Spell Casting

[Darksmokepuncher]

Can you cast a spell with a cast time of 1 swift action as a standard action?

Ex. I've got an inquisitor trying to Litany of Righteousness off and a caster keeps countering it. She wants to cast it twice. Possible?

Thanks!

[Avoron]

The easy method is just to cast it as a swift action during your turn, then ready an action to cast it again immediately afterward.

Readying an Action wrote:

You can ready a standard action, a move action, a swift action, or a free action.

[skizzerz]

Avoron wrote:

The easy method is just to cast it as a swift action during your turn, then ready an action to cast it again immediately afterward.

Readying an Action wrote:

You can ready a standard action, a move action, a swift action, or a free action.

You are limited to one swift/immediate action per round (an immediate action you take outside of your turn counts as the swift action for your next turn). Readying an action does not let you get around that restriction. Furthermore, there is the rule "A spell with a casting time of 1 swift action doesn't count against your normal limit of one spell per round. However, you may cast such a spell only once per round."

[_Ozy_]

Avoron wrote:

The easy method is just to cast it as a swift action during your turn, then ready an action to cast it again immediately afterward.

Readying an Action wrote:

You can ready a standard action, a move action, a swift action, or a free action.

Interesting question. You only get 1 swift action per turn, so if you use a swift action to cast, and then ready and action to cast another swift action, is your turn considered over? Or is it not over until your next initiative.

Or, does a readied swift action essentially turn into an immediate action?

[SlimGauge]

Rules wrote:

A spell with a casting time of 1 swift action doesn't count against your normal limit of one spell per round. However, you may cast such a spell only once per round. Casting a spell with a casting time of 1 swift action doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity.

Looks like you can only cast Litany once per round.

[Avoron]

SlimGauge wrote:

Rules wrote:

A spell with a casting time of 1 swift action doesn't count against your normal limit of one spell per round. However, you may cast such a spell only once per round. Casting a spell with a casting time of 1 swift action doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity.

Looks like you can only cast Litany once per round.

Ah, yes. The special restriction on swift action spells would override the standard rules for readied actions, though readying would still work for other swift-action abilities.

skizzerz wrote:

You are limited to one swift/immediate action per round

Not for anything but spells - you're limited to one swift action per turn, which is a crucial distinction when readied actions are in play.

Swift Action wrote:

You can perform only a single swift action per turn.

_Ozy_ wrote:

You only get 1 swift action per turn, so if you use a swift action to cast, and then ready and action to cast another swift action, is your turn considered over?

Absolutely. Readied actions are explicitly taken outside of your turn.

Ready wrote:

The ready action lets you prepare to take an action later, after your turn is over but before your next one has begun.

_Ozy_ wrote:

Or, does a readied swift action essentially turn into an immediate action?

Of course not. Readying has its own set of rules.

[_Ozy_]

Avoron wrote:

Of course not. Readying has its own set of rules.

So, it's a standard action to ready an action. What kind of action, if any, is it to use a readied action? If this activity is taking place not on your turn, then how can you use any action that you can only use during your turn?

[Avoron]

_Ozy_ wrote:

What kind of action, if any, is it to use a readied action?

Whatever kind of action that activity requires. If you ready a move action, for instance, you're still taking a move action when the time comes. Readying just allows you to take that move action when you normally wouldn't be able to

Readying an Action wrote:

To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it.

_Ozy_ wrote:

If this activity is taking place not on your turn, then how can you use any action that you can only use during your turn?

...because the rules for readied actions explicitly state that you can?

Readying an Action wrote:

Then, anytime before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition.

Seriously, are you asking how you can take readied actions when it isn't your turn? That's what the 'ready' rules do. Ordinarily, you can't take swift actions when it isn't your turn, nor can you take standard actions or move actions or free actions. Ready changes this. If it didn't, it wouldn't do anything at all.

[Cevah]

Darksmokepuncher wrote:

Can you cast a spell with a cast time of 1 swift action as a standard action?

Ex. I've got an inquisitor trying to Litany of Righteousness off and a caster keeps countering it. She wants to cast it twice. Possible?

Thanks!

I leave to others the double cast rules.

The problem you have is getting a spell off. You need to stop the counterspell.

PRD

Dispel Magic wrote:

Counterspell: When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell targets a spellcaster and is cast as a counterspell. Unlike a true counterspell, however, dispel magic may not work; you must make a dispel check to counter the other spellcaster's spell.

This needs a caster level check, so is not reliable. Given your comment, this is probably not the way your spells are being countered.

PRD

Counterspells wrote:

How Counterspells Work: To use a counterspell, you must select an opponent as the target of the counterspell. You do this by choosing to ready an action. In doing so, you elect to wait to complete your action until your opponent tries to cast a spell. You may still move at your normal speed, since ready is a standard action.

If the target of your counterspell tries to cast a spell, make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the spell's level). This check is a free action. If the check succeeds, you correctly identify the opponent's spell and can attempt to counter it. If the check fails, you can't do either of these things.

To complete the action, you must then cast an appropriate spell. As a general rule, a spell can only counter itself. If you are able to cast the same spell and you have it prepared (or have a slot of the appropriate level available), you cast it, creating a counterspell effect. If the target is within range, both spells automatically negate each other with no other results.

This requires that they target you. If you cannot be seen, then you cannot be targeted.

This requires they make a spellcraft check [DC=18 for your spell]. Spellcraft requires line of sight, and uses Perception modifiers. Remember that -1 per 10'? That makes their skill check harder. Again, if you can make it harder for them, it will likely be easier to get the spell off. If you go invisible briefly, you can get the spell off.

/cevah

[Zenogu]

Revised Action Economy in Pathfinder Unchained addresses this.

[_Ozy_]

Avoron wrote:

Seriously, are you asking how you can take readied actions when it isn't your turn? That's what the 'ready' rules do. Ordinarily, you can't take swift actions when it isn't your turn, nor can you take standard actions or move actions or free actions. Ready changes this. If it didn't, it wouldn't do anything at all.

Sure, but if you normally can't take actions when it's not your turn, and readying an action changes this, then you have to figure out whether or not it bypasses 'can only do X once per turn', like swift actions.

[SlimGauge]

A readied action is a way to split your turn into two different parts. It is still one turn, with all the limits thereof. I couldn't take a five foot step and then ready a move or a second five foot step, for example.

[_Ozy_]

SlimGauge wrote:

A readied action is a way to split your turn into two different parts. It is still one turn, with all the limits thereof. I couldn't take a five foot step and then ready a move or a second five foot step, for example.

Well except, as other people have noted, your turn is over.

I certainly agree with you, but the wording needs to be tightened up a bit.