I have a question about this rule:
"Spontaneous Casting: An urban druid can channel stored spell energy into domain spells that she has not prepared ahead of time. She can “lose” a prepared spell in order to cast any domain spell of the same level or lower. This ability replaces the ability to spontaneously cast summon nature's ally spells."
An urban druid has only one domain. The vast majority of the time, the druid will prepare each of the domain spells to which she has access. A 5th level Urban Druid with the Knowledge Domain will prep comprehend languages, detect thoughts, and speak with dead.
The question is, she can "channel stored spell energy into domain spells that she has not prepared ahead of time." But she HAS prepared comprehend languages, detect thoughts, and speak with dead. So what "domain spells that she has not prepared ahead of time" can she cast spontaneously?
The rules say, "any domain spell of the same level or lower." Chosen from what domains?
You are reading to much into that line (certainly as it's the first line of a description, thus often fluff).
Huh? Thanks for answering, but that's just not true. Look at the other first lines of other Urban Druid abilities:
An urban druid may not select an animal companion ... At 2nd level, an urban druid adds Diplomacy, Knowledge (history), Knowledge (local), and Knowledge (nobility) skills to her list of class skills ... At 4th level, an urban druid gains a +2 bonus on saves vs. divinations and enchantments ... etc
None of the first lines are fluff. Are you saying the rules don't matter, or they are wrong? It specifically says you can spontaneously cast domain spells that you have NOT prepared ahead of time. An urban druid preps her domain spells ahead of time, so what non-prepped domain spells can she spontaneously cast?
It means in she can swap out her regular non domain spells for domain spells. Whether or not she prepared a spell in her domain slot is irrelevant for this ability.
The Urban druid ability is enabling her to can more domain spells then she normal could. For example a 5th level fire druid could cast fireball once for each of her regular 3rd level spell slots. Instead of being limited to just the 1 fireball in her 3rd level domain slot.
I appreciate your interpretation, but the rule does not say she can cast domain spells she has prepared. It says, "domain spells that she has not prepared ahead of time." Why does it say that?
Why? Is it an error?
An urban druid preps her domain spells ahead of time, so what non-prepped domain spells can she spontaneously cast?
Prepared in that slot. You can prep Burning Hands (or whatever) in your domain slot, and Cure Light Wounds in all the other 1st-level slots. You can then lose a CLW in exchange for casting Burning Hands, which was not prepared in that normal slot.
Normally she could cast 1 Burning Hands, because she prepared 1 Burning Hands. With Urban Spontaneous Casting, she can cast 2 Burning Hands, even though she has not prepared 2 Burning Hands. (or three, for high Wis)
I suppose a druid/cleric could spontaneously cast domain spells that she has not prepped, those being the ones she did not prep as a cleric. But somehow I do not think the Urban Druid is intended to be run as a multiclassed druid/cleric.
the rule does not say she can cast domain spells she has prepared. It says, "domain spells that she has not prepared ahead of time." Why does it say that?
Because it wouldn't make sense otherwise. Of course you can cast spells you have prepared. Because they have been prepared.
I have prepared Cure Light Wounds. But I could also choose to spontaneously cast Burning Hands, which I have not prepared.
Are you also thinking that if a normal Druid prepares 1 casting of Summon Nature's Ally, she can't use Spontaneous Casting for the rest of her spell slots? The wording is the same. "A druid can channel stored spell energy into summoning spells that she hasn't prepared ahead of time."
If it said she could cast spells she has prepared, the ability would do nothing. If it -didn't- say anything about it, it would also do nothing, because normally you can only cast spells you have prepared. The only way for the ability to function is for it to specifically say that you can use it to cast spells you have not prepared.
You're misreading the ability.
"Spells she has not prepared ahead of time" is not intended to be read "spells that are not prepared in any of her slots".
The phrase is intended to be read "spells that are not prepared in the slot being used to cast them".
When the druid spontaneously casts fireball using a spell slot that had been prepared with another spell, she is channeling energy into a domain spell she had not prepared ahead of time (the spontaneously-cast fireball). This is true whether or not a fireball is prepared elsewhere in another slot; THIS fireball is still a domain spell not earlier prepared.
The text really is descriptive fluff that is redundant with the second line. You are trying to impose a limit on the ability that is not intended.
Are you also thinking that if a normal Druid prepares 1 casting of Summon Nature's Ally, she can't use Spontaneous Casting for the rest of her spell slots? The wording is the same. "A druid can channel stored spell energy into summoning spells that she hasn't prepared ahead of time."
This is a good point. The wording is similar for clerical spontaneous casting as well. Thanks for clarifying that.
The confusion I had springs from the fact that a cleric or druid will almost never prepare a Cure spell or a Summon Nature's Ally spell in a regular slot. Why would she, when she can cast it spontaneously? Moreover, Cure spells and Summon spells are very much in demand, with utility at pretty much every encounter. It would be redundant to prep a spell you can cast spontaneously.
So by the common interpretation, the urban druid can spontaneously cast spells of generally more limited utility that she has already prepped once per day each in her domain slots. Note that there can be no Fire Domain Urban Druid. She is limited to: Charm, Community, Knowledge, Nobility, Protection, Repose, Rune, or Weather.
Take the Knowledge Domain Urban Druid. How often is she going to want to cast Comprehend Languages? She already has it prepped once. Being able to swap out her other first level spells for Comp Langs seems underwhelming.
Some of the other domains are more compelling at some levels, even less so at others. Charm is not bad, with Suggestion, Charm Monster, etc, but useless against undead, vermin, mindless things, etc. How often is a Community Urban Druid really going to Shield Other? A Nobility Urban Druid is going to want to cast Enthrall and Discern Lies all the time, sure.
I understand the interpretation, but I have to say that having heard it, it seems like the Urban Druid's spontaneous casting is a real step backward from the usual druid casting Summon Nature's Ally spells at will.
First, it is redundant to be able to cast spells you already have prepped in your domain slots. And second, the core ability to spontaneously cast Summon Nature's Ally is more potent and generally useful than the ability to cast Domain spells you have already prepped each day.
Cayzle, you're right that often you'll find spontaneously casting Summon Nature's Ally is a better choice than a given domain's spells. What makes the urban druid's ability useful will be your ability to cast a given domain spell more than once per day. If you find yourself needing a spell from the domain list more than 1/day, then the spontaneous casting option is helpful (assuming the spell isn't already on the druid spell list, of course). Given that list of domains, I'd guess that Charm could be useful, Repose would be handy if you have to deal with lots of undead (repeated Death Ward) or if you find yourself in lots of murder mysteries (speak with dead). Comprehend languages doesn't last too long, so maybe that one's useful if you have to do a lot of reading. But it'll depend on the campaign, I think. An urban druid in an urban campaign rife with intrigue might find the spontaneous casting of discern lies to be useful quite often, for example.
a cleric or druid will almost never prepare a Cure spell or a Summon Nature's Ally spell in a regular slot. Why would she, when she can cast it spontaneously?
Most often, I think, to apply metamagic feats without extending the casting time.
Thanks for the good comments, everybody.