BerronBrightaxe
2013-09-16, 12:49 PM
Playgrounders.. your wisdom on the following please...
I have an encounter coming up. This encounter will probably start as a discussion/negotiation. When the BBEG decideds he doesn't get his way, he will attack the PC's without (further) warning. The attack will start in the surprise round with a quickened spell and a regular spell.
Can you cast a quickened spell and a regular spell in the surprise round?
PHB, p. 137
The Surprise Round: If some but not all of the combatants are aware of their opponents, a surprise round happens before regular rounds begin. Any combatants aware of the opponents can act in the surprise round, so they roll for initiative. In initiative order (highest to lowest), combatants who started the battle aware of their opponents each take a standard action during the surprise round (see Standard Actions, page 139). You can also take free actions during the surprise round, at the DM’s discretion. If no one or everyone is surprised, no surprise round occurs.
Complete Adventurer, p. 137/138
Swift Action: A swift action consumes a very small amount of time but represents a larger expenditure of effort and energy than a free action. You can perform one swift action per turn, without affecting your ability to perform other actions. In that regard, a swift action is like a free action. However, you can perform only a single swift action per turn, regardless of what other actions you take. You can take a swift action at any time you would normally be allowed to take a free action. Swift actions usually involve spellcasting or the activation of magic items; many characters (especially those who don’t cast spells) never have an opportunity to take a swift action.
Casting a quickened spell is a swift action (instead of a free action, as stated in the Quicken Spell feat description in the Player’s Handbook). In addition, casting any spell with a casting time of 1 swift action (such as critical strike) is a swift action.
Emphasizes are mine.
Considering the spoiler section, I would argue that you can. Can anyone confirm or debunk this?
Second question: Is there a way they can be aware of the spellcasting so they are not considered flat-footed (and thus can take a action in the surprise round)? A spellcraft lets you know what spell is cast the moment it is cast, not let you know a spell is going to be cast.
Cheers,
Berron
I have an encounter coming up. This encounter will probably start as a discussion/negotiation. When the BBEG decideds he doesn't get his way, he will attack the PC's without (further) warning. The attack will start in the surprise round with a quickened spell and a regular spell.
Can you cast a quickened spell and a regular spell in the surprise round?
PHB, p. 137
The Surprise Round: If some but not all of the combatants are aware of their opponents, a surprise round happens before regular rounds begin. Any combatants aware of the opponents can act in the surprise round, so they roll for initiative. In initiative order (highest to lowest), combatants who started the battle aware of their opponents each take a standard action during the surprise round (see Standard Actions, page 139). You can also take free actions during the surprise round, at the DM’s discretion. If no one or everyone is surprised, no surprise round occurs.
Complete Adventurer, p. 137/138
Swift Action: A swift action consumes a very small amount of time but represents a larger expenditure of effort and energy than a free action. You can perform one swift action per turn, without affecting your ability to perform other actions. In that regard, a swift action is like a free action. However, you can perform only a single swift action per turn, regardless of what other actions you take. You can take a swift action at any time you would normally be allowed to take a free action. Swift actions usually involve spellcasting or the activation of magic items; many characters (especially those who don’t cast spells) never have an opportunity to take a swift action.
Casting a quickened spell is a swift action (instead of a free action, as stated in the Quicken Spell feat description in the Player’s Handbook). In addition, casting any spell with a casting time of 1 swift action (such as critical strike) is a swift action.
Emphasizes are mine.
Considering the spoiler section, I would argue that you can. Can anyone confirm or debunk this?
Second question: Is there a way they can be aware of the spellcasting so they are not considered flat-footed (and thus can take a action in the surprise round)? A spellcraft lets you know what spell is cast the moment it is cast, not let you know a spell is going to be cast.
Cheers,
Berron