for a greater effect. For instance, you'd use a verbal action then a somatic action to accomplish a burning hands spell.

This was ultimately scrapped in favor of the activity system we have now, but the basic rules still contain references to this, which sometimes leads to confusing language.

For instance, if you began to Cast a Spell requiring 3 actions and the first action was disrupted, you lose all 3 actions that you committed to that activity.