Casting While Prone [Archive] - Wizards Community

Casting While Prone [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Wraith428
07-31-07, 03:31 PM Are there any penalties for casting a spell while prone?

Thanks,

Wraith428
Zherog
07-31-07, 03:36 PM None to the actual casting. If something gets within melee range, of course, you'll suffer the usual AC penalties.
tarkin
07-31-07, 03:53 PM Being prone is not as big a deal for a caster.

Among other things, they usuall simply cast a spell that will obviate the condition (Fly, Meld into stone, dim door, etc.)
Kouk
07-31-07, 07:40 PM That is not a part of the Prone condition, so there is no penalty to the actual casting of the spell.
TheGogmagog
08-01-07, 07:43 AM 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. According to Spell Compendium spells behave like weapons, in which case you can't use ranged spells while prone. Admittedly, it's a particularly strict interpretation (which I have never seen put to use), but valid and probably the most literal RAW.
TheGogmagog
08-01-07, 07:49 AM Among other things, they usuall simply cast a spell that will obviate the condition (Fly, Meld into stone, dim door, etc.)Any reference for those examples? I can see Meld an dim door removing the threatened condition, but it would still be a move action to remove the condition. Same for Fly, I know some argue you can't be prone or tripped, but others firmly believe you can. I thought I recall a Sage ruling that said you could, I'll see if I can find a referecne for that.
Tripping Flyers: A creature flying with wings can be tripped. If the attempt succeeds, the creature stalls and falls 150 feet. See Rules of the Game: All About Movement for details (and a few unofficial additional rules about tripping flying creatures).

Creatures that fly without wings (and any creature with perfect maneuverability) can't be tripped while flying. If the creature is still in the air after stalling, it must succeed on a DC 20 Reflex save to recover and resume flying. Otherwise it falls another 300 feet. If it hits the ground, it lands prone and takes falling damage.
Is he saying they can't be tripped but could be prone?
Ubasrawr
08-01-07, 02:02 PM Any reference for those examples? I can see Meld an dim door removing the threatened condition, but it would still be a move action to remove the condition. Same for Fly, I know some argue you can't be prone or tripped, but others firmly believe you can. I thought I recall a Sage ruling that said you could, I'll see if I can find a referecne for that.
Is he saying they can't be tripped but could be prone?

I interpret it as since you start at the prone condition, you stay prone until you use a move action to remove it.

Afterwards you may not be tripped anymore until the "fly" spell is removed.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Wraith428 07-31-07, 03:31 PM	Are there any penalties for casting a spell while prone? Thanks, Wraith428
Zherog 07-31-07, 03:36 PM	None to the actual casting. If something gets within melee range, of course, you'll suffer the usual AC penalties.
tarkin 07-31-07, 03:53 PM	Being prone is not as big a deal for a caster. Among other things, they usuall simply cast a spell that will obviate the condition (Fly, Meld into stone, dim door, etc.)
Kouk 07-31-07, 07:40 PM	That is not a part of the Prone condition, so there is no penalty to the actual casting of the spell.
TheGogmagog 08-01-07, 07:43 AM	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. According to Spell Compendium spells behave like weapons, in which case you can't use ranged spells while prone. Admittedly, it's a particularly strict interpretation (which I have never seen put to use), but valid and probably the most literal RAW.
TheGogmagog 08-01-07, 07:49 AM	Among other things, they usuall simply cast a spell that will obviate the condition (Fly, Meld into stone, dim door, etc.)Any reference for those examples? I can see Meld an dim door removing the threatened condition, but it would still be a move action to remove the condition. Same for Fly, I know some argue you can't be prone or tripped, but others firmly believe you can. I thought I recall a Sage ruling that said you could, I'll see if I can find a referecne for that. Tripping Flyers: A creature flying with wings can be tripped. If the attempt succeeds, the creature stalls and falls 150 feet. See Rules of the Game: All About Movement for details (and a few unofficial additional rules about tripping flying creatures). Creatures that fly without wings (and any creature with perfect maneuverability) can't be tripped while flying. If the creature is still in the air after stalling, it must succeed on a DC 20 Reflex save to recover and resume flying. Otherwise it falls another 300 feet. If it hits the ground, it lands prone and takes falling damage. Is he saying they can't be tripped but could be prone?
Ubasrawr 08-01-07, 02:02 PM	Any reference for those examples? I can see Meld an dim door removing the threatened condition, but it would still be a move action to remove the condition. Same for Fly, I know some argue you can't be prone or tripped, but others firmly believe you can. I thought I recall a Sage ruling that said you could, I'll see if I can find a referecne for that. Is he saying they can't be tripped but could be prone? I interpret it as since you start at the prone condition, you stay prone until you use a move action to remove it. Afterwards you may not be tripped anymore until the "fly" spell is removed.