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At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks.
You instantly transfer yourself from your current location to any other spot within range. You always arrive at exactly the spot desired—whether by simply visualizing the area or by stating direction. After using this spell, you can't take any other actions until your next turn........
Since this is a case of specific rules I am wondering which one takes precedence.
1. Does DD trump Spell combat meaning the spell would have to be cast at the end of the full attack or the full attack is canceled
2. Does Spell combat trump DD meaning DD can be cast first, and the full attack still continues.
A more general question is that when rules collide is there an unspoken hierarchy such as Class features/monster abilities then feats, then spells.
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I would say that dimension door trumps the spell combat in the same way as sleep cast on oneself would trump it - ending the turn is one of the effects of the spell itself, and spell combat only modifies spellcasting process keeping the actual results of the spell unchanged.
Yeah, I would say DD wins here. Still, you can teleport around after you do a full attack, so that's pretty cool.
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That is what I thought also since it says you can cast the spell, not cast the spell and ignore any special text restricting full attack actions.
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Dimensional Agility feat line allows you to get past that part of DD.
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You want to take this feat: Dimensional Agility. It will let you do your attack after casting dimension door.
Edit: GAH! Ninjaed by 21 seconds. I have a link though ;)
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The converse argument is yes, you can use spell combat to cast dimension door then take your full attack. You can do this because dimension door prevents you from taking any additional actions this turn after moving, but says nothing about finishing your current action. As you are in the middle of a full-round action (spell combat) after casting a spell but prior to taking the full attack provided by the ability, you can complete that current full-round action.
I don't agree with that argument because I don't like a semantic loophole that supposedly circumvents the intended limitation of a spell by accident, but I am all for dimension door being updated to not have that limitation at all.
Immediate actions use your next turns swift action, so they are fine.
AoOs are non-actions, so they are fine too.
It would stop you from taking any free/swift actions associated with your attacks, but since you've cast DD you weren't casting something with a touch attack, so it shouldn't be an issue. You would get to finish your normal iterative attacks, and that's it.
Immediate actions use your next turns swift action, so they are fine.
But they are still taken now, not in next turn, it just uses up future resource so it is matter for interpretation.
AoOs are non-actions, so they are fine too.
I disagree - nowhere it is stated they they are not an action. They are not full-round, standard, move, swift/immediate or free action but they are still action (of their own unique kind). If they weren't actions, stunned, dazed or otherwise incapacitated creature could make them.
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Spell Combat does not change what spells do. DD has its full effects, including preventing you from taking further actions. Individual actions within a full-round action are still "actions."
DD basically disorients you for the rest of your turn. Force hook charge is probably the best alternate "teleport" plus full attack for a magus.
It pretty clearly states that you can't take ANY other actions until your next turn. This would include free and immediate actions.
As has been mentioned Dimensional Agility is a great feat when doing Dimension Door tricks.
Spell Combat does not change what spells do. DD has its full effects, including preventing you from taking further actions. Individual actions within a full-round action are still "actions."
DD basically disorients you for the rest of your turn. Force hook charge is probably the best alternate "teleport" plus full attack for a magus.
It pretty clearly states that you can't take ANY other actions until your next turn. This would include free and immediate actions.
The reason this is still puzzling is because the word "action" is a term of art in Pathfinder. It has a specific meaning in the context of the rules (that is, one of free, swift, immediate, standard, move, and full-round action). Therefore, using it in a manner that does not match this meaning (in this case, an individual attack that is part of a full-round action) causes understandable confusion.
Everybody here seems to agree what the probably RAI is, but the RAW are ambiguous, and I can see the need for fixing it as an erratum.
I would think Spell Combat wins out. Also, I can't seem to find the FAQ answer.
Why does it say "Answered in FAQ"? The words "dimension door" don't even appear in the UM FAQ.
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Why does it say "Answered in FAQ"? The words "dimension door" don't even appear in the UM FAQ.
It wasn't until recently they had "question unclear' and other options. For the early questions often "answered in the faq" was just used to clear it from the queue when the question was unclear or the answer obvious.
Judging by how many people hold the opposing opinion (in regards to me), I guess the designers thought it was obvious.
So... is it a official FAQ or not yet?
No. I'm not sure it was ever raised again.
But to add my tuppence: DD clearly trumps spell combat. There is nothing in spell combat that overrides any restrictions attached to the spell you cast.