walk through space spell

[jumpydady]

ok, i was having problem creating a charcter because this spell: walk through space, what is it casting time? can i assume since its a lvl 7 spell, it doesnt have cast time because everytime it activates it needs a move action?

thx

[Bruunwald]

Weird. Neither the spell as listed in the PRD nor the Ultimate Combat book show its casting time. If somebody can explain why, I'd love to know. Especially if there is some general rule I am missing regarding spells of this type.

It's a conjuration (teleportation) spell, so I would say treat it like teleport, which takes 1 standard action to cast. Unless somebody can say why you'd treat it otherwise?

And to answer your question directly, unless somebody can say why, it must have a casting time. That you move to activate it once cast is totally beside the point. Otherwise, its duration would not be per level like it is, but would be permanent or until dispelled.

[Kayerloth]

I'm going with "Ooops", it's an error and also quite likely supposed to be Casting Time 1 standard action.

[Master of the Dark Triad]

I'd assume standard action, but that's weird.

[jumpydady]

humm maybe you are right, but did they forgot? but then if it is that then wouldnt that be a very weak lvl 7 spell?

[Kayerloth]

Why do you say that? Having no listed casting time makes it unuseable since as Bruunwald points out it must have a casting time. How would a casting time other than 1 standard action make it more potent?

[jumpydady]

i thought this spell as used in emergency... like ups someone tripped me so i activate the spell and now i can spent move action to stand, or like oh a big bad monster trapped me i spend move action to move 30 feets aways from him... something like that... but if the spell has a standard action to cast.... what advantage does it has compared to shadow step or dimensional door that are lvl 4?

[Claxon]

You cast it at the start of or right before combat. Then you have at least 13 rounds of use. In which you can teleport 30 ft each round as a move action. Worth a 7th level spell, probably not, but it has it's uses.

[seebs]

Its advantage is that once you cast it you can teleport frequently for a while. It's the duration of 1 round per level. So you cast it before combat, and then throughout combat, you can teleport 30 feet as a move action, allowing you to avoid anything that would try to subject you to AoO from casting or moving, and still cast spells.

[jumpydady]

hum ok i see, thx then still not very worthy...

[Bruunwald]

Well, shadow step is situational, isn't it? You can't just use it. You have to be near shadow. Dimension door is instantaneous. You can only teleport once per casting.

As has been pointed out, walk through space lasts for 1 round per level, can be triggered with a move action that does not provoke AoO, and allows you to teleport from prone to standing, also saving you another AoO in such an instance. Very much worth what is the standard, basic casting time for nearly every spell in the game. Think of the flanking possibilities, the casting opportunities, everything this spell can line you up for, for the length of an entire combat, plus more.

Your complaints seem somewhat disingenuous, since anybody can see the spell is more powerful and more handy than the ones you compared it to.

But in any case a teleportation spell with no casting time that simply goes off whenever you feel the urge to take a move action, would be pretty fantastically overpowered. Especially for a spontaneous caster, such as a sorcerer. Even such an "at will" spell-like ability given to a creature would still have an activation (casting) time.

If not (Sp), it would be some kind of Extraordinary or Supernatural power, and it would still list the action necessary for the creature to use it.

[jumpydady]

humm ok thats some heavy argument, but for some reason those move actions to do anything.... damn you paizo for not putting the casting time and making me wishing too high...

[seebs]

I don't see the problem. It's a really nice spell. You cast before combat as a buff, you then an insanely powerful and flexible option through your entire combat. No AoO for standing up, no AoO for moving, no AoO for spellcasting, and very little chance of readied attacks from melee sorts interrupting your spells, plus positioning. That's huge.