Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Hubert de Balderoc 11-19-05, 04:03 AM	Hi everyone. Question to those who really know: There is a bunch of rules on how you can move, attack, grapple, tumble while you are prone and the fact that it provokes attacks of opportunity or not, or chance the DC of tumbles, and so on... Great but nothing on casting while prone Just like if casters never fell prone! Typical case: Initiative 15 big monster hits caster that drops to -2 Initiative 12 healer heals caster that returns to +1, lying prone next to big monster Initiative 10, it's caster's initiative First nice question : can she play at this round since she had just returned from helpless? Suppose she can (if not the following is still valid on the next round), she is prone with a pitiful AC facing a monster that surely gonna hit her for more than 11 damage, killing her immediately if it has an opportunity So the idea is to cast something to save your life (casting a disintegrate on the monster, a dim door on herself, whatever), if possible without attack of opportunity Can she cast prone? Is there a limit on spells you can cast prone (no somatic? whatever?) Can she cast on the defensive? If so is the DC changed because prone? Strangely I saw all that nowhere so I assume there is absolutely no malus for a caster to be prone. If so isn't it unfair to fighters with tripping skills? Anyone can refer me to some posted rules or somehow official FAQ on that?
SALDAR 11-19-05, 04:49 AM	There are no rules on casting prone because being prone does not affect casting. Although casting in a threatened square still provokes AoOs, even while prone, so cast defensively (without alteration to the DC for doing so while prone).
Hubert de Balderoc 11-19-05, 05:40 AM	Thanks SALDAR. Seems you are right but that seems unfortunate :-) Indeed there SHOULD have been somewhere in the rules some kind of malus for a prone caster (just for roleplay fun) Issue is: quickly enough (around level 14) casters never fail anymore a concentration check to cast defensively. (Note, below I use CL for caster level) A caster usually has [CL+3] ranks in Concentration Plus lets say minimum +4 due to ability, feat, magic, whatever So her skill is at [CL+7], and her skill check at least [CL+8] She cast spells that are level [(CL+1)/2] so DC for casting defensively is 15+spell level = 15+[(CL+1)/2] At level 10 she as a very little chance to waste level 4 (5%) or level 5 (10%) spells Starting at level 14 she never misses even for her highest level spells So what's the point to "prone" a caster??? NB: as a DM myself I home rule that a natural 1 on a skill check is always a "minimal" failure to avoid this "never fails" trap.
Black Mantha 11-19-05, 06:02 AM	So what's the point to "prone" a caster??? They're immobile and get -4 to melee attacks (touch spells) and melee AC.
Radijs 11-19-05, 07:18 AM	They aren't immobile. From the SRD: Prone: The character is on the ground. An attacker who is prone has a –4 penalty on melee attack rolls and cannot use a ranged weapon (except for a crossbow). A defender who is prone gains a +4 bonus to Armor Class against ranged attacks, but takes a –4 penalty to AC against melee attacks. Standing up is a move-equivalent action that provokes an attack of opportunity.
SALDAR 11-19-05, 08:54 PM	So what's the point to "prone" a caster??? Anything the caster does, other than casting defensively, will provoke an AoO, such as moving or standing up, and you get bonuses to melee attacks against a prone creature.