casting a spell provokes an attack of opportunity? [Archive] - Wizards Community

casting a spell provokes an attack of opportunity? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Briza
10-06-05, 10:56 PM Hi, I'm new to his whole thing of d&d and today I was talking to a friend o f mine and he told that when a spellcaster casts a spell inmediatly provokes an attack of opportunity, is that true?
moto
10-06-05, 11:03 PM yes, but only if your caster in in reach of the weapon, not just from anywhere.
Briza
10-06-05, 11:07 PM Ok, for example I have an enemy at a distance of 10 ft (I think in km, I don't know if that is an appropiate distance), so that is close enough for anattack of opportunity to occur? is there a limit in the distance? and is there any feat or something that prevents that attack?
Nom
10-06-05, 11:15 PM AoOs are covered really early in chapter 8 (combat). To make an AoO, you must threaten your opponent and the opponent must take an action that provokes an AoO. You threaten your opponent if you are wielding a weapon that deals lethal damage and he is currently in range of your melee attacks with that weapon. For most weapons, "in range" implies adjacent, but see reach weapons.

If your opponent provokes and you threaten, you may immediately make a melee attack against that opponent with your current weapon, using your full BAB. You can only do this once per round (Combat Reflexes excepted).

Thus, if an enemy character adjacent to you attempts to cast a spell, you may immediately attack them. If you hit them, their spell might be disrupted (see Concentration skill). There are ways to avoid this AoO; the easiest two are taking a 5 ft. step or "casting defensively".

Note that provoking AoOs is passive. You let your guard down which allows the other guy a "free" attack roll. If you don't let your guard down then he can't get an AoO.
Egres
10-06-05, 11:16 PM Ok, for example I have an enemy at a distance of 10 ft (I think in km, I don't know if that is an appropiate distance), so that is close enough for anattack of opportunity to occur?is there a limit in the distance?
If your enemy threatens you he can make an AoO against you, no matter how far you are.

and is there any feat or something that prevents that attack?
You can avoid that AoO in many ways.

The most obvious is casting defensively, or using feats like Shielded Casting and such.
moto
10-06-05, 11:23 PM Ok the distances are in 5 ft squeres so yes 10 ft is acceptable. normally it's only if your in 5 ft a a medium creature, 10 ft if they use a reach weapon, more if the creature is larger then meduim.
You can do casting on the Defensive:
SRD :
Casting a spell while on the defensive does not provoke an attack of opportunity. It does, however, require a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to pull off. Failure means that you lose the spell.

Like it said, if you fail the check you lose the spell, but if you don't do so you take an AoO. the fact is, a 5 ft step is a free action, so that can also help.

For more on some of the questions this might raise this site really will help.
http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/actionsInCombat.html

I love it.
Briza
10-06-05, 11:25 PM Ok, thanks, so I need to be casting on the defensive to avoid the attack of opportunity.
And I heard of a feat called Combat Casting (I think that's the name, will that work?
moto
10-06-05, 11:28 PM SRD
COMBAT CASTING [GENERAL]

Benefit: You get a +4 bonus on Concentration checks made to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability while on the defensive or while you are grappling or pinned.

you will seee more use from skill focus if you must, a +3 to all concentration checks. or even better just run away alot, its better that way, stay away from combat, most things that close to you will kill a wizard in short time anyways.
Briza
10-06-05, 11:34 PM So, the best solution is to stay away from danger while casting spells, is better that way, thanks for the help :)
Moon-Lancer
10-06-05, 11:37 PM thier is a feat in races of stone that lets you take a 10 on concentration checks. I find it is very usefull, although twords level 12+ it looses its effectiveness as your concentration should be high enuff to work on a 1.
DreadStar
10-07-05, 08:12 AM Don't waste a Feat on Combat Casting. Just take a 5' foot step away from your enemy before casting a spell.

5-foot step: A small position adjustment that does not count as an action. Usually (but not always), a 5-foot step is permitted at any point in the round (such as before or after a full-round action, between attacks in a full attack, between a standard action and a move action, or between two move actions). You can’t take a 5-foot step in the same round that you move any distance. You can’t take a 5-foot step if your movement is hampered, such as into a square of difficult terrain, in darkness, or when blinded. Taking a 5-foot step does not provoke an attack of opportunity, even if you move out of a threatened square.
Shatteredtower
10-07-05, 08:31 AM Don't waste a Feat on Combat Casting. Just take a 5' foot step away from your enemy before casting a spell.

Of course, if you are ever somehow flanked, this isn't going to work. You're going to draw an AoO from somebody no matter which way you move before casting a spell.

But yes, if you're ever facing just one opponent that doesn't somehow have you cornered and doesn't possess exceptional reach (like someone with a spiked chain or an ogre or an ogre with a spiked chain), and if you don't want to cast a spell with a range of touch that round, take the 5' step.
Briza
10-07-05, 10:23 AM So, when I cast a spell (not a touch spell) I cast it and then move 5 feet, without casting on the defensive, and that 5 f movement does not provoke an AoO? is that right?
And what happens with a touch spell I still can move those 5 ft and avoid the AoO, o do I have to be on the defensive and make the roll?
another question, what happens with breath weapons? does that povokes one to?
DrMorganes
10-07-05, 10:41 AM So, when I cast a spell (not a touch spell) I cast it and then move 5 feet, without casting on the defensive, and that 5 f movement does not provoke an AoO? is that right?Not quite. You have to take that 5-foot Step before you cast your spell. Other than that, yes, you are correct.

And what happens with a touch spell I still can move those 5 ft and avoid the AoO, o do I have to be on the defensive and make the roll?You're still casting the spell. If you're in a threatened square, you'll provoke an Attack of Opportunity from all threatening squares. You can take a 5-foot Step to avoid this where applicable.

another question, what happens with breath weapons? does that povokes one to?Breath Weapons do not provoke Attacks of Opportunity. They aren't spells or spell-like abilities.

I encourage you to read the Rules of the Game (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/rg) article series titled, appropriately enough, Attacks of Opportunity. Two parts. Read both. ;)
Taliesyn
10-07-05, 10:44 AM At this point, you're best advised to just go read the relevent portions of the PHB, DMG, and MM. Look up 'Attack of Opportunity' and 'Breath Weapon' in the appropriate indices.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Briza 10-06-05, 10:56 PM	Hi, I'm new to his whole thing of d&d and today I was talking to a friend o f mine and he told that when a spellcaster casts a spell inmediatly provokes an attack of opportunity, is that true?
moto 10-06-05, 11:03 PM	yes, but only if your caster in in reach of the weapon, not just from anywhere.
Briza 10-06-05, 11:07 PM	Ok, for example I have an enemy at a distance of 10 ft (I think in km, I don't know if that is an appropiate distance), so that is close enough for anattack of opportunity to occur? is there a limit in the distance? and is there any feat or something that prevents that attack?
Nom 10-06-05, 11:15 PM	AoOs are covered really early in chapter 8 (combat). To make an AoO, you must threaten your opponent and the opponent must take an action that provokes an AoO. You threaten your opponent if you are wielding a weapon that deals lethal damage and he is currently in range of your melee attacks with that weapon. For most weapons, "in range" implies adjacent, but see reach weapons. If your opponent provokes and you threaten, you may immediately make a melee attack against that opponent with your current weapon, using your full BAB. You can only do this once per round (Combat Reflexes excepted). Thus, if an enemy character adjacent to you attempts to cast a spell, you may immediately attack them. If you hit them, their spell might be disrupted (see Concentration skill). There are ways to avoid this AoO; the easiest two are taking a 5 ft. step or "casting defensively". Note that provoking AoOs is passive. You let your guard down which allows the other guy a "free" attack roll. If you don't let your guard down then he can't get an AoO.
Egres 10-06-05, 11:16 PM	Ok, for example I have an enemy at a distance of 10 ft (I think in km, I don't know if that is an appropiate distance), so that is close enough for anattack of opportunity to occur?is there a limit in the distance? If your enemy threatens you he can make an AoO against you, no matter how far you are. and is there any feat or something that prevents that attack? You can avoid that AoO in many ways. The most obvious is casting defensively, or using feats like Shielded Casting and such.
moto 10-06-05, 11:23 PM	Ok the distances are in 5 ft squeres so yes 10 ft is acceptable. normally it's only if your in 5 ft a a medium creature, 10 ft if they use a reach weapon, more if the creature is larger then meduim. You can do casting on the Defensive: SRD : Casting a spell while on the defensive does not provoke an attack of opportunity. It does, however, require a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to pull off. Failure means that you lose the spell. Like it said, if you fail the check you lose the spell, but if you don't do so you take an AoO. the fact is, a 5 ft step is a free action, so that can also help. For more on some of the questions this might raise this site really will help. http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/actionsInCombat.html I love it.
Briza 10-06-05, 11:25 PM	Ok, thanks, so I need to be casting on the defensive to avoid the attack of opportunity. And I heard of a feat called Combat Casting (I think that's the name, will that work?
moto 10-06-05, 11:28 PM	SRD COMBAT CASTING [GENERAL] Benefit: You get a +4 bonus on Concentration checks made to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability while on the defensive or while you are grappling or pinned. you will seee more use from skill focus if you must, a +3 to all concentration checks. or even better just run away alot, its better that way, stay away from combat, most things that close to you will kill a wizard in short time anyways.
Briza 10-06-05, 11:34 PM	So, the best solution is to stay away from danger while casting spells, is better that way, thanks for the help :)
Moon-Lancer 10-06-05, 11:37 PM	thier is a feat in races of stone that lets you take a 10 on concentration checks. I find it is very usefull, although twords level 12+ it looses its effectiveness as your concentration should be high enuff to work on a 1.
DreadStar 10-07-05, 08:12 AM	Don't waste a Feat on Combat Casting. Just take a 5' foot step away from your enemy before casting a spell. 5-foot step: A small position adjustment that does not count as an action. Usually (but not always), a 5-foot step is permitted at any point in the round (such as before or after a full-round action, between attacks in a full attack, between a standard action and a move action, or between two move actions). You can’t take a 5-foot step in the same round that you move any distance. You can’t take a 5-foot step if your movement is hampered, such as into a square of difficult terrain, in darkness, or when blinded. Taking a 5-foot step does not provoke an attack of opportunity, even if you move out of a threatened square.
Shatteredtower 10-07-05, 08:31 AM	Don't waste a Feat on Combat Casting. Just take a 5' foot step away from your enemy before casting a spell. Of course, if you are ever somehow flanked, this isn't going to work. You're going to draw an AoO from somebody no matter which way you move before casting a spell. But yes, if you're ever facing just one opponent that doesn't somehow have you cornered and doesn't possess exceptional reach (like someone with a spiked chain or an ogre or an ogre with a spiked chain), and if you don't want to cast a spell with a range of touch that round, take the 5' step.
Briza 10-07-05, 10:23 AM	So, when I cast a spell (not a touch spell) I cast it and then move 5 feet, without casting on the defensive, and that 5 f movement does not provoke an AoO? is that right? And what happens with a touch spell I still can move those 5 ft and avoid the AoO, o do I have to be on the defensive and make the roll? another question, what happens with breath weapons? does that povokes one to?
DrMorganes 10-07-05, 10:41 AM	So, when I cast a spell (not a touch spell) I cast it and then move 5 feet, without casting on the defensive, and that 5 f movement does not provoke an AoO? is that right?Not quite. You have to take that 5-foot Step before you cast your spell. Other than that, yes, you are correct. And what happens with a touch spell I still can move those 5 ft and avoid the AoO, o do I have to be on the defensive and make the roll?You're still casting the spell. If you're in a threatened square, you'll provoke an Attack of Opportunity from all threatening squares. You can take a 5-foot Step to avoid this where applicable. another question, what happens with breath weapons? does that povokes one to?Breath Weapons do not provoke Attacks of Opportunity. They aren't spells or spell-like abilities. I encourage you to read the Rules of the Game (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/rg) article series titled, appropriately enough, Attacks of Opportunity. Two parts. Read both. ;)
Taliesyn 10-07-05, 10:44 AM	At this point, you're best advised to just go read the relevent portions of the PHB, DMG, and MM. Look up 'Attack of Opportunity' and 'Breath Weapon' in the appropriate indices.