Editing Yagura:SRD:Casting Spells

=Casting Spells=

Whether a spell is arcane or divine, and whether a character prepares spells in advance or chooses them on the spot, casting a spell works the same way.

==Choosing a Spell==

First you must choose which spell to cast. If you’re a [[Yagura:SRD:Prepared_Spells|prepared]] spellcaster, you select from among spells prepared earlier in the day. If you’re a spontaneous spellcaster, you can select any spell you know, provided you are capable of casting spells of that level or higher.

To cast a spell, you must be able to speak (if the spell has a verbal component), gesture (if it has a somatic component), and manipulate the material components or focus (if any). Additionally, you must concentrate to cast a spell.

If a spell has multiple versions, you choose which version to use when you cast it. You don’t have to prepare or learn a specific version of the spell.

Once you’ve cast a spell you gain [[Yagura:SRD:Spellcasting_Strain|strain]] based on the spell's level and your caster level. If you have not yet reached your spellcasting strain threshold you may cast the spell again, or any other spell you have available to cast.


==Concentration==

To cast a spell, you must concentrate. If something interrupts your concentration while you’re casting, you must manage the interruption with a [[Yagura:SRD:Concentration Skill#Manage Interruption|Concentration]] check. The more distracting the interruption, the higher the [[Yagura:SRD:DC|DC]], and when attempting to cast a spell you always add the level of the spell to the DC. If you fail the check, you suffer a -2 penalty to the save DC and to the [[Yagura:SRD:Casting Spells#Spell Power|spell power]]. If you fail the check by more than 5, you lose the spell without effect.  

=====Injury=====

If while trying to cast a spell you take damage, you must make a [[Yagura:SRD:Concentration Skill#Manage_Interruption|Concentration]] check [[Yagura:SRD:DC|DC]] 10 + 1 per 3 points of damage taken + spell level being cast. The interrupting event strikes during spellcasting if it comes between when you start and when you complete a spell (for a spell with a casting time of 1 full round or more) or if it comes in response to your casting the spell (such as an [[Yagura:SRD:Attack of Opportunity|attack of opportunity]] provoked by the spell or a contingent attack, such as a readied action).

If you are taking continuous damage half the damage is considered to take place while you are casting a spell. Repeated damage does not count as continuous damage.

=====Grappling or Pinned=====

If you are being [[Yagura:SRD:Grappling|grappled]] you may only cast spells without somatic components and whose material components (if any) you have in hand. Even so, the Concentration check DC is equal to the highest of your opponents' grapple checks + spell level being cast.

=====Other Distractions=====

Other distracting events can require a [[Yagura:SRD:Concentration Skill#Manage Interruption|Concentration]] check to avoid an interruption, starting at DC 5 + spell level being cast 

* DC +0 - Minor distractions (in a busy but peaceful crowd of people, in a high wind with blinding rain or sleet)
* DC +5 - Vigorous motion (riding on a moving mount, taking a bouncy ride in a wagon, on a small boat in rough water, below-decks in a storm-tossed ship, or simply being jostled in a similar fashion), violent weather (wind-driven hail, dust, or debris)
* DC +10 - Violent motion (on a galloping horse, taking a very rough ride in a wagon, on a small boat in rapids or in a storm, on deck in a storm-tossed ship, or being tossed roughly about in a similar fashion), being [[Yagura:SRD:Entangled|entangled]]

==Casting Defensively==

Casting a spell while within an area threatened by an enemy provokes an [[Yagura:SRD:Attack of Opportunity|attack of opportunity]]. This attack can be avoided by casting defensively, which requires a successful [[Yagura:SRD:Arcana Skill|Arcana]], [[Yagura:SRD:Geomancy Skill|Geomancy]], or [[Yagura:SRD:Thaumaturgy Skill|Thaumaturgy]] skill check DC 15 + spell level being cast. If you succeed you provoke no opportunity attacks; if you fail you provoke as normal.


==Counterspells==

It is possible to cast any spell as a counterspell. By doing so, you are using the spell’s energy to disrupt the casting of a spell (or the use of a spell-like ability) by another character. Counterspelling works even if one spell is divine and the other arcane.

You can counter any spell that traces its line of effect through your square. This counterspelling area can be extended by 5 feet by wielding a magic wand or a magic weapon with which you are proficient (wizards commonly use staves for this purpose). Reach or ranged weapons can be used but still only extend the counterspelling area by 5 feet. To counter a spell, you make an Attack of Opportunity on the spell against an armor class equal to the spell's saving throw DC, or the DC it would have if the spell allowed for a saving throw. As this is not a melee or ranged spell you add your casting ability modifier to your base attack bonus to determine your attack bonus. If the spell is of a higher level than you can cast, your attack automatically misses. If you hit, you gain [[Yagura:SRD:Spellcasting_Strain|strain]] as if you had just cast a spell of equal level to the spell you are counterspelling (the final level of the spell after metamagic feats have been applied is the level of the spell for these purposes), and the spell is successfully dispelled.

When a spell is dispelled by an opponent the spell is cast (or ability used) but takes no effect.

You need not cast any specific spell in order to counterspell, you simply take strain. However, thematically the idea is that the same spell, a very similar spell, or a spell with an opposing effect is used, and for dramatic purposes a successful counterspell should be described in this fashion.

=====Readying to Counterspell=====

You can follow the normal rules to ready an action in cast an opponent casts a spell. You can declare your readied action to be a counterspell, in which case the only difference between this and the normal counterspell rules is that an attack of opportunity is not used but your normal actions are.

Of course, you can also cast any other spell as a readied action in order to force your opponent to make a Concentration check, or you can use the ''dispel magic'' spell to counter a spell being cast (see the spell description).


==Caster Level==

Your caster level is equal to your [[Yagura:SRD:Classes|class]] level in a class that grants the ability to cast spells. You can cast a spell at a lower caster level than normal, but the caster level you choose must be high enough for you to cast the spell in question, and all level-dependent features must be based on the same caster level. 

In the event that a class feature or other special ability provides an adjustment to your caster level, that adjustment applies not only to effects based on caster level but also to your caster level check to overcome your target’s [[Yagura:SRD:Spell Resistance|spell resistance]] and to the caster level used in dispel checks (both the dispel check and the [[Yagura:SRD:DC|DC]] of the check). 


==Spell Power==

Most numeric effects of a spell are determined by the spell's level, and not by [[Yagura:SRD:Casting Spells#Caster Level|caster's level]]. Any reference to caster level within a spell, such as "1d6 per caster level" or "one target per two caster levels" or similar reference, is calculated as if the caster's level was equal to the spell power in the following table. An exception is made for range, which is listed by spell level in the following table.

{|  class="wikitable"
|+ Table: Spell Power
|-
! Spell Level !! Spell Power !! Close Range !! Medium Range !! Long Range
|-
| 0 || 2 || 30' || 60' || 120'
|-
| 1 || 4 || 35' || 70' || 140'
|-
| 2 || 6 || 40' || 80' || 160'
|-
| 3 || 8 || 45' || 90' || 180'
|-
| 4 || 10 || 50' || 100' || 200'
|-
| 5 || 12 || 55' || 110' || 220'
|-
| 6 || 14 || 60' || 120' || 240'
|-
| 7 || 16 || 65' || 130' || 260'
|-
| 8 || 18 || 70' || 140' || 280'
|-
| 9 || 20 || 75' || 150' || 300'
|}

Thus a ''fireball'' always does 8d6 damage at up to 180', a ''charm person'' always lasts for 4 hours and only targets within 35', and ''fabricate'' always affects up to 120 cubic feet of material. If you want the spell to deal more, last longer, go farther, or affect a larger area you need to apply metamagic effects to it or cast a version of the spell that is a higher level.

=====Dispel Magic=====

An exception is made for ''dispel magic'' and ''greater dispel magic''. These spells use your [[Yagura:SRD:Casting Spells#Caster Level|caster level]] rather than spell power to determine your likelihood of dispelling an effect.


==The Spell’s Result==

Once you know which creatures (or objects or areas) are affected, and whether those creatures have made successful [[Yagura:SRD:Saving Throw|saving throws]] (if any were allowed), you can apply whatever results a spell entails.


==Special Spell Effects==

Many special spell effects are handled according to the school of the spells in question. Certain other special spell features are found across spell schools.

=====Attacks=====

Some spell descriptions refer to attacking. All offensive combat actions, even those that don’t damage opponents are considered attacks. Attempts to turn or rebuke [[Yagura:SRD:Undead Type|undead]] count as attacks. All spells that opponents resist with [[Yagura:SRD:Saving Throw|saving throws]], that deal damage, or that otherwise harm or hamper subjects are attacks. Spells that summon monsters or other allies are not attacks because the spells themselves don’t harm anyone.

=====Bonus Types=====

Usually, a bonus has a type that indicates how the spell grants the bonus. The important aspect of bonus types is that two bonuses of the same type don’t generally stack. With the exception of dodge bonuses, most circumstance bonuses, and racial bonuses, only the better bonus works (see Combining Magical Effects, below). The same principle applies to penalties—a character taking two or more penalties of the same type applies only the worst one.

=====Bringing Back the Dead=====

Several spells have the power to restore slain characters to life.

When a living creature dies, its soul departs its body, and what happens to it next is hotly debated among those who care about such things. Bringing someone back from the [[Yagura:SRD:Dead|dead]] means retrieving his or her soul and returning it to his or her body.

======Experience Debt======

Any creature brought back to life usually suffers experience debt. This replaces all references to the loss of levels. The amount of debt accrued is equal to half of the amount of XP required to get from the previous level to the current level. Level 1 characters do not gain experience debt.

Experience debt can be paid for by the character who has the experience debt, or by any willing character not being affected by any magical effect, as long as the XP spent to pay down the debt does not result in an XP total that is less than the minimum required to keep the current level.

The next level cannot be attained unless a character has no experience debt.

======Preventing Revivification======

Enemies can take steps to make it more difficult for a character to be returned from the dead. Keeping the body prevents others from using ''raise dead'' or ''resurrection ''to restore the slain character to life. Casting ''trap the soul ''prevents any sort of revivification unless the soul is first released.

======Revivification against One's Will======

A soul cannot be returned to life if it does not wish to be. A soul knows the name and motivations of the character attempting to revive it and may refuse to return on that basis.


==Combining Magical Effects==

Spells or magical effects usually work as described, no matter how many other spells or magical effects happen to be operating in the same area or on the same recipient. Except in special cases, a spell does not affect the way another spell operates. Whenever a spell has a specific effect on other spells, the spell description explains that effect. Several other general rules apply when spells or magical effects operate in the same place:

=====Stacking Effects=====

Spells that provide bonuses or penalties on [[Yagura:SRD:Attack Roll|attack rolls]], [[Yagura:SRD:Attack Damage|damage rolls]], [[Yagura:SRD:Saving Throw|saving throws]], and other attributes usually do not stack with themselves. More generally, two bonuses of the same type don’t stack even if they come from different spells (or from effects other than spells; see Bonus Types, above). 

======Different Bonus Names======

The bonuses or penalties from two different spells stack if the modifiers are of different types. A bonus that isn’t named stacks with any bonus.

======Same Effect More than Once in Different Strengths======

In cases when two or more identical spells are operating in the same area or on the same target, but at different strengths, only the largest or most powerful one applies.

======Same Effect with Differing Results======

The same spell can sometimes produce varying effects if applied to the same recipient more than once. Usually the last spell in the series trumps the others. None of the previous spells are actually removed or dispelled, but their effects become irrelevant while the final spell in the series lasts.

======One Effect Makes Another Irrelevant======

Sometimes, one spell can render a later spell irrelevant. Both spells are still active, but one has rendered the other useless in some fashion.

======Multiple Mental Control Effects======

Sometimes magical effects that establish mental control render each other irrelevant, such as a spell that removes the subjects ability to act. Mental controls that don’t remove the recipient’s ability to act usually do not interfere with each other. If a creature is under the mental control of two or more creatures, it tends to obey each to the best of its ability, and to the extent of the control each effect allows. If the controlled creature receives conflicting orders simultaneously, the competing controllers must make opposed Charisma checks to determine which one the creature obeys.

=====Spells with Opposite Effects=====

Spells with opposite effects apply normally, with all bonuses, penalties, or changes accruing in the order that they apply. Some spells negate or counter each other. This is a special effect that is noted in a spell’s description. 

=====Instantaneous Effects=====

Two or more spells with instantaneous durations work cumulatively when they affect the same target.