Dancing Lights - wizard Cantrip

[Matt2VK]

What kind of action does it take to move the 4 lights from the 0 level spell dancing lights if in combat?

Question came up when a party of adventures got into a running battle in a house late at night with no lights. Went from room to room and had the dancing lights as their source of light.

Spell description doesn't really say anything.
The dancing lights must stay within a 10-foot-radius area in relation to each other but otherwise move as you desire (no concentration required): forward or back, up or down, straight or turning corners, or the like. The lights can move up to 100 feet per round. A light winks out if the distance between you and it exceeds the spell's range.

[Happler]

I would say no action or free action.

This is only to commend them to move, they are still limited to a move speed of 100' / round (and I would have them move on the casters initiative).

but I can find nothing in the rules to clearly state that myself.

[Claxon]

I believe this was actually discussed once before in a thread I participated in. IIRC the conclusion was that it required a move action to move the lights.

[Faelyn]

I would go with a free action personally, as it's a non-combat 0-level spell. At most, I would say a Swift Action to move them in combat... not a move action. A move action seems quite excessive to cause a few lights to move to a specific location.

IIRC, that thread referenced several spells that require concentration to move the spells; combat spells at that fact.

[seebs]

I'd say move action because there's a default rule that directing a spell is a move action, no?

[Cassidius]

I never really thought about it, but a move action seems right. Otherwise why would anyone choose light over dancing lights?

[Serum]

Cassidius wrote:

I never really thought about it, but a move action seems right. Otherwise why would anyone choose light over dancing lights?

Perhaps because it only lasts a minute? Can you imagine the monotony of having to recast your light source every minute?

[BuzzardB]

PRD wrote:

Some spells allow you to redirect the effect to new targets or areas after you cast the spell. Redirecting a spell is a move action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity

Since the spell doesn't say specifically I would rule it defaults to this general rule.