Casting cure spell on friend who is in threatened square

[Hellefire]

So, I have had two people who do this, and I have been told it was specified in 3.5 this way, but I cannot find a very clear specific ruling one way or another in pathfinder.

The question is - if someone casts a cure spell, casting while NOT in a threatened square, then they touch an ally in an adjacent square and the square their friend is in IS threatened, does the threatening enemy get an AoO on the healer, who has reached into the threatened square but not moved there?

So healer casts spell from safe square, and stands in safe square, but casts on ally in threatened square.

And what if healer casts spell from safe square, then moves to threatened square, and touches ally, thus finishing spell?

Now a couple people have insisted that reaching into the threatened square opens the healer up to an attack of opportunity. I disagree.

My argument is that, according to core rules pp.185-186 on touch spells in combat, that the touching part is considered a free action (listed on pg.188 as 'don't take any time at all' and stated that they 'rarely incur attacks of opportunity'). Also, 'if you touch anyone or anything, even unintentionally, the spell discharges' tells me that only incidental contact with any portion of the body is necessary. Lastly, since there are specific rules for deciding if touching an enemy incurs an attack of opportunity, I have always basically assumed that touching a friend does not. I would even argue that doing the touch part while the healer is standing in a threatened square would not incur an AoO if he was touching a friend.

Their arguments are: that the description of cure spells is 'lay your hand' upon them, which takes mroe commitment than a casual touch; that some free actions may incur an attack of opportunity and that action is not specified either way; that the only place anything is specified for touching is for a full round action of touching up to 6 people as part of a touch spell, which does incur an AoO (though I would argue that this is a separate type of action (full round, not free) and only incurs AoO if you are in a threatened square, not if the friends you will touch are).

I guess that I think the spirit of the touch spells in combat rule is that only the casting (and moving if you move out of a threatened square) can draw an AoO. And the rule in Core Rules pg. 180, under Attacks of Opportunity - Provoking an Attack of Opportunity states 'Two kinds of actions can provoke attacks of opportunity: moving out of a threatened square and performing certain actions within a threatened square.' While you are touching someone who is in a threatened square, I don't think the healer is within a threatened square, so should not be subject to AoO, definitely when not touching from a threatened square. And I still think the touch action on a friend should not ever draw an AoO.

Thoughts? Specific rulings from Paizo would be more handy.

Thanks

[Tom Baumbach]

Hellefire wrote:

The question is - if someone casts a cure spell, casting while NOT in a threatened square, then they touch an ally in an adjacent square and the square their friend is in IS threatened, does the threatening enemy get an AoO on the healer, who has reached into the threatened square but not moved there?

No, there would be no AoO.

Reaching into a square and entering a square are two different things.

[Karui Kage]

Touching the injured person is part of the casting, but does not provoke any attacks of opportunity. In fact, with touch spells specifically, a character could be 30 feet away from an injured person, cast the spell, move, and then touch the injured character. So long as he was not threatened when casting, there are no AoOs.

Core Book wrote:

Touch Spells in Combat: Many spells have a range of touch. To use these spells, you cast the spell and then touch the subject. In the same round that you cast the spell, you may also touch (or attempt to touch) as a free action. You may take your move before casting the spell, after touching the target, or between casting the spell and touching the target. You can automatically touch one friend or use the spell on yourself, but to touch an opponent, you must succeed on an attack roll.

Heck, even touching a BAD guy with the spell does not provoke any AoOs.

Core Book wrote:

Touch Attacks: Touching an opponent with a touch spell is considered to be an armed attack and therefore does not provoke attacks of opportunity. The act of casting a spell, however, does provoke an attack of opportunity. Touch attacks come in two types: melee touch attacks and ranged touch attacks. You can score critical hits with either type of attack as long as the spell deals damage. Your opponent's AC against a touch attack does not include any armor bonus, shield bonus, or natural armor bonus. His size modifier, Dexterity modifier, and deflection bonus (if any) all apply normally.

[Kalyth]

Using a Touch spell on a target does not provoke and AoO. Only casting the spell does. So if the "Healer" wasnt threatened when he cast the spell there is no AoO when delivering the spell even if the caster moves into a threatened square. If the casters movement provokes and AoO then that is a different story.

To clarify; using a touch spell on an ally that is threatened does not make the caster threatened if he normally wouldn't be.

Most touch attacks that result from spells do not provoke AoO when delivered only when the spell is cast.

I you attempt to touch a skeleton with the held charge of a cure light wounds spell it does not get an AoO because the spell makes it so you are considered "armed" with the spell. Casting the spell while threatened by the skeleton would provoke and AoO. Touching an opponent would definately require more effort and open your self up to attack more that touching an ally who WANTS you to touch him. So if no AoO is allowed when touching the skeleton why would it be more difficult and require more effect to touch a friend that wants to be touched?

Wow Double Ninja'd