Casting defensively [Archive] - Wizards Community

Casting defensively [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
lastknightleft
03-06-07, 05:21 PM My games sorcerer was in a major battle, she was completely surrounded and wanted to cast defensively to not provoke an attack of opportunity. Now, according to the book she just has to beat a 15+spell level, but is that the same for having eight people around, does she just have to roll once or roll for each person? If just one roll, shouldn't there be a modifier for the # of attackers? It's a lot harder to defend against one person while casting on a spell but it's the same when defending against eight? When your 9th level you'll never fail almost.
Dragonteuthis
03-06-07, 06:14 PM It's a single concentration check, regardless of how many surround you.

Yes, high-level spellcasters have so much practice casting, that they can adequately defend themselves whilst unleashing their magics.

Now, a coordinated, intelligent band of foes surrounding a spellcaster would be wise to use some readied actions to disrupt the spells. The Concentration DC is much, much higher.
FriendoftheDork
03-06-07, 06:35 PM Casting defensively means you spend LESS concentration on the spell in question in order to be as defensive as normal. It's of course harder to defend against 8 creatutes, thus they get flanking and could possibly aid another, but that doesen't make the spell more difficult to cast in itself.

If you for some reason didn't cast defensively, they would all get AoO and you might have had to roll several concentration checks to get off the spell.
lastknightleft
03-06-07, 07:31 PM actually, if you fail the roll the spell is lost automatically it doesn't matter if their subsequent AoOs hit you or not
Neutronium_Dragon
03-06-07, 11:24 PM > actually, if you fail the roll the spell is lost automatically it doesn't matter if
> their subsequent AoOs hit you or not

If you fail the roll then you only lose the spell. You still don't provoke AoOs.

The post you were replying to was talking about what happens when you don't cast defensively in the first place.
FriendoftheDork
03-08-07, 02:24 AM > actually, if you fail the roll the spell is lost automatically it doesn't matter if
> their subsequent AoOs hit you or not

If you fail the roll then you only lose the spell. You still don't provoke AoOs.

The post you were replying to was talking about what happens when you don't cast defensively in the first place.

aye

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
lastknightleft 03-06-07, 05:21 PM	My games sorcerer was in a major battle, she was completely surrounded and wanted to cast defensively to not provoke an attack of opportunity. Now, according to the book she just has to beat a 15+spell level, but is that the same for having eight people around, does she just have to roll once or roll for each person? If just one roll, shouldn't there be a modifier for the # of attackers? It's a lot harder to defend against one person while casting on a spell but it's the same when defending against eight? When your 9th level you'll never fail almost.
Dragonteuthis 03-06-07, 06:14 PM	It's a single concentration check, regardless of how many surround you. Yes, high-level spellcasters have so much practice casting, that they can adequately defend themselves whilst unleashing their magics. Now, a coordinated, intelligent band of foes surrounding a spellcaster would be wise to use some readied actions to disrupt the spells. The Concentration DC is much, much higher.
FriendoftheDork 03-06-07, 06:35 PM	Casting defensively means you spend LESS concentration on the spell in question in order to be as defensive as normal. It's of course harder to defend against 8 creatutes, thus they get flanking and could possibly aid another, but that doesen't make the spell more difficult to cast in itself. If you for some reason didn't cast defensively, they would all get AoO and you might have had to roll several concentration checks to get off the spell.
lastknightleft 03-06-07, 07:31 PM	actually, if you fail the roll the spell is lost automatically it doesn't matter if their subsequent AoOs hit you or not
Neutronium_Dragon 03-06-07, 11:24 PM	> actually, if you fail the roll the spell is lost automatically it doesn't matter if > their subsequent AoOs hit you or not If you fail the roll then you only lose the spell. You still don't provoke AoOs. The post you were replying to was talking about what happens when you don't cast defensively in the first place.
FriendoftheDork 03-08-07, 02:24 AM	> actually, if you fail the roll the spell is lost automatically it doesn't matter if > their subsequent AoOs hit you or not If you fail the roll then you only lose the spell. You still don't provoke AoOs. The post you were replying to was talking about what happens when you don't cast defensively in the first place. aye