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View Full Version : Defensive casting [PEACH]



nonsi
2012-01-07, 09:13 AM
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In the endless pursuit of narrowing the spell-melee gap, here’s an idea that just popped to mind.


Applying defensive casting to spells is difficult and requires a lot of spellcasting experience.
To apply defensive casting to spell level [X], a spellcaster must at least have access to spell level [X + 2], meaning that a spellcaster must be able to cast 2nd level spells before he can apply defensive casting to 0th level spells.
Any metamagic-associated spell level modifiers are counted for this restriction.

Note: this keeps defensive casting as an option, but doesn’t allow spellcasters to apply it to their heavy guns. So now spellcasting would require strategy beyond just which is the most appropriate spell-effect, but how a situation affects the spell selection. It also reinstates the validity of lower level spells.

bloodtide
2012-01-07, 12:39 PM
It's an OK fix, but it does not do much. Any spellcaster over say 5th level really does not get all that close to melee anyway. So they don't really need to cast defensively anyway.

nonsi
2012-01-08, 07:51 AM
Any spellcaster over say 5th level really does not get all that close to melee anyway. So they don't really need to cast defensively anyway.

I'm not sure, in practice, how valid this statement is.
I mean, how many Fly & D-Door can a 10th level caster spam before the need arises - especially during a dungeon crawl?

erikun
2012-01-08, 11:54 AM
You can still 5-foot step away and cast without hassle. This would only be a major concern when surrounded by multiple oppoents or when toe-to-toe with large-sized opponents; both situations are likely to happen to Clerics buffing and healing their allies but not to spellcasters who want to actually, y'know, cast spells at enemies.

So while it does make spellcasting weaker, it doesn't really hurt them much. And it doesn't help melee any either, seeing as they are more frequently the target of those buffs and heals.

And it would really suck to be a Duskblade.

Pechvarry
2012-01-08, 06:58 PM
And it would really suck to be a Duskblade.

This could be fixed by adding something to the wording for arcane channeling, and probably all other channeling class features (spellsword, etc).