Beguiler Surprise Casting Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Beguiler Surprise Casting Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MongooseFamiliar
11-09-07, 11:05 AM So, I was reading over the Beguiler handbooks and the features in the PHB2, and read through the Cloaked Casting and Surprised Casting features about 3 times before I brought this to the boards.

Cloaked Casting raises the DC of your spell against targets denied their dex bonus. Good stuff.

Surprise Casting says that when you successfully feint against a target he is denied his dexterity bonus against your next attack or the next spell you cast if it happens before the next round.

I can see the use of cloaked casting, but does the surprise casting ability actually have a useful application for the beguiler? They aren't likely to be doing melee attacks, and most of their spells are Will saves, not Reflex saves or ranged touch attacks.

Am I missing something?
TygerTyger
11-09-07, 12:11 PM Yup...

If you use Surprise Casting to deny him his DEX bonus, then he qualifies as a victim for your next spell cast via Cloaked Casting.

So feint as a swift action, (with Improved Feint and sufficient levels in Beguiler) then cast using Surprise Casting at DC +1.

And while Feint does require you to be in combat, there are ways around this being too nasty. A whip has a 15 foot reach, outside most opponent's threatened area. Mobile Spell Casting feat could let you move, feint, cast then move again. Ad naseum.
monai75
11-09-07, 01:27 PM personaly I feel the developers made a mistake in writing these descriptions. It would seem much better if the beguiler could feint, then cast at a higher DC without having to spend ALL of their feats. Not to mention waiting until what 6th level before the cloaked casting and surprise casting even become useful. In my games I have the beguiler feint in one round, then cast in the next. If the target falls for the bluff, he looses his DEX bonus, and the spell has a higher DC to save. Sorry it just works better for me and the others involved.
FrostHammer
11-09-07, 11:48 PM It's fine as is. Feinting as a Move action is not bad at all. Besides, if you want a sure-fire way getting Cloaked casting off, just use Blinding Color Surge and blind your opponent and at the same time turning invisible for 5 rounds.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MongooseFamiliar 11-09-07, 11:05 AM	So, I was reading over the Beguiler handbooks and the features in the PHB2, and read through the Cloaked Casting and Surprised Casting features about 3 times before I brought this to the boards. Cloaked Casting raises the DC of your spell against targets denied their dex bonus. Good stuff. Surprise Casting says that when you successfully feint against a target he is denied his dexterity bonus against your next attack or the next spell you cast if it happens before the next round. I can see the use of cloaked casting, but does the surprise casting ability actually have a useful application for the beguiler? They aren't likely to be doing melee attacks, and most of their spells are Will saves, not Reflex saves or ranged touch attacks. Am I missing something?
TygerTyger 11-09-07, 12:11 PM	Yup... If you use Surprise Casting to deny him his DEX bonus, then he qualifies as a victim for your next spell cast via Cloaked Casting. So feint as a swift action, (with Improved Feint and sufficient levels in Beguiler) then cast using Surprise Casting at DC +1. And while Feint does require you to be in combat, there are ways around this being too nasty. A whip has a 15 foot reach, outside most opponent's threatened area. Mobile Spell Casting feat could let you move, feint, cast then move again. Ad naseum.
monai75 11-09-07, 01:27 PM	personaly I feel the developers made a mistake in writing these descriptions. It would seem much better if the beguiler could feint, then cast at a higher DC without having to spend ALL of their feats. Not to mention waiting until what 6th level before the cloaked casting and surprise casting even become useful. In my games I have the beguiler feint in one round, then cast in the next. If the target falls for the bluff, he looses his DEX bonus, and the spell has a higher DC to save. Sorry it just works better for me and the others involved.
FrostHammer 11-09-07, 11:48 PM	It's fine as is. Feinting as a Move action is not bad at all. Besides, if you want a sure-fire way getting Cloaked casting off, just use Blinding Color Surge and blind your opponent and at the same time turning invisible for 5 rounds.