Hi,
I need some clarification. When using spell combat, I can make a full attack and cast a spell right? As long as they fall within the standard action time frame.
So, does the spell cast while using Spell combat provoke an attack of opportunity?
A reference to either errata or core would help. :)
Thanks in advance.
- jinki
I think an Attack of Opportunity (AoO) applies.
There is a very clear rule that if you cast a spell in melee you trigger an AoO. For this rule to be waived, I would need to see an equally clear exception – in the rules. In the case of the Magus, this exception doesn't seem to exist.
The Magus's ability to cast and attack in the same round is very cool. Triggering an AoO by casting is a limiting factor on this very cool ability, but the limit is reasonable. It applies to all other spellcasters; why shouldn't it apply to a Magus?
To say that the Magus should waive AoO triggers because she can also attack in the same round is, for mine, a bridge too far.
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Yes, a magus can make a full attack and cast a spell. The spell casting does provoke an attack of opportunity.
Note that under Spell Combat it says when the magus casts 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.
Thanks for the comments, appreciate the feed back. I will read up on defensive casting, And pick when to spell-combat carefully.
Thanks again.
if you spellcombat at the beginning of a combat its easy to spellcombat cast spell move and strike!
One of my players plays a Magus, and he nearly always casts defensively: by making a DC 15+double spell level Concentration check (d20+caster level+spellcasting class's primary ability modifier, in this case intelligence), he does not provoke an attack of opportunity. (If he fails, he loses the spell, but usually he considers it worth the risk.) He invested in the Combat Casting feat (+4 Concentration when casting defensively). That combined with his high intelligence score means that he very, very rarely fails his concentration check. If he never failed, I would consider that somewhat overpowered; being able to cast spells and attack in the span of a single standard action is very powerful in the first place!
If he never failed, I would consider that somewhat overpowered; being able to cast spells and attack in the span of a single standard action is very powerful in the first place!
Well, as levels go on, concentration check become pretty close to auto successes - much more so for a magus where the highest DC for casting defensively will be 27 (level 6 spell), rather than 33 (level 9 spell), but they still get a full 20 caster levels.
But anyway, Spell Combat isn't a standard action, it's a full round action. You need your move action for it too.
if you spellcombat at the beginning of a combat its easy to spellcombat cast spell move and strike!
Err... are you saying you can use Spell Combat from a distance, then move up to the enemy and strike in the same turn? Because this is not correct, unless you're only 5 feet away from the enemy. If you're only 5 feet away, you can indeed cast, 5-foot step up, then attack (including the free touch attack if the spell has one), but to go further than 5 feet would be a move action, while Spell Combat uses up both your standard and move.
Well, as levels go on, concentration check become pretty close to auto successes - much more so for a magus where the highest DC for casting defensively will be 27 (level 6 spell), rather than 33 (level 9 spell), but they still get a full 20 caster levels.
But anyway, Spell Combat isn't a standard action, it's a full round action. You need your move action for it too.
Thanks, yes, I meant a full round action. Hence of course the lack of movement besides a five foot step. (Which can still get you out of attack of opportunity range when facing limited monsters who don't have reach, a fairly common occurrence at the lower levels where casting defensively is less of a sure thing.)
Also yeah, it is pretty close to auto success at higher levels, which is a little sad for me as DM, but on the other hand my magus player would feel seriously crippled if he couldn't cast with confidence. My player already gets a +18 bonus on his defensive casting checks at caster level nine. For second level spells and below he literally can't fail. For third level spells he only fails on a 1, which has happened only once so far. When I say I think it helps balance the game I'm thinking about lower levels, when a magus who can cast and attack in a single full round action has an advantage over melee classes with only have one attack. So it's tempered in a way similar to two weapon fighting, with minuses to hit and the requirement that the melee weapon be light or one handed, as well as the potential for attacks of opportunity.