Casting in Prone position [Archive] - Wizards Community

Casting in Prone position [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Crash169
01-31-08, 12:51 AM What are the rules for casting a spell while prone and threatened? I've checked the phb over and over... still can't find anything.

Thanks
Pandaemoni
01-31-08, 01:02 AM There are no special rules. You can freely cast while prone, but it draws an attack of opportunity (normally). Some games in which I've played suggest that the +4 to the DC to cast defensively, but that is a houserule. Since there is a bonus for (melee) attacks of opportunity to hit to while prone, that always made sense to me.
zeratulcraft
01-31-08, 01:08 AM What are the rules for casting a spell while prone and threatened? I've checked the phb over and over... still can't find anything.

Thanks

No penalty other than the one you take for attacking while prone. Provided the spell you're casting actually requires the appropriate attack roll.

So if there's a penalty for melee attacks while prone, you'd take it on melee attacks with a spell, too.
Decoy_Lockbox
01-31-08, 03:31 AM No penalty that I know of. I've been using this tactic for years with my wizards, in order to increase their AC against shooting attacks. Going prone under a horse after a bandit ambush was a favorite tactic, and set up a perfect sniping point.
The_Shaman
01-31-08, 06:12 AM What are the rules for casting a spell while prone and threatened? I've checked the phb over and over... still can't find anything.

Thanks

There are no particular limitations that I know of, although I think there should be - it might be a bit hard making some complex 3D gestures (somatic components) when you're practically lying on your belly.
Crash169
01-31-08, 10:05 PM Damn, well that totally sucks and rocks at the same time. It sucks because I don't play a caster, and it rocks because it makes casters a little stronger.

See what happened was that one of my companions was possessed by some evil Lich named Nrazz. The PC ended up going crazy and blasting everything. I ran up to him and tripped him. On his turn he casted defensively from his prone position and charmed me. There was nothing I could do to prevent him from casting the damn spell. It felt like I held his life in my hands before he casted that damn spell. He was at my mercy, before me on the ground, and I couldn't even get an attack of opportunity. Damn defensive casting, I need to take mageslayer.
1 ton ghost
02-01-08, 03:17 PM No penalty that I know of. I've been using this tactic for years with my wizards, in order to increase their AC against shooting attacks. Going prone under a horse after a bandit ambush was a favorite tactic, and set up a perfect sniping point.

nice.
we use this trick to horrific effect too. typically, for planned ambushes, the magi is in a nice godspot, good elevation, prone. he need only expose 1 good eye (spy glass helps for long range sniping) and a finger to point a ray.
we use 3.0 cover too, so it's considerably higher to reflect the limited surface area he is betraying to the enemy.
that usual 3/4 cover or more, coupled w/ prone's ranged AC boost, he's very hard to hit and evac is a Fly away should he need a quick exodus.

mechanically, as far as i know, there is no penalty to casting prone. there shouldn't be. not a mage i know can Tumble well to get out of this, rising's gonna' draw an AoO too, you always gotta' Combat Cast, etc.

should be allowed w/out penalty barring unusual terrain/FX; broken glass/caltrops all over target floor, chemical spill or Grease/etc., hazardous "other" (lots of rats/vermin, toxic gas, etc.)
many of these could be contended w/ upping the Concentration check, a Fort save, etc.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Crash169 01-31-08, 12:51 AM	What are the rules for casting a spell while prone and threatened? I've checked the phb over and over... still can't find anything. Thanks
Pandaemoni 01-31-08, 01:02 AM	There are no special rules. You can freely cast while prone, but it draws an attack of opportunity (normally). Some games in which I've played suggest that the +4 to the DC to cast defensively, but that is a houserule. Since there is a bonus for (melee) attacks of opportunity to hit to while prone, that always made sense to me.
zeratulcraft 01-31-08, 01:08 AM	What are the rules for casting a spell while prone and threatened? I've checked the phb over and over... still can't find anything. Thanks No penalty other than the one you take for attacking while prone. Provided the spell you're casting actually requires the appropriate attack roll. So if there's a penalty for melee attacks while prone, you'd take it on melee attacks with a spell, too.
Decoy_Lockbox 01-31-08, 03:31 AM	No penalty that I know of. I've been using this tactic for years with my wizards, in order to increase their AC against shooting attacks. Going prone under a horse after a bandit ambush was a favorite tactic, and set up a perfect sniping point.
The_Shaman 01-31-08, 06:12 AM	What are the rules for casting a spell while prone and threatened? I've checked the phb over and over... still can't find anything. Thanks There are no particular limitations that I know of, although I think there should be - it might be a bit hard making some complex 3D gestures (somatic components) when you're practically lying on your belly.
Crash169 01-31-08, 10:05 PM	Damn, well that totally sucks and rocks at the same time. It sucks because I don't play a caster, and it rocks because it makes casters a little stronger. See what happened was that one of my companions was possessed by some evil Lich named Nrazz. The PC ended up going crazy and blasting everything. I ran up to him and tripped him. On his turn he casted defensively from his prone position and charmed me. There was nothing I could do to prevent him from casting the damn spell. It felt like I held his life in my hands before he casted that damn spell. He was at my mercy, before me on the ground, and I couldn't even get an attack of opportunity. Damn defensive casting, I need to take mageslayer.
1 ton ghost 02-01-08, 03:17 PM	No penalty that I know of. I've been using this tactic for years with my wizards, in order to increase their AC against shooting attacks. Going prone under a horse after a bandit ambush was a favorite tactic, and set up a perfect sniping point. nice. we use this trick to horrific effect too. typically, for planned ambushes, the magi is in a nice godspot, good elevation, prone. he need only expose 1 good eye (spy glass helps for long range sniping) and a finger to point a ray. we use 3.0 cover too, so it's considerably higher to reflect the limited surface area he is betraying to the enemy. that usual 3/4 cover or more, coupled w/ prone's ranged AC boost, he's very hard to hit and evac is a Fly away should he need a quick exodus. mechanically, as far as i know, there is no penalty to casting prone. there shouldn't be. not a mage i know can Tumble well to get out of this, rising's gonna' draw an AoO too, you always gotta' Combat Cast, etc. should be allowed w/out penalty barring unusual terrain/FX; broken glass/caltrops all over target floor, chemical spill or Grease/etc., hazardous "other" (lots of rats/vermin, toxic gas, etc.) many of these could be contended w/ upping the Concentration check, a Fort save, etc.