While it doesn't explicitly call it out for (Su) abilities, spellcasters can indeed choose to cast spells at lower than their actual caster levels (though no lower than the minimum CL for a spell of that level). Assuming the GM applies that rule transparently, you should be able to voluntarily use it as if you were lv1. You could also theoretically designate the same 10ft squares more than once, not that stacking it would have any benefit. Heck, the hex doesn't require the squares to be horizontal ground, feel free to use any extra footage on walls and ceilings in case of opponents' with climb speeds.)
First off, yes I think this is doable within the RAW. Relevant rules and reasoning given below.
Readying an Action:
You can ready a standard action, a move action, or a free action. To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it. Then, any time before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition. The action occurs just before the action that triggers it. If the triggered action is part of another character’s activities, you interrupt the other character. Assuming he is still capable of doing so, he continues his actions once you complete your readied action...
You can take a 5-foot step as part of your readied action, but only if you don’t otherwise move any distance during the round.
Fireball:
...You point your finger and determine the range (distance and height) at which the fireball is to burst. A glowing, pea-sized bead streaks from the pointing digit and, unless it impacts upon a material body or solid barrier prior to attaining the prescribed range, blossoms into the fireball at that point. (An early impact results in an early detonation.) If you attempt to send the bead through a narrow passage, such as through an arrow slit, you must “hit” the opening with a ranged touch attack, or else the bead strikes the barrier and detonates prematurely.
Smashing an Object:
Objects are easier to hit than creatures because they don't usually move, but many are tough enough to shrug off some damage from each blow. An object's Armor Class is equal to 10 + its size modifier (see Table: Size and Armor Class of Objects) + its Dexterity modifier. An inanimate object has not only a Dexterity of 0 (–5 penalty to AC), but also an additional –2 penalty to its AC.
So, Let's look at the relevant questions:
Q: Can you ready an action to trigger against the bead?
A: Yes, because you take your action in response to the condition specified (any observable, not just the action of casting). So, "If X (i.e. "red bead") comes within 5ft of my reach" is a clearly valid trigger. No spellcraft check is even needed since you aren't triggering off the act of casting itself (which would require specialized knowledge and assesment), but something objectively visible (a red bead flying in your immediate direction).
Q: What can you do with the action once it triggers?
A: Anything you could normally do with a standard/move/swift. A readied action essentially inserts your action into the resolution of anything ongoing in the same way that an immediate action would. Given the "impacts on a material body or solid barrier" clause in Fireball, this would allow closing a door in front of it, interposing an object/yourself, or even making an attack against the bead. You'd still need to be within 5ft step + reach of whatever you plan to manipulate.
Q: How do you resolve those actions?
A1: Closed door? The bead impacts the door, fireball erupts, no rolls required. The spread may still destroy the door and continue inward 20ft. Note that there would be no attack roll involved here unless the was some kind of opening in the door and the mage specified during the casting itself that the aimpoint is "through where the opening will be with the door closed" or something similar (in which case he would still need to be successful on the ranged attack roll). Note that this only works against spells that actually create projectiles (and thus have some theoretical travel time between the completion of casting and the target actually being struck by the projectile.
A2: Interposed self/object? Judgement call; Depending on the range from mage>interceptor>target square the geometry might make it entirely possible to obstruct all possible attack vectors. Determining that would likely be well beyond the usual scope of the rules though, so I'm interpreting from the cover rules instead. You're clearly limiting the space the bead must pass through, so the "narrow opening" attack roll might be called for at this point. (i.e. The character sheet may not have an entry for "width" but dwarves have often been described along the lines of "as wide as he is tall" so a 4'5" dwarf in full plate deliberately playing goalie almost certainly qualifies as soft cover at a minimum, possibly hard cover since "soft cover" assumes standard in-combat evasive behavior rather than deliberate imposition.) Note that since the Fireball explosion is a spread, even a successful interception will not provide bonuses to reflex or effective evasion to creatures behind him ("diving on the grenade" is only relevant against burst effects). Previous GM rulings would suggest that a character forfeits his ref save in such a circumstance. (see previous threads regarding evasion and string of fireballs detonating around a character's neck). That said, it does establish that the OP's tactic is potentially valid by RAW, assuming the GM accepts a deliberately interposed character as an effectively stationary obstacle (hard cover) and the interposed character is large enough to fill the entire relevant plane of the square (or at least such that only a "narrow opening" is left).
A3: Since the bead is not held/worn/wielded, this seems to follow the standard "Smashing an Object" rule of CMB vs item AC. So Base 10, +8 size, +Dex mod (it's not clear what value to use for Dex since the bead is not stationary "Dex 0", but neither is it actively moving to evade attacks, thus similar to a flatfooted creature. The general rule for inapplicable attributes is to use +0, so apply that in the absence of a specific rule) and then the additional -2 to AC (or not, if the GM rules this only applies to non-moving objects, the RAW doesn't explain/justify what that -2 derives from or is intended to represent). Thus, CMB vs AC 16 (or 18). Per the "Smashing an Object" rules, this attack generally must be made with a S or B weapon (again, GM call if P is effective, but I wouldn't suggest it unless you want to archers trying to shoot the bead). Given that unarmed strike is bludgeoning and can be made with any part of the body, RAW seems to support hockey-style body checking as a valid attack form for smashing an object (the Fireball bead). And yes, this same calculation is equally relevant to attempts to smash arrows or other projectiles in flight. While unusual, the situation of attacks against linearly moving "inanimate" objects can come up (like a readied smash against a rolling object or something drifting by on the water or wind).
Conclusion? The books don't specifically call out such a situation, but the action can be resolved effectively within the core rules without reference to other elements (such as individual feats) or need for homebrew.
Misc:
Deflect Arrows: You must have at least one hand free (holding nothing) to use this feat. Once per round when you would normally be hit with an attack from a ranged weapon, you may deflect it so that you take no damage from it. You must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed. Attempting to deflect a ranged attack doesn't count as an action. Unusually massive ranged weapons (such as boulders or ballista bolts) and ranged attacks generated by natural attacks or spell effects can't be deflected.
Note that #1, Deflect arrows explicitly does not work on ranged attacks generated by spells. #2 The feat starts with "When you would normally be hit", so it doesn't have any bearing on your ability or success at avoiding or deliberately getting hit. So let's look at something that does...
In Harm's Way: While using the aid another action to improve an adjacent ally’s AC, you can intercept a successful attack against that ally as an immediate action, taking full damage from that attack and any associated effects (bleed, poison, etc.). A creature cannot benefit from this feat more than once per attack.
So, does this imply that intercepting an attack requires a feat? I don't see why it would; feats are often required to do something as an immediate action instead of its normal type (standard/move/swift). You can still ready the action to similar effect. That would be like saying that the existence of Intercept Charge proves that you can't ready an action to move into the path of a charging enemy.
"The wand cannot concentrate" Well, yeah, but I don't see any reference that would imply the wielder isn't the one who would have to make the concentration check. Wands can't be intelligent items, so it's kind of a given they don't make checks (or, like any other inanimate object, auto-fail any checks that would be required).
I'm not really clear how you think using a wand as the source (instead of a spell slot) impacts concentration (other than not provoking AoO). If a character uses a wand of a spell with Duration: Concentration, the wielder is the one who spends the actions to maintain concentration (and any required checks if disrupted), isn't he? How is getting hit during the casting itself any different?
Quotes, thread links, or page references would be preferred in support for or against. I've included what relevant material I've found thus far.
Wands: Activation
Wands use the spell trigger activation method, so casting a spell from a wand is usually a standard action that doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity. (If the spell being cast, however, has a longer casting time than 1 standard action, it takes that long to cast the spell from a wand.)
"If the spell being cast"... From the wand section's own description activating a wand is casting a spell (from the wand).
Which brings me back to "...damage stemming from an attack of opportunity or readied attack made in response to the spell being cast..."
This clearly seems to work if the spell being cast from the wand takes a full round or more, so I don't see why it wouldn't work against a standard action if that's when the readied attack hits. Regardless of source (spell slot or magic item), a spell is still being cast and damage is being taken during the casting.
I'm not a regular here, so please forgive if this has come up elsewhere, but if so I haven't found it.
In tonight's game my character found himself on the receiving end of a foe wielding a wand of magic missile. A pit prevented me from closing to melee, so it's a ranged duel of martial vs (item) magic. Figuring that getting hit while casting is generally worse for the other guy than getting hit while not casting, I ready my action to shoot him with my crossbow the next time he speaks. The enemy then uses the wand (thus triggering my readied attack).
While luck wasn't with me this time (Natural 1), the question remains... If I'd hit/dealt damage, what happens? Nothing further? Or does he have to make a concentration check to avoid having his action disrupted?
I know spell trigger doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity (the usual source of spell interrupting damage).
I know the Concentration section says "In general, if an action wouldn't normally provoke an attack of opportunity, you need not make a Concentration check to avoid being distracted." Two things about that stand out to me, "In general" strongly implies exceptions, and "to avoid being distracted" in this context seems to imply a deliberate choice to make the concentration check (i.e. casting/skill use defensively or against an environmental distraction). I don't get the impression that it is meant for taking surprise damage from a readied action.
I see #2 on the table: 10 + damage dealt "Such as during the casting of a spell with a casting time of 1 round or more, or the execution of an activity that takes more than a single full-round action (such as Disable Device). Also, damage stemming from an attack of opportunity or readied attack made in response to the spell being cast (for spells with a casting time of 1 standard action) or the action being taken (for activities requiring no more than a full-round action)."
Whatever the components or relative effort required, the magic missile is certainly a spell taking effect, so it presumably counts as "being cast" when the trigger is said. So, can that "casting" be interrupted by a well-timed crossbow bolt to the chest? I realize logic and verisimilitude aren't always the most reliable guides in rules interpretation, but I can't help but imagine the poor wand holder getting the first syllable out and then... "AvaURGH!" nothing happens. Am I right?
Sorry about the continued delay. Work has changed up my schedule twice in the last week and I still haven't gotten a day off. I'll try to post something tonight.
Since it seems multiple members of the party will already have both Survival and some familiarity with the area, my original plan to join as a guide seems unfeasable. Simply put, few if any of you will require assistance enduring the elements and traversing the terrain. So I ask myself "What does this party need?"
We have a rogue and ranger for stealth and skills, a cleric and oracle for divine casting, and sheer numbers for tanking. The slot we seem to be short on is arcanist. The alchemist can handle some of the blasting, but he lacks access to higher end arcane utility and buffing spells. So, I'm holding the totemist in reserve and using the continued delay to build a sorcerer.
You still seem to be short a guide. I'd like to play with a dragon shaman or warlock (something with survival and an aura to defend against cold). Fair notice though, I'm a member of Orthos's RL game, so I'll steer clear if you guys have an objection.
I'm prone to play devil's advocate, so don't get ticked at me if you can help it. Some points from my veiw.
Fast healing is overkill for them. No one is going to live through 2400 damage and then just go sleep it off. Accelerated natural healing is fine, but you've made it much more complicated than it needs to be.
"Statue" is an existing spell that provides the appropriate guidelines for their daytime slumber. You don't need to reinvent the wheel.
...and you (the author) ignored the point that gargoyles can't rip through metal. Bypass hardness 8 max. Even that's overkill. They only really need 5 or so bypassed for their regular damage to do the rest. They didn't go through rock like it was butter or anything.
