casting in free-fall [Archive] - Wizards Community

casting in free-fall [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Pippa
08-30-06, 03:51 PM Allright, so:

For now this is purely hypothetical, but just in case: what starting height is required to cast a spell (say a standard action casting time) without hitting the ground before completion?

And as I come to think of it, is this considered a condition that makes spellcasting more difficult, in other words does it require a concentration check (like with violent motion)? And at what DC?

Thanks beforehand!
DarkNick
08-30-06, 03:58 PM I would say you need to make a concentration check. Not sure on the DC though.

Featherfall is probably the only exception. Its one of those things you can always cast when falling (that is what it is designed for).
Pippa
08-30-06, 04:08 PM Uhuh; and it's a free action too.
But as most spells require a standard action to cast, I wondered when it was safe to cast one.
Puca
08-30-06, 04:28 PM According to the rules for flight, you fall 150’ in the first round, and 300’per round in subsequent rounds.
BobSutan
08-30-06, 04:29 PM Casting during freefall? My houserule is -10 to the concentration check if facing the sky, -20 if facing the ground. If spell components are involved, use the same rules for holding on to objects from the spell Wind Wall. In order to get off a spell during freefall the chracter must have fallen from a height of 200' or more, otherwise there isn't enough time to cast (unless it is a quick, swift, or immediate action).

**Edit**
I just noticed teh post above me has the numbers for falling per the rules, so I would suggest using those over the one's I came up with. In fact I'm changing our houserule on this as soon as we have our next session.
DarkNick
08-30-06, 04:39 PM We could work it out with some assumptions.
a round is 6 seconds right
A standard action could be assumed to be half of that. So lets assume it takes 3 seconds to cast a spell.

How far can you fall in 3 seconds from a 0 velocity start?
Gravity for simplicity is 10m/s/s

Distance = 0.5 * Acceleration (gravity) * time squared

so Distance = .5 * 10 * 9
= 45 Metres
= roughly 148 feet!
brudda_kemist
08-30-06, 04:45 PM I would say that the Concentration DC for casting while falling is something 25+spell level (or the like). as per the vertical space you need to cover, to be able to cast a spell, i would say that you need AT LEAST 75 feet because if you fall 150 feet the first round, you would have enough (?) time to perform a standard action (eg, casting a spell) and then enjoy the show for the other 75 feet...:D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Pippa 08-30-06, 03:51 PM	Allright, so: For now this is purely hypothetical, but just in case: what starting height is required to cast a spell (say a standard action casting time) without hitting the ground before completion? And as I come to think of it, is this considered a condition that makes spellcasting more difficult, in other words does it require a concentration check (like with violent motion)? And at what DC? Thanks beforehand!
DarkNick 08-30-06, 03:58 PM	I would say you need to make a concentration check. Not sure on the DC though. Featherfall is probably the only exception. Its one of those things you can always cast when falling (that is what it is designed for).
Pippa 08-30-06, 04:08 PM	Uhuh; and it's a free action too. But as most spells require a standard action to cast, I wondered when it was safe to cast one.
Puca 08-30-06, 04:28 PM	According to the rules for flight, you fall 150’ in the first round, and 300’per round in subsequent rounds.
BobSutan 08-30-06, 04:29 PM	Casting during freefall? My houserule is -10 to the concentration check if facing the sky, -20 if facing the ground. If spell components are involved, use the same rules for holding on to objects from the spell Wind Wall. In order to get off a spell during freefall the chracter must have fallen from a height of 200' or more, otherwise there isn't enough time to cast (unless it is a quick, swift, or immediate action). Edit I just noticed teh post above me has the numbers for falling per the rules, so I would suggest using those over the one's I came up with. In fact I'm changing our houserule on this as soon as we have our next session.
DarkNick 08-30-06, 04:39 PM	We could work it out with some assumptions. a round is 6 seconds right A standard action could be assumed to be half of that. So lets assume it takes 3 seconds to cast a spell. How far can you fall in 3 seconds from a 0 velocity start? Gravity for simplicity is 10m/s/s Distance = 0.5 * Acceleration (gravity) * time squared so Distance = .5 * 10 * 9 = 45 Metres = roughly 148 feet!
brudda_kemist 08-30-06, 04:45 PM	I would say that the Concentration DC for casting while falling is something 25+spell level (or the like). as per the vertical space you need to cover, to be able to cast a spell, i would say that you need AT LEAST 75 feet because if you fall 150 feet the first round, you would have enough (?) time to perform a standard action (eg, casting a spell) and then enjoy the show for the other 75 feet...:D