Casting prone..? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Casting prone..? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thraxious
05-01-04, 05:51 PM I am hoping someone knows the answer to this, because I cannot seem to locate it...

If a spellcaster is tripped, and then tries to cast a spell while lying prone on the ground, is there an attack of opportunity or would a concentration check like normal for casting in melee be enough to prevent this?

Thanks guys and gals..
glenw77
05-01-04, 06:34 PM I have never seen rules preventing a caster from casting spells while prone. It is casting a spell so it does provoke an AOO as normal for casting. Being Prone, my understainding is, only provokes AOOs when you try to get up.

The only penalites I have seen to spells while prone are of course those that affect missile and melee attack rolls wich are important for some spells.

I assume you are not saying the somebody tripped him while he was attempting to cast the spell, because that is different.
Seeker95
05-02-04, 09:20 AM The only penalty a prone spellcaster will suffer is the same as any other attacker suffers. If he has to make an attack roll, it is at -4. If he is attacked by a ranged weapon, he gets +4 to AC. If he is attacked by a melee weapon, he gets a -4 to AC.

Ranged touch attacks are still "touch" attacks (not ranged weapons) and would not suffer the "can't do it" penalty associated with ranged weapons. I would still impose the -4 to hit.
Thraxious
05-02-04, 03:56 PM Thanks for the replies guys, and no I did not mean that he was tripped while casting... you guessed correctly at my meaning.
Sir Ferdinand
05-02-04, 04:15 PM Originally posted by glenw77
Being Prone, my understainding is, only provokes AOOs when you try to get up.

A bit off from the original question (sorry about that), but getting up from the prone isn't the only thing that causes an attack of opportunity when prone. You cause an attack of opportunity also when you move when prone. You can't take normal 5-ft. step and the movement you must do to move when prone causes an attack of opportunity. I don't remember the exact detail of this, but it's explained in PHB in either 5-ft. step or prone section (or some other section explaining those two things).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thraxious 05-01-04, 05:51 PM	I am hoping someone knows the answer to this, because I cannot seem to locate it... If a spellcaster is tripped, and then tries to cast a spell while lying prone on the ground, is there an attack of opportunity or would a concentration check like normal for casting in melee be enough to prevent this? Thanks guys and gals..
glenw77 05-01-04, 06:34 PM	I have never seen rules preventing a caster from casting spells while prone. It is casting a spell so it does provoke an AOO as normal for casting. Being Prone, my understainding is, only provokes AOOs when you try to get up. The only penalites I have seen to spells while prone are of course those that affect missile and melee attack rolls wich are important for some spells. I assume you are not saying the somebody tripped him while he was attempting to cast the spell, because that is different.
Seeker95 05-02-04, 09:20 AM	The only penalty a prone spellcaster will suffer is the same as any other attacker suffers. If he has to make an attack roll, it is at -4. If he is attacked by a ranged weapon, he gets +4 to AC. If he is attacked by a melee weapon, he gets a -4 to AC. Ranged touch attacks are still "touch" attacks (not ranged weapons) and would not suffer the "can't do it" penalty associated with ranged weapons. I would still impose the -4 to hit.
Thraxious 05-02-04, 03:56 PM	Thanks for the replies guys, and no I did not mean that he was tripped while casting... you guessed correctly at my meaning.
Sir Ferdinand 05-02-04, 04:15 PM	Originally posted by glenw77 Being Prone, my understainding is, only provokes AOOs when you try to get up. A bit off from the original question (sorry about that), but getting up from the prone isn't the only thing that causes an attack of opportunity when prone. You cause an attack of opportunity also when you move when prone. You can't take normal 5-ft. step and the movement you must do to move when prone causes an attack of opportunity. I don't remember the exact detail of this, but it's explained in PHB in either 5-ft. step or prone section (or some other section explaining those two things).