Fast Casting w / out Feat

[furashgf]

I believe the following are true:
1. it seems that the majority of nifty clerical spells take a standard action to execute. That's pretty much the only interesting thing you can do in that turn if you choose to do it
2. there is a Fast Casting feat that reduces the time but, like all of the MetaMagic feats, eats up a level higher slot

Are the above true? (If not, then don't proceed to the next part)

Assuming they are true, is there any other way to get a spell off and do something useful in the same round? Is there a way to "prepare" a spell (e.g., bless or something) so that it's just about ready to go off...

Thanks for your insight.

[SlimGauge]

By "Fast Casting", do you mean the Metamagic Feat Quicken Spell ?

[TheRonin]

Quicken spell, a metamagic feat will reduce the casting time so you can perform another action. It causes the spell to take up a slot 4 levels higher however.

[Guardianknight]

Well, they're expensive as all get out, but you can always buy a metamagic rod of quicken spell. It doesn't take up any higher level slots but requires a free hand (in addition to your spell casting hand) and the cheapest one costs 35,000 gp and only effects spells of 1st-3rd level. The next tier costs 75,500 gp and effects spells of 1st-6th level and the final one is a whopping 170,000 gp but can be used on all spells. Each rod can only be used 3/day though so you'd have to get a lot of these if you want all of your spells to be quickened.

[VRMH]

There are a few spells that are by themselves faster to cast, the most useful being Cold Ice Strike.

[Lord Pendragon]

furashgf wrote:

Is there a way to "prepare" a spell (e.g., bless or something)

Wizards and sorcerers can do this with the Contingency spell. You could conceivably get a scroll of Contingency and use UMD to set up a contingency yourself. Then you could trigger your contingency with a spoken word, and then do something else in the same round.

[Brain in a Jar]

furashgf wrote:

I believe the following are true:

1. it seems that the majority of nifty clerical spells take a standard action to execute. That's pretty much the only interesting thing you can do in that turn if you choose to do it
2. there is a Fast Casting feat that reduces the time but, like all of the MetaMagic feats, eats up a level higher slot

Are the above true? (If not, then don't proceed to the next part)

Assuming they are true, is there any other way to get a spell off and do something useful in the same round? Is there a way to "prepare" a spell (e.g., bless or something) so that it's just about ready to go off...

Thanks for your insight.

The spell itself is the useful part of the round.

[Mage Evolving]

Too summarize:
1. Use the quickened spell feat. But cost a spell slot 4 levels higher.

2. Use a Metamagic rod. But can only use 3x a day and insanely pricey.

3. Cast a spell like cold ice strike. But there are only a few of those

4. Cast contingency and word it like "When I begin hydrolic push a acid pit will appear below the target of my push."