Spell-Like Abilities and Attacks of Opportunity

[Karui Kage]

Simply put: Do they provoke them?

I've been back and forth on this issue for a while. Originally I thought, yes, they act like spells in all other fashions besides what was listed, and what was listed doesn't mention the AoO, so they'd still take it.

Then I thought, well, they have no verbal, somatic, or material components. It's a completely mental action. Why would someone get an attack of opportunity? Maybe they only get AoO's if the spell requires somatic components? That could be it. I'll have to look for information on that.

So I looked, and can't find anything that would confirm that. While it might make sense as a house rule, I'm trying to find what the actual rule is.

Thus: spell-like abilities and attacks of opportunity. Do they provoke them? Would a user need to cast on the defensive to avoid one?

Thanks.

[Sniggevert]

Simple answer: Yep.

They are in the table of standard actions in a combat round. The following text is from the PRD (my link-fu is weak).

PRD wrote:

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): Using a spell-like ability works like casting a spell in that it requires concentration and provokes attacks of opportunity. Spell-like abilities can be disrupted. If your concentration is broken, the attempt to use the ability fails, but the attempt counts as if you had used the ability. The casting time of a spell-like ability is 1 standard action, unless the ability description notes otherwise.

Using a Spell-Like Ability on the Defensive: You may attempt to use a spell-like ability on the defensive, just as with casting a spell. If the concentration check (DC 15 + double the spell's level) fails, you can't use the ability, but the attempt counts as if you had used the ability.

Hope this helps.

[hogarth]

Karui Kage wrote:

Then I thought, well, they have no verbal, somatic, or material components. It's a completely mental action. Why would someone get an attack of opportunity?

Because you're staring off into space, deep in concentration, instead of actively trying to keep your guard up (IMO).

Karui Kage wrote:

Maybe they only get AoO's if the spell requires somatic components? That could be it. I'll have to look for information on that.

Why would somatic components matter? A casting a spell modified by Still Spell provokes attacks of opportunity normally, as far as I know.

[Alexander Kilcoyne]

hogarth wrote:

Karui Kage wrote:

Then I thought, well, they have no verbal, somatic, or material components. It's a completely mental action. Why would someone get an attack of opportunity?

Because you're staring off into space, deep in concentration, instead of actively trying to keep your guard up (IMO).

Karui Kage wrote:

Maybe they only get AoO's if the spell requires somatic components? That could be it. I'll have to look for information on that.

Why would somatic components matter? A casting a spell modified by Still Spell provokes attacks of opportunity normally, as far as I know.

Correct.

[Karui Kage]

hogarth wrote:

Why would somatic components matter? A casting a spell modified by Still Spell provokes attacks of opportunity normally, as far as I know.

I think at some point my mind told me that the reasoning behind a spell provoking is because they were waving their arms around or doing something physical to provoke it (much like drawing a bow string back for a ranged attack or getting out an item).

In any case, looks like I should have just stuck with what I did the first time around. Thanks all.

[hogarth]

Karui Kage wrote:

hogarth wrote:

Why would somatic components matter? A casting a spell modified by Still Spell provokes attacks of opportunity normally, as far as I know.

I think at some point my mind told me that the reasoning behind a spell provoking is because they were waving their arms around or doing something physical to provoke it (much like drawing a bow string back for a ranged attack or getting out an item).

You do end up with strange situations. For instance, if I'm paralysed, I'm safe as long as I don't do anything. But if I cast a Silent Still spell, I suddenly provoke an attack of opportunity. :-/

[Karui Kage]

Yeah, I think that's what kind of flipped me for a loop. A spell-like ability is completely mental, but it still provokes? So thinking really hard provokes? I dunno. I get it from a gamist perspective, it's just hard to justify it in a more role-playing sense.

[Austin Morgan]

As non-PF evidence, I'd mention that manifesting Psionics provokes, even though they are almost always just mental.

:)

[udalrich]

hogarth wrote:

You do end up with strange situations. For instance, if I'm paralysed, I'm safe as long as I don't do anything. But if I cast a Silent Still spell, I suddenly provoke an attack of opportunity. :-/

The last time this came up in a game, we concluded that, logically, being paralyzed should provoke an AoO. I think even decided that casting while paralyzed did not provoke on grounds of logical consistency. I certainly doubt that becoming paralyzed to avoid provoking while casting is a winning long term strategy.

[Magicdealer]

Yup. Page 183.

The standard action table lists spell-like ability with yes under attack of opportunity :)

[hogarth]

udalrich wrote:

hogarth wrote:

You do end up with strange situations. For instance, if I'm paralysed, I'm safe as long as I don't do anything. But if I cast a Silent Still spell, I suddenly provoke an attack of opportunity. :-/

The last time this came up in a game, we concluded that, logically, being paralyzed should provoke an AoO.

I came to the same logical conclusion (great minds think alike), but I probably wouldn't enforce that as a GM; it's painful enough being paralysed without enemies taking a free shot at you every round!