Death Gaze- Help resolve a tricky rules question?

[Jade Dragon]

Hey guys,
Last night during our regular game I cast Death Gaze, which is a spell taken from the supplement book 1001 spells (http://paizo.com/products/btpy8qz9)
The spell states that any round that the spell is in effect you are granted a gaze attack. My GM ruled that I was not able to make an attack in the round that I cast the spell as I had used my standard action to cast a spell. My argument was that the spell states any round that the spell is in effect which would include the round I cast it in. Can anyone help to resolve this ruling as I felt it may have been wrong?

Thanks guys

Jade

[Ximen Bao]

Jade Dragon wrote:

Hey guys,

Last night during our regular game I cast Death Gaze, which is a spell taken from the supplement book 1001 spells (http://paizo.com/products/btpy8qz9)
The spell states that any round that the spell is in effect you are granted a gaze attack. My GM ruled that I was not able to make an attack in the round that I cast the spell as I had used my standard action to cast a spell. My argument was that the spell states any round that the spell is in effect which would include the round I cast it in. Can anyone help to resolve this ruling as I felt it may have been wrong?

Thanks guys

Jade

You're both wrong. :)

If it grants you an actual gaze attack (unlike, say, Burning Gaze) the gaze triggers at the beginning of each opponent's turn. It's not any kind of an action, it's an automatic save anyone in range has to make.

"Each opponent within range of a gaze attack must attempt a saving throw each round at the beginning of his or her turn in the initiative order. "
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/rules-for-monsters/universal-monster-rules #TOC-Gaze-Su-

[Jade Dragon]

Hmm that seems a little OP as the gaze attack grants a saving throw or receive 12d6 dmg or 3d6 on a save. I cant find the exact wording of the spell online but I will post it when I get home.

[David_Bross]

Its exactly how gaze attacks work.

The only issue I really have with it is the word "opponent", which I really don't understand as an addition given that by legend things weren't immune just because they were friendlies. It means if for some reason you had 20 pet basilisks you'd never have to make any saves, but any one who bears you and them ill will, would likely become a statue. This isn't a rules issue however, simply me not agreeing with what is written.

[Ximen Bao]

David_Bross wrote:

Its exactly how gaze attacks work.

The only issue I really have with it is the word "opponent", which I really don't understand as an addition given that by legend things weren't immune just because they were friendlies. It means if for some reason you had 20 pet basilisks you'd never have to make any saves, but any one who bears you and them ill will, would likely become a statue. This isn't a rules issue however, simply me not agreeing with what is written.

Allies aren't immune:

"All the creature's allies are considered to be averting their eyes from the creature with the gaze attack, and have a 50% chance to not need to make a saving throw against the gaze attack each round. The creature can also veil its eyes, thus negating its gaze ability."

[Jade Dragon]

oh my party members aren't going to like that at all and will render the spell basically useless as obviously Im a wizard character that needs to be behind the fighters to survive.

[Ximen Bao]

Jade Dragon wrote:

oh my party members aren't going to like that at all and will render the spell basically useless as obviously Im a wizard character that needs to be behind the fighters to survive.

True. Double check the spell though and make sure it's a real gaze attack and not just a standard action you can take on later turns that is flavored like a gaze attack.