Combat Casting and (multiple) Concentration Checks

[SlimGauge]

If you must make several concentration checks on the same casting, you make each seperately, correct ? (Not just the hardest one and nothing is added to each because you're making more than one)

If you're casting defensively, Combat Casting obviously applies to the
concentration check to not provoke an AoO. Does it apply to an OTHER concentration check you may have to make to get that same spell off ?

Example: You're casting on the deck of a ship in the rain while a pirate tries to take your head off with his boarding cutlass. You make two concentration checks, one to avoid provoking an AoO and one to not lose the spell due to the rain. Since you're already casting defensively, does Combat Casting apply ?

Combat Casting explicitly applies to the check for casting while grappled. Does it also apply to casting while entangled ?

[wraithstrike]

Each check is its own dice roll. The rules don't present a way to combine them or say anything about you only having to make the highest check. Combat Casting does not help you if you are entangled. Combat Casting only applies at certain times, such as casting defensively or in a grapple.

[SlimGauge]

That's the second part of the question. Once you declare "I'm casting defensively", does combat casting apply to all subsequent concentration checks until the spell goes off or fails, as declaring "I'm fighting defensively" applies the attack penalty and dodge bonus to AC until the next "non-defensively" attack ?

[EvilMinion]

Combat casting would not help you cast in the rain on a ship (or any other environmental or violent movement reason), as it only applies to casting defensively (or while grappling).

Nor would it apply if you take damage while casting normally and have to make a concentration check not to lose your spell.

Or if you're entangled, etc.

Though most folks tend to ignore this and just make it a straight +4 bonus in all situations. Easier bookkeeping. =)

[SlimGauge]

EvilMinion wrote:

Though most folks tend to ignore this and just make it a straight +4 bonus in all situations. Easier bookkeeping. =)

That's what I'm used to seeing, then I read the actual feat text.

I'm studying up to maybe run some PFS, so I gotta get it right.

[wraithstrike]

SlimGauge wrote:

That's the second part of the question. Once you declare "I'm casting defensively", does combat casting apply to all subsequent concentration checks until the spell goes off or fails, as declaring "I'm fighting defensively" applies the attack penalty and dodge bonus to AC until the next "non-defensively" attack ?

Combat Casting only applies to the specific check to avoid an AoO which is what "casting defensively" is. The other concentration checks are not casting defensively so the modifier does not apply.

[SlimGauge]

There's a character looking to minimise the difficulty of casting without one's arcane bonded object. It looks like Combat Casting doesn't help, but Uncanny Concentration (UM) will. It has a prerequisite of Combat Casting, but I'm not sure they'll want to burn two feats to get a lousy +2 to cast without the bonded object.

[Jiggy]

There's a trait called Focused Mind that gives +2 to concentration checks.

[SlimGauge]

Thanks, Jiggy, already had that one. Since trait bonuses don't stack, I wasn't looking at traits any further.

[Alex_00]

WraithStrike wrote:

"Combat Casting only applies to the specific check to avoid an AoO which is what "casting defensively" is. The other concentration checks are not casting defensively so the modifier does not apply."

I would challenge this. The text of the Combat Casting benefit is:

Quote:

Benefit: You get a +4 bonus on concentration checks made to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability when casting on the defensive or while grappled.

There are quite a few possible interpretations of this. For instance, you could claim that until you have passed the casting defensively concentration check you are not casting defensively. I think this would be a harsh interpretation and would say you are casting defensively and then checking concentration to see if the spell succeeds. You could also claim that any subsequent checks (for instance for ongoing damage, a triggered readied action or in the case of a full round casting time a usual attack or other circumstance) are "concentration checks made to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability when casting on the defensive". In fact, I think it's a rather flimsy argument to suggest these are not included.

What I would say is that it seems unfair to allow you to 'cast defensively' when not in a situation where you would reasonably fear provoking an AOO or when you expect to be attacked while casting. Otherwise with a sufficiently good concentration bonus there would be very little incentive not to always cast defensively. For example, including the +4 for combat casting my 9th level oracle (Cha bonus +8) has a +21 on concentration checks and cannot fail to cast 1st and 2nd level spells defensively. At 10th level this will include 3rd level spells. There is therefore no reason not to cast defensively even if I'm sitting entirely safely in my bedroom.