Casting a Spell Defined with regards to the Healilng Grace power of the Life School

[Fellwalker]

The Healing Grace power of the Life sub-school of Necromancy states that "[w]henever you cast a spell that has targets, affects creatures in an area, or requires an attack roll, you may heal creatures affected by the spell a total of 1 point of damage per level of the spell."(APG p.146)

My question is this, what is the definition of "casting a spell"? Is it strictly the act of casting memorized spells or does that include spell completion and spell trigger items?
The core rules states under Scrolls that "[u]sing a scroll is basically like casting a spell"(p.490) and under Wands that "...casting a spell from a wand is.."(p.496).

Also, is this healing replacing the normal effects of the spell or in addition? Will a fireball from a Life Specialist Wizard of 8th level heal for 3 points to everyone in an area OR burn them for 8d6 or burn them for 8d6 AND heal them for 3 points?

[concerro]

They are referring to the caster expending a spell slot from class levels.

As to your last question that would get burned for 8d6, and heal 3.

[Fellwalker]

Yeah, I don't agree.
Spell Completion and Spell Trigger Items ARE "casting a spell" excepting that the effort and resources for casting said spell have been done previously and "locked" in place until needed, especially spell completion items. The descriptions of those items and the description of spell casting does not specifically make a distinction between the two and use the phrase "cast[ing] a spell" interchangably without defining what the difference is between them. Perhaps it doesn't need to in the Magic section of the book but it very well should in the Magic Items section when it talks about the different forms of magic items.

As to the second part? I agree, that was my interpretation as well and it's cool. It makes sense and keeping it in mind could be usefull in the right circumstances.

[concerro]

Feats that affect spells don't apply to spells cast from items. An example of this is the augment summon feat not working on scrolls.

edit:

FAQ wrote:

Does using a potion, scroll, staff, or wand count as "casting a spell" for purposes of feats and special abilities like Augment Summoning, Spell Focus, an evoker's ability to do extra damage with evocation spells, bloodline abilities, and so on?

No. Unless they specifically state otherwise, feats and abilities that modify spells you cast only affect actual spellcasting, not using magic items that emulate spellcasting or work like spellcasting.

Sean K Reynolds, 08/31/10

[pobbes]

Fellwalker wrote:

Also, is this healing replacing the normal effects of the spell or in addition? Will a fireball from a Life Specialist Wizard of 8th level heal for 3 points to everyone in an area OR burn them for 8d6 or burn them for 8d6 AND heal them for 3 points?

My emphasis, the healing grace power wouldn't effect everyone in the spells area.

Prd wrote:

Whenever you cast a spell that has targets, affects creatures in an area, or requires an attack roll, you may heal creatures affected by the spell a total of 1 point of damage per level of the spell. This healing may be spread out between the targets of the spell in any way you choose

Again the emphasis is mine. The healing only applies once and only as you choose. So, your fireball would do 8d6 to everyone and you could divide 3 hp worth of healing among any of the targets. So, you can't feather fall as an immediate action and each member of your party heals one hit point, only one target would heal one hit point.

[concerro]

I did not see that second bolded area, nice catch.