Okay, so I haven't really ever played a druid so I decided to try it out, and I'm encountering some problems, specifically right now with the Call Lightning spell.
Here's a copy of the spell text, minus the parts I have no questions about:
Call Lightning
Casting Time: 1 round
Immediately upon completion of the spell, and once per round
thereafter, you may call down a 5-foot-wide, 30-foot-long,
vertical bolt of lightning that deals 3d6 points of electricity
damage. The bolt of lightning flashes down in a vertical stroke at
whatever target point you choose within the spell’s range
(measured from your position at the time). Any creature in the
target square or in the path of the bolt is affected.
You need not call a bolt of lightning immediately; other actions,
even spellcasting, can be performed. However, each round after the
first you may use a standard action (concentrating on the spell)
to call a bolt. You may call a total number of bolts equal to your
caster level (maximum 10 bolts).
So this is it: The casting time is 1 round, so according to the rules the spell completes just before the beginning of my next round, and at that time the first bolt hits. Page 174 of PHB, which then goes on to say that I can act normally for that round, which means that on that round I can spend a standard action and bring down another bolt. Not quite two in one round because the first one hit before my round started, but still, two bolts before any other creature can act. Or the way I read it is that because the words "Immediately upon completion of the spell" are there, it means in effect at the end of that round of casting, much the way a sorcerer metamagic spell goes off, as on page 143 talking about a full round casting, not a 1 round casting. And then on the second round after that the druid can then decide to bring down a bolt or not.
To put it into combat:
Round one:
Druid starts to cast Call Lightning.
Round two:
Before Druid's round, Lightning Bolt 1 hits.
On Druid's round, Lightning Bolt 2 hits.
Or:
Round one:
Druid starts to cast Call Lightning.
End of Druid's turn, Lightning Bolt 1 hits.
Round two:
On Druid's round, Lighting Bolt 2 hits.
Or:
Round one:
Druid starts to cast Call Lightning.
Round two:
Before Druid's turn, Lightning Bolt 1 hits.
On Druid's turn, can't bring bolt down because one has already hit
this round.
Round three:
On Druid's turn, Lightning Bolt 2 hits.
All three of these interpretations was brought up and discussed during my latest gaming session, and we really couldn't come to a solid answer as to how the spell is in fact supposed to work. We got an answer for at least this game, but what about other games?
Any help or discussion would be much appreciated.
~Corvas
