Looking for advice, I just want to make sure I handle this arcanist exploit properly:
Quick Study (Su). The arcanist can prepare a spell in place of an existing spell by expending 1 point from her arcane reservoir. Using this ability is a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity. The arcanist must be able to reference her spellbook when using this ability. The spell prepared must be of the same level as the spell being replaced.
A few questions:
1 - Is the arcanist retrieving their spellbook considered part of the full-round action or a separate (move) action. If so I assume that the 'retrieve a stored item' to fetch the spelbook will also provoke an attack of opportunity?
2 - Quick study is supernatural, so I assume damage taken whilst performing it has no chance of interrupting the arcanist's spell swapping.
3 - An attack of opportunity can be used to deliver a Sunder combat maneuver. So an attack of opportunity triggered to an adjacent enemy during Quick Study could trigger a Sunder attempt on the spellbook. All this takes is a successful combat maneuver, then damage is done straight to the spellbook? This sounds very nasty.
If anyone has any insight into this, or any extra RAW clarity I'd appreciate it :)
The handy haversack removes the attack of opportunity.
The handy haversack removes the attack of opportunity.
Handy haversack: Retrieving any specific item from a haversack is a move action, but it does not provoke the attacks of opportunity that retrieving a stored item usually does.
The Quick Study (su) will still trigger an attack of opportunity, since it doesn't state that its AoO is triggered by removing the spellbook from the bag.
The handy haversack removes the attack of opportunity.
Only if you're ruling there's an additional attack of opportunity to draw the spell book the round before you use Quick Study. Quick Study takes a full round action and triggers an attack of opportunity even if your hands have been replaced by a bionic spell book that is always there (which is a good argument that you have to draw it or already be holding it to use Quick Study).
I'd also say treat this like you'd treat an ability that calls for using your weapon as a full round action. Would you assume you have to draw it separately on a prior round or as a swift action if you can do it that way? Yes, you would. Quick Study is pretty much the same, just replacing the weapon with a spell book.
1. Separate action; provokes an attack of opportunity.
2. RAW correct, but ETV.
3. (EDIT) Yes. For that matter, remember that after your Quick Study completes, remember that you'll still be holding your spellbook in your hand(s) in the middle of combat, which is generally a terrible situation to be in.
Exposing your spellbook to danger in combat is a foolhardy thing to do. Make backup spellbooks when possible, and don't try this maneuver unless you're really, really certain you can get away with it--or as a last resort.