Light spell question

[Murdock Mudeater]

If I cast Light as a spell and again as a spell-like ability, does one replace the other as if they were both normal spells?

[MeanMutton]

Seems like the "Usually, a spell-like ability works just like the spell of that name." bit would suggest your SLA and your cast version of the Light spell will act the same.

[Drahliana Moonrunner]

Murdock Mudeater wrote:

If I cast Light as a spell and again as a spell-like ability, does one replace the other as if they were both normal spells?

In this scenario, I would allow you to have two light spells operating.

[Chess Pwn]

one per source, so one from cantrip and one from SLA sounds just fine.

[MeanMutton]

Drahliana Moonrunner wrote:

Murdock Mudeater wrote:

If I cast Light as a spell and again as a spell-like ability, does one replace the other as if they were both normal spells?

In this scenario, I would allow you to have two light spells operating.

Chess Pwn wrote:

one per source, so one from cantrip and one from SLA sounds just fine.

What rule supports these?

[412294]

Spell likes work like the spell, but are not actually the spell.

[Gisher]

"You can only have one light spell active at any one time" seems pretty clear to me.

[Pizza Lord]

The line that Gisher posted would likely be rules-enforcable. Reading it that way (other than making a permanent light) each casting ends the previous.

That means you cast a cantrip, then use an SLA, then use a wand of light, then read a scroll... you get one light (as long the effect basically considers you the caster.)

Now this is just my ruling on it, so it bears no weight beyond what you give it based on my obvious brilliance, but maybe it will help you resolve the issue in your own way:
The line was added to the spell because Pathfinder made cantrips unlimited and so certain things had to be adjusted (like cure minor wounds). I personally think it is only meant to apply to specifically coming from the same effect, Ie. spells, spell-like, a wand, a scroll.

Using a wand of light twice would cancel the first use, just like casting it twice as a wizard would. Using a 3/day light spell-like ability twice would do the same thing.

Using two different wands should be fine. If you had two spell lists, say as a oracle and a sorcerer, then I think think it should work but that's starting to drift into murkier territory. The same with casting light off a scroll, technically those are separate sources (even if the scroll was just 4 light spells on the same scroll.

So again, Rules-As-Written 'you can only have one light spell active at any one time' would be a hard and fast ruling. However, when taken in context with why it's there, it was probably not meant to carry on to separate source effects.

[dragonhunterq]

Gisher has the rule just right: one = one.
There isn't a whole lot of room for 'ifs', 'buts' or 'maybes'.

[Murdock Mudeater]

Thanks.

Does anything change if one of the Light Spells has a Metamagic feat applied to it?

[Pizza Lord]

Murdock Mudeater wrote:

Does anything change if one of the Light Spells has a Metamagic feat applied to it?

Not much really.

Tenacious Spell would probably make the 1st light last 1-4 rounds after casting the second.

In 3.5 there was a Twin Spell metamagic. I would probably rule that an effect like that would allow two light spells at the same time (though obviously unlimited light cantrips weren't an issue then.)

All I see in Pathfinder is a 3rd party 'Twincast Spell' metamagic. Assuming you paid the cost to make both light spells twincast, then that might give you 2 at once.