Arcane Casting, spell failure, and somatic components

[Kodain]

Hello,
I'm somewhat confused regarding what goes under spell failure. I keep reading that only arcane casters (wizard, sorcerer, bard) need to worry about this when it comes to armour and whatnot, but when I look under spell failure, it says something akin to "any spell with a somatic component". I'm currently making a Mesmerist, and I was told that mesmerists got no somatic components in their spells, but when I look at the spell list, it clearly says S under the components.

If someone could please clarify this for me, I'd be most thankful.

Regards,
Kodain

[Jared Walter 356]

Kodain wrote:

Hello,

I'm somewhat confused regarding what goes under spell failure. I keep reading that only arcane casters (wizard, sorcerer, bard) need to worry about this when it comes to armour and whatnot, but when I look under spell failure, it says something akin to "any spell with a somatic component". I'm currently making a Mesmerist, and I was told that mesmerists got no somatic components in their spells, but when I look at the spell list, it clearly says S under the components.

If someone could please clarify this for me, I'd be most thankful.

Regards,
Kodain

Core rulebook pg 150: Arcane Spell Failure (capitals added for emphasis)

"Arcane Spell Failure Chance: Armor interferes with the gestures that a spellcaster must make to cast an ARCANE spell that has a somatic component. Arcane spellcasters face the possibility of ARCANE spell failure if they’re wearing armor. Bards can wear light armor and use shields without incurring any arcane spell failure chance for their bard spells."

As the name implies this % failure only applies to arcane spells and only those with somatic components. Divine spells (Clerics, Druids) and Psychic Spells (Mesmerist) are not subject to this failure.

This line in Mesmerist states what kind of spells they use:
Spells: Spells: A mesmerist casts PSYCHIC spells drawn from the mesmerist spell list.

[willuwontu]

Mesmerists are psychic casters, and as such use the rules for psychic magic.

Psychic Magic Components wrote:

Instead of verbal and somatic components, all psychic spells have components related to the caster’s inner being. The two psychic components are called emotion components and thought components. If a spell’s components line lists a somatic component, that spell instead requires an emotion component when cast by psychic spellcasters, and if it has a verbal component, it instead requires a thought component when cast by psychic spellcasters. Psychic spells cast by non-psychic arcane and divine casters use any listed somatic and verbal components as normal.

[Evilserran]

I am not sure who told you they dont have somatic components, but here is what they were probably referencing

Components
Psychic magic originates from the distinctive qualities of the caster’s composite being, rather than through arcane formulae or rote supplication to divine entities.

Therefore, psychic spells never have verbal or somatic components, and have only expensive material components. Psychic spells are purely mental actions, and they can be cast even while the caster is pinned or paralyzed. Focus components work the same way with psychic spells as they do with other spells.

When a spell calls for an expensive material component, a psychic spellcaster can instead use any item with both significant meaning and a value greater than or equal to the spell’s component cost. For example, if a spiritualist wanted to cast raise dead to bring her dead husband back from the grave, she could use her 5,000 gp wedding ring as the spell’s material component.

Instead of verbal and somatic components, all psychic spells have components related to the caster’s inner being. The two psychic components are called emotion components and thought components. If a spell’s components line lists a somatic component, that spell instead requires an emotion component when cast by psychic spellcasters, and if it has a verbal component, it instead requires a thought component when cast by psychic spellcasters. Psychic spells cast by non-psychic arcane and divine casters use any listed somatic and verbal components as normal.

So basically your somatic components are your emotion components. This means that armor spell failure does not apply. Armor does not stop you from having feelings. Do keep in mind however, any armor check penalty will apply to anything requiring an attack roll if you do not have proficiency.

[Kodain]

Ok, this made it much clearer. Thank you for the replies!

[blahpers]

Armor spell failure doesn't apply, but somatic components have nothing to do with it. Psychic spellcasters don't cast arcane spells, and only arcane spells are subject to arcane spell failure. It's right there in the name of the rule. If a mesmerist somehow had to cast a mesmerist spell using somatic components, they still wouldn't incur arcane spell failure any more than a cleric would.