Casting on the Defensive [Archive] - Wizards Community

Casting on the Defensive [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ethren
01-11-06, 09:34 AM I'm more than positive that this has been discussed before, but for whatever reason (probably user error... ) I haven't been able to find a thread to answer my questions.

Is it the majority's view that casting on the defensive is too easy? If yes, what house rules have been developed to account for this? If no, please explain.

If someone else can provide a link to a thread that answers these questions, please post it!

Thanks!

-E
Darkmatter20
01-11-06, 09:45 AM You're having the make the concentration checks or suffering the loss of the spell right?

No casting on the defensive is pretty much fine by any experience I've had and I have never heard and problems about it.

Can you elaborate on the problem a bit.
VerinBlod
01-11-06, 09:48 AM Yes it's easy for most caster to pull off. But remember that you're standing too close to your enemy if you have to use casting on the defense. If you can't neutralise your opponent with one spell than as a caster you're pretty much doomed. A full attack of a decently built fighter can easily kill a wizard with it's d4 HD.

Or the fighter could just have readied an action to attack the caster when he starts casting. The DC for concentration to get a spell off once you're hit by a greatsword is mostly very high.

All in all it's easy to cast on the defense but most of the time not an optimal situation ;)
Chobemaster
01-11-06, 09:58 AM Yes it's easy for most caster to pull off. But remember that you're standing too close to your enemy if you have to use casting on the defense. If you can't neutralise your opponent with one spell than as a caster you're pretty much doomed. A full attack of a decently built fighter can easily kill a wizard with it's d4 HD.

Or the fighter could just have readied an action to attack the caster when he starts casting. The DC for concentration to get a spell off once you're hit by a greatsword is mostly very high.

All in all it's easy to cast on the defense but most of the time not an optimal situation ;)

Exactly...casting on the defensive is a hail mary for arcane casters, and makes casting in melee at least feasible for clerics.
Gray Eminence
01-11-06, 10:32 AM I do not think that casting on the defensive would be too easy. I really think that it is a real challenge for a normal caster (one without a CON score of 18+ :D ). It also means that the caster is in deep trouble, as he could not make a simple maneuver (like a 5' step) to get out of all threatened areas, and he is too close for an enemy. Closer than a normal caster would like to be. ;)
orionm42
01-11-06, 11:22 AM It also means that the caster is in deep trouble, as he could not make a simple maneuver (like a 5' step) to get out of all threatened areas, and he is too close for an enemy. Closer than a normal caster would like to be. ;)

Exactly. In my games, it rarely comes up because most casters will take a move action to avoid the threat before casting a spell with a standard action casting time (which most spells have).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ethren 01-11-06, 09:34 AM	I'm more than positive that this has been discussed before, but for whatever reason (probably user error... ) I haven't been able to find a thread to answer my questions. Is it the majority's view that casting on the defensive is too easy? If yes, what house rules have been developed to account for this? If no, please explain. If someone else can provide a link to a thread that answers these questions, please post it! Thanks! -E
Darkmatter20 01-11-06, 09:45 AM	You're having the make the concentration checks or suffering the loss of the spell right? No casting on the defensive is pretty much fine by any experience I've had and I have never heard and problems about it. Can you elaborate on the problem a bit.
VerinBlod 01-11-06, 09:48 AM	Yes it's easy for most caster to pull off. But remember that you're standing too close to your enemy if you have to use casting on the defense. If you can't neutralise your opponent with one spell than as a caster you're pretty much doomed. A full attack of a decently built fighter can easily kill a wizard with it's d4 HD. Or the fighter could just have readied an action to attack the caster when he starts casting. The DC for concentration to get a spell off once you're hit by a greatsword is mostly very high. All in all it's easy to cast on the defense but most of the time not an optimal situation ;)
Chobemaster 01-11-06, 09:58 AM	Yes it's easy for most caster to pull off. But remember that you're standing too close to your enemy if you have to use casting on the defense. If you can't neutralise your opponent with one spell than as a caster you're pretty much doomed. A full attack of a decently built fighter can easily kill a wizard with it's d4 HD. Or the fighter could just have readied an action to attack the caster when he starts casting. The DC for concentration to get a spell off once you're hit by a greatsword is mostly very high. All in all it's easy to cast on the defense but most of the time not an optimal situation ;) Exactly...casting on the defensive is a hail mary for arcane casters, and makes casting in melee at least feasible for clerics.
Gray Eminence 01-11-06, 10:32 AM	I do not think that casting on the defensive would be too easy. I really think that it is a real challenge for a normal caster (one without a CON score of 18+ :D ). It also means that the caster is in deep trouble, as he could not make a simple maneuver (like a 5' step) to get out of all threatened areas, and he is too close for an enemy. Closer than a normal caster would like to be. ;)
orionm42 01-11-06, 11:22 AM	It also means that the caster is in deep trouble, as he could not make a simple maneuver (like a 5' step) to get out of all threatened areas, and he is too close for an enemy. Closer than a normal caster would like to be. ;) Exactly. In my games, it rarely comes up because most casters will take a move action to avoid the threat before casting a spell with a standard action casting time (which most spells have).