This is my first time posting and I have just started playing Pathfinder, so I apologize if I am not understanding some of the rules.
I have a question regarding the above subject. I have decided to play an Oracle (Bones) mainly for the necromancy aspect but I have a question on the spell casting aspect. I have read the rules about AoO, casting in combat and Concentration Checks but I am still confused. I think I have it down but I ask if you all can help.
Here is how I think combet would work:
1) I move in to attack an ork.
2) Because I moved into range the ork will have an AoO.
3) He makes is AoO, but his roll+modifiers dose not beat my AC, so AoO fails.
4) I cast inflict light wound's. This gives the ork another AoO (due to spell casting causing AoO)
5) He makes is AoO and beats my AC, so it is successful.
6) This forces me to do a Concentration Check.
7) I do the Concentration Check and pass.
8) I then roll to Touch. It is successful.
9) Ork takes damage.
The other question that I have is exactly the same as above but without moving into combat. So I am already in combat and I am going to cast another Touch spell, what happens?
The only time you provoke an attack of opportunity for moving is for leaving a square that is currently being threatened by an enemy (NOTE: five foot steps do not provoke attacks of opportunity when they are the only move action you make that round). So unless this orc has a 10 ft reach (either by being large, having some kind of reach weapon [which means it can't attack you when you cast your spell], or some other variant) it can't attack you for moving next to it.
The rest is correct although you have the option of casting defensively (15+ double spell level concentration check) but this method has the risk of the spell slot being used up without any effect if you don't succeed.
Since Inflict Light Wounds is a touch spell you can also choose to hold the charge (cast it and the next melee attack you succeed at making imbues the spells effects with it [they still get a save]); don't touch your allies before it goes off though, as you can hit them as well. The downside is: if you cast another spell before you've discharged the spell you are currently holding, you lose that spell in lieu of the one you just cast.
You can also (if you are 10 feet away from the target), as a full round action: cast the spell, take a five foot step, and then touch the target (the free touch attack provided by the spell) all in the same turn with the possibility of still having a swift action you can perform as well. This method provokes no AoO unless it has a 10ft reach.
Sounds like you have the way of these rules. Thanks for the first time posting!
It's usually possible to maneuver tactically such that one can cast without being threatened. Thus, Combat Casting is hardly ever needed. There are better feats. That is how it works, though.
It's true that, if an enemy is already adjacent to you, you can't cast a spell and perform a touch attack the same round without either casting defensively or risking an AoO. But why would you want to? This situation doesn't come up very often, and is rarely a very effective option. A better option is to have some alternate plan in place for this specific unusual circumstance.
It's almost always better for an Oracle to convert Cure spells, not Inflict spells. They are a lot more useful. But that is how the rules work.
Comparison of Inflict Wounds spells versus weapon attacks:
Say an Oracle invests just 25% of her build in melee combat, leaving 75% for other stuff. This gets her Strength 14 and one combat feat, probably Power Attack. Say she carries a longspear, which is a simple two-handed weapon with reach. This gives her basic martial competence at minimal cost. Let's compare her best Inflict ... Wounds attack versus her melee attack with a longspear.
At 6th level she casts her most powerful Inflict spell, Inflict Serious Wounds. It's a touch attack for 3D8+6 HP damage, at the cost of a precious 3rd level spell slot. She'll probably hit and inflict about 19.5 HP damage. Her victim gets a saving throw for half damage, so figure she'll actually inflict about 14 HP average damage per attack.
At 6th level this same Oracle can just attack with a +1 longspear. Her base to-hit won't be as good as the touch attack, but un-buffed damage on a hit will be 1D8+10 HP, average 14.5 HP. If she has a chance to pre-buff with a couple spells (e.g. 1st level Divine Favor & 2nd level Bull's Strength) then her to hit rolls will be quite good (at least +9) and she'll hit for at least 1D8+15 HP, average 19.5 HP. There are ways to boost these numbers much larger. This shows that her routine melee attacks can hit considerably harder than her best Inflict spell, without costing a spell slot.
The longspear, which has reach, can also be used to fish for AoOs. This sometimes allows one to both cast a spell and attack in the same round. This allows one to use AoOs to one's advantage, and at very little cost. Something to think about ...
Sounds like you have the way of these rules. Thanks for the first time posting!
It's usually possible to maneuver tactically such that one can cast without being threatened. Thus, Combat Casting is hardly ever needed. There are better feats. That is how it works, though.
It's true that, if an enemy is already adjacent to you, you can't cast a spell and perform a touch attack the same round without either casting defensively or risking an AoO. But why would you want to? This situation doesn't come up very often, and is rarely a very effective option. A better option is to have some alternate plan in place for this specific unusual circumstance.
It's almost always better for an Oracle to convert Cure spells, not Inflict spells. They are a lot more useful. But that is how the rules work.
** spoiler omitted **...
Ok.
Question, how does using a longspear allows one to both cast a spell and attack in the same round?
Also, another question that I have is channeling and AoO. I know that Channel does not provoke an AoO, but what about spells that states "you channel negative energy" like Inflict Light Wounds? If I was only casting those spells, could it be argued that the Channel rule would apply?
A creature provokes an AoO when it moves out of a threatened square. A foe who wishes to bop you on the head must typically move adjacent (unless it, too, has reach). When wielding a reach weapon, such as a longspear, one threatens 10' away. Longspear is the only reach weapon that is also a simple weapon. In order to move adjacent the foe must move out of one's threatened square, 10' away, to an adjacent square. This provokes an AoO.
