Hello,
I have a very simple question (I hope).
Does a caster need a concentration check to cast his spell while manacled?
Can he even cast a spell in this condition?
If the caster does get a concentration check, what is the DC?
If is not in the rules, could you suggest some house rules?
(I'm running the way of the wicked ap, and the PCs starts manacled above their heads, to a wall. And neither of them is a rogue or has disable device, so their only option to escape captivity is through spell or guile, maybe)
Thank you very much.
You need a free hand to cast, but the rules aren't clear on how "free" that hand has to be.
I think I'd probably treat like being entangled (15 + spell level) or grappled (with the DC set to the Escape/Disable DC if that seems reasonable).
If they're too low a level for 15 + level to seems really workable, just drop it to like 10 or 12. It would probably depend on the quality of restraints, anyway.
Still Spell and Eschew Materials would be required for an arcane spell caster in that specific bind.
So Escape Artist or guile it is then.
Forgot about material components. Eschew Materials would be absolutely necessary, even if we can quibble about Still Spell.
Thank you for your answers.
Regarding the material component I think the new core rulebook errata cancels the requirement of having the component in hand. Even if this restriction still holds, however, the pc have a spell component pouch and all the time they wants, so I'll probably lift this particular restriction.
About the concentration DC, the escape artist DC seems too high for their level. I'd probably give them the grappled condition at the start, but I will allow them to reduce it to an entagled condition (or even less) if they manage to pass some dex (or escape artist) checks to "reposition" themselves.
By they way, the poor mage also lacks his bonded object... :)
Does he need a single concentration check with the higher DC, or two different concentration check?
It would be separate checks I believe.
Also realize in Way of the Wicked they don't start with spell components.
But they get them shortly into it.
I'd handwave the need for concentration checks for manticles because
Although the prison has a fearsome reputation it is in a massive state of corruption and disarray. In the case of spellcasting the manticles are 'looser than they should be'.
Also in the hankerchief given to the players I'd highly recommend an object for the wizard that temporarily negates the need for a concentration check for a loosing a bonded object (though not the benefits of having one). This would be for the sake of fun, otherwise the wizard will kind of suck for his whole first level.
I'm playing through the first part of the book so I know a bit about the beginning. Spoiled some sections for people who don't want to know about walking the path of Way of the Wicked.