Readying a "standard" two-action spell?

[Shisumo]

As written, "I ready a lightning bolt for as soon as he comes around the corner!" appears to be an illegal choice. Is this intentional? Is there some way around it short of Quicken Spell?

[Captain Morgan]

Shisumo wrote:

As written, "I ready a lightning bolt for as soon as he comes around the corner!" appears to be an illegal choice. Is this intentional? Is there some way around it short of Quicken Spell?

I don't believe so. And I think that might be a good thing. Stuff like "I ready magic missile for when they start casting a spell" could lead to some pretty cheesy battles. If spell casting is going to take multiple actions, it makes sense it is harder to do at the drop of a hat than make a Strike is.

Of course, you can still ready magic missile for when the enemy starts casting a spell to try and disrupt it, but now you aren't reaping the full damage of the spell slot. Where as before there wasn't really much trade off for the scenario.

[Githzilla]

That was one of the first things my party wizard realized - can't ready a two action spell.

[vestris]

This is something I am wondering about too, I have an explanation how it might work however this is not quite clear. And it might be a very wrong interpretation.

Quote:

p. 195

You Cast a Spell you know or have prepared. Casting a Spell is a
special activity that takes a variable number of actions depending
on the spell, as listed in each spell’s stat block. You can spend those
actions in any order you wish, provided you do so consecutively
on a single turn. As soon as all spellcasting actions are complete,
the spell effect occurs.

Lets say you start to cast lightning bolt which includes a somatic and a vocal action. Now you use your vocal action and ready the somatic action with the trigger, enemy in sight.

If the trigger does not happen you cannot perform the second action and thus the spell fails.

The rules for activities state that you have to perform the actions consecutively or in succession in a single turn which would allow this interpretation to my knowledge. However I am not a native speaker so I might be wrong here.

[Fuzzy-Wuzzy]

vestris wrote:

This is something I am wondering about too, I have an explanation how it might work however this is not quite clear. And it might be a very wrong interpretation.

Quote:

p. 195

You Cast a Spell you know or have prepared. Casting a Spell is a
special activity that takes a variable number of actions depending
on the spell, as listed in each spell’s stat block. You can spend those
actions in any order you wish, provided you do so consecutively
on a single turn. As soon as all spellcasting actions are complete,
the spell effect occurs.

Lets say you start to cast lightning bolt which includes a somatic and a vocal action. Now you use your vocal action and ready the somatic action with the trigger, enemy in sight.

If the trigger does not happen you cannot perform the second action and thus the spell fails.

The rules for activities state that you have to perform the actions consecutively or in succession in a single turn which would allow this interpretation to my knowledge. However I am not a native speaker so I might be wrong here.

"Consecutively" means "in immediate succession," so Verbal Casting -- Ready -- Somatic Casting does not work, because the ready action makes the casting actions nonconsecutive.

[vestris]

Why would they add the on a single turn clause then?

[Lyee]

Because, I believe, otherwise Strike, Strike, Verbal - everyone else's turn - Somatic to finish the spell, would be valid, split over two turns, because they're still consecutive to you.

'Consecutive' breaks readying the second part, 'on a single turn' breaks just casting half one turn, half another.

[Fuzzypaws]

This seems like exactly the sort of thing they would add a feat to allow in the final game or APG.

[Zwordsman]

Hm. Consecutive just means "following continuously" it doesn't mean immediate succession. Just by the word consecutive means you can
Verbal cast. do nothing. somatic cast. but you could not verbal cast, move, somatic cast.

The Single Round verbiage there is to prevent you from doing this.

1 spell (2 actions) +1 verbal. round 1
+1 somatic, +1 spell (2 actions) round 2
Total of 3 spells.
As this would be consecutive. Thus, they need the line about a single turn in order to prevent spamming.

I, personally, think they should allow for
Verbal , move/strike/interact/whatever, somatic sort of set up though myself. I can't think of anything problematic that would bring up but there probably is haha.

I do think a general feat for the 3 spell in 2 turn thing could be amusing. but would be hard to balance for sure.
Likely a better choice would be to allow split turn casting but a total of 1 spell per round.

[sherlock1701]

Zwordsman wrote:

Hm. Consecutive just means "following continuously" it doesn't mean immediate succession. Just by the word consecutive means you can

Verbal cast. do nothing. somatic cast. but you could not verbal cast, move, somatic cast.

The Single Round verbiage there is to prevent you from doing this.

1 spell (2 actions) +1 verbal. round 1
+1 somatic, +1 spell (2 actions) round 2
Total of 3 spells.
As this would be consecutive. Thus, they need the line about a single turn in order to prevent spamming.

I honestly think this would be fine, especially with how nerfed spells are. Might make cantrips something marginally closer to useful.

[Zwordsman]

Could be amusing anyway.

Alchemist right now are pretty envious of cantrips though.
most if not all the bombs do less damage, less often and less consistent. Though debuffs.
but I know a lot of alchemists snagging a cantrip~

I do think they should allow for readying spells-or at least cantrips if not whole spells. and certainly think they should allow multi round castings, even if it just is capped at 1 per round

[Ephfive]

I like the idea of letting players break up their spellcasting actions. The risk of disruption, missed triggers, and the like could easily make up for the advantage of the added flexibility.

You could always require an increasing flat or spellcasting check with each non-spellcasting action between beginning and completion.