| 45 people marked this as FAQ candidate. Answered in the FAQ. 5 people marked this as a favorite. |
Or would having a SLA of it work as well? Is "cast spellname" shorthand for "cast spellname as a spell" or is it shorthand for "cause spellname to take affect"? Does "cast spellname" require actual spellcasting?
This question has come up something like 10 times in as many days. If that isn't a frequently asked question, I do not know what would qualify.
We know for certain that spell-like abilities are not spells, that things that modify spells you cast only affect actual spellcasting, nothing similar to it, and that Spell-Like abilities don't count as on your spell-list.
When describing the rules of Spell-like Abilities, the core rulebook mostly refers to activating or using spell-like abilities, and rarely does it refer to them as casting them.
Universal Monster Rules chapter on SLAs.
However, there are some examples of "casting" SLAs as well. For example, the rogue's minor magic talent. Another is a reference to casting them in the Magic chapter, in the bottom paragraph for SLAs. Apparently there are some other cases.
Cases where it matters:
If you, the most handsome of reader, would kindly hit the FAQ button, that would be most appreciated.
Since I asked this question myself like 2 weeks ago and an official answer would be nice, that FAQ button's looking mighty fine today.
| 10 people marked this as FAQ candidate. Answered in the FAQ. 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Bonus Question: We know that Augment Summons affects the summoner's spell-like ability. Why? It says it got into the errata, but I haven't noticed anything in the errata concerning it. Why is this an exception to the rule that things that affect spells require actual spellcasting?
I'd like a more general explanation and rule on when this sentence is applied:
"Usually, a spell-like ability works just like the spell of that name. A spell-like ability has no verbal, somatic, or material component, nor does it require a focus. The user activates it mentally. Armor never affects a spell-like ability's use, even if the ability resembles an arcane spell with a somatic component.
A spell-like ability has a casting time of 1 standard action unless noted otherwise in the ability or spell description. In all other ways, a spell-like ability functions just like a spell."
or if the inclusion of that sentence is just a bad holdover from previous editions. I do find it confusing.
| 4 people marked this as FAQ candidate. 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Expanding on this, I recently saw the argument that for feats like "moonlight summons" which have prereqs of the summon nature's ally spells but don't specify spells in the benefits section, it means that the spell-like abilities would be affected by the feats. This is another of the instances where the argument goes that since they don't specify "from a spell", it would mean "from any method of producing the effect".
Now, due to the to-me inexplicable reason that augment summons applies to the summoner's SLA, I've been cautiously saying that the other "buddies" of the Augment Summons feat would also apply, namely superior summons and these "<x>-light summons" feats.
|
A worthy point to FAQ, Cheapy.
However, I would like to point out that your interpretation of some of the clarifications is a little off, absolutely no offense intended ;-)
We know for certain that spell-like abilities are not spells,
Moreover, it states that using SLA is not "actual spellcasting" (which probably means "not actually casting a spell"). This might be the answer (though disappointing) to this whole thread, though it does not explain the why of the Augment Summoning exception.
that things that modify spells you cast only affect actual spellcasting, nothing similar to it,
It does not mention "nothing similar to it", just using magic items to cast. Nothing is written concerning SLAs.
and that Spell-Like abilities don't count as on your spell-list.
Exact
My current understanding on the SLA vs spells topic is that :
- you do indeed "cast" SLA, just as you "cast" spells, even though they do not have Somatic or Verbal components. Just as you are "casting" a Still Silent spell.
- you cannot use metamagic feats on SLA because they do not have spell slots
Basically this last point, as well as the "being on a spell list" are IMO the only real implicit differences between spells and SLA, thus anything that does not mention spell slots or spell lists would work on SLA too while anything that mentions spell slots or spell lists would work only on spells and not on SLA
Thus, Augment Summoning works (even though it indeed refers explicitely to casting spells) because it does not mention spell slots nor spell lists.
Concerning "casting" from magic items, even though you are using the item, it is the item itself that "casts" the spell, thus the spell does not benefits from your feats.
Once again, this is only my current understanding based on what I read of various designers' posts on the subject and what makes sense to me. No "truth from above" here.
Apparently it's been marked as Answered in FAQ, so now we just gotta wait for that to be updated :)
Sweet!