Mesmerist Tricks, Psychic Spells & Hypnotic Stare

[J. A.]

Can a mesmerist cast spells while maintaining a hypnotic stare?

I’m trying to fit my head around this ability, and I can’t tell from the text if the mesmerist can do all manner of other things while maintaining the stare, or if it’s supposed to be understood that he’s concentrating on that alone. I’m assuming he can trigger an implanted trick as a free action during a stare, but it would be good to know for certain.

Also, mesmerist tricks are a little confusing as well. If I understand correctly, a second-level mesmerist knows two tricks, which he can implant a total of 1+Cha mod times per day. But he has to touch the recipient, and can only keep one trick active at a time?

[PossibleCabbage]

First off, the Hypnotic Stare requires a swift action to activate, but once you've done that it stays up until you're unconscious, you re-target it, or the target becomes ineligible (out of range, dead). You can do anything else with your stare active, fight, eat, cast spells, etc. It does not require actually "locking your eyes on someone" (you can do it while blinded) so don't worry if you want to stare at someone who's not the person right next to you. Think of it as the swift action is you locking eyes with someone thus touching their mind, and you don't lose access to their mind if you look away to stab someone.

You're right on the tricks. You know 2 at 2nd level, it takes a standard action to implant one, they don't have a duration so feel free to do this out of combat, and you can only have one at a time (until you get manifold tricks at level 5) and you can implant a trick ChaMod +level/2 times per day.

[J. A.]

Thanks for the comprehensive explanation, much appreciated. Now I can stare with confidence. : )