Casting, Expertise, & Fighting Defensively? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Casting, Expertise, & Fighting Defensively? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SplitKid
06-13-05, 09:36 AM Can Combat Expertise or Fighting Defensively can be used while casting spells?

Casting spells are attacks and may require an attack roll, but are there rules specifically allowing or prohibiting such combinations?
snowlynx
06-13-05, 10:03 AM I think to be fighting defensively you have to be able to take a normal 'standard' or 'full round' attack, which casting a spell is not, even if it requires an attack roll to hit. You can double check the wording, though.
Nom
06-13-05, 10:39 AM Both CE and fighting defensively require you to take the "attack action or full attack action in melee". While there is some unclarity as to what "in melee" means, the "cast a spell" standard (or full-round) action is clearly not included, since it is neither the "attack" or "full attack" action.
Greyman
06-13-05, 10:44 AM Fighting defensively requires you to be attacking as an attack or full attack. Taking hostile action by casting a spell is not enough to reap the benefit. Further, Combat Expertise specifically requires a melee attack or full attack as the activating condition.

Nor can you use Full Defense unless you are casting a Quickened Spell, as Full Defense requires a standard action to employ.

However, spells with a range of touch do allow you to make the touch attack in the same round as you cast the spell. You can use Combat Expertise and Fighting Defensively options with these spells. Rays require the use of a ranged touch attack, which would allow you to Fight Defensively (but no use Combat Expertise).

Other than that, the only defense option spellcasters usually have available is casting defensively. This does not increase their armor class, but it does enable them to cast a spell without provoking an attack of opportunity.
RaspK FOG
06-13-05, 10:47 AM Both CE and fighting defensively require you to take the "attack action or full attack action in melee". While there is some unclarity as to what "in melee" means, the "cast a spell" standard (or full-round) action is clearly not included, since it is neither the "attack" or "full attack" action.Casting a spell requires a variable kind of action (from a standard action to a full-round action to a 1 round action, and so forth), while the attack action is a standard action and a full-attack is a full-round action; finally, "in melee" means just that: while fighting in melee with others (see reference for the word melee, like Dictionary.com).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SplitKid 06-13-05, 09:36 AM	Can Combat Expertise or Fighting Defensively can be used while casting spells? Casting spells are attacks and may require an attack roll, but are there rules specifically allowing or prohibiting such combinations?
snowlynx 06-13-05, 10:03 AM	I think to be fighting defensively you have to be able to take a normal 'standard' or 'full round' attack, which casting a spell is not, even if it requires an attack roll to hit. You can double check the wording, though.
Nom 06-13-05, 10:39 AM	Both CE and fighting defensively require you to take the "attack action or full attack action in melee". While there is some unclarity as to what "in melee" means, the "cast a spell" standard (or full-round) action is clearly not included, since it is neither the "attack" or "full attack" action.
Greyman 06-13-05, 10:44 AM	Fighting defensively requires you to be attacking as an attack or full attack. Taking hostile action by casting a spell is not enough to reap the benefit. Further, Combat Expertise specifically requires a melee attack or full attack as the activating condition. Nor can you use Full Defense unless you are casting a Quickened Spell, as Full Defense requires a standard action to employ. However, spells with a range of touch do allow you to make the touch attack in the same round as you cast the spell. You can use Combat Expertise and Fighting Defensively options with these spells. Rays require the use of a ranged touch attack, which would allow you to Fight Defensively (but no use Combat Expertise). Other than that, the only defense option spellcasters usually have available is casting defensively. This does not increase their armor class, but it does enable them to cast a spell without provoking an attack of opportunity.
RaspK FOG 06-13-05, 10:47 AM	Both CE and fighting defensively require you to take the "attack action or full attack action in melee". While there is some unclarity as to what "in melee" means, the "cast a spell" standard (or full-round) action is clearly not included, since it is neither the "attack" or "full attack" action.Casting a spell requires a variable kind of action (from a standard action to a full-round action to a 1 round action, and so forth), while the attack action is a standard action and a full-attack is a full-round action; finally, "in melee" means just that: while fighting in melee with others (see reference for the word melee, like Dictionary.com).