Can you CHOOSE to turn your spell into a full-round action?

[Lord Ben]

Lets say I cast haste, then start to summon a monster. On the next turn I can finish my summon, cast a hasted action, then cast again as a standard right? That's 3 spells in a round, if I have a quickened spell that's 4 in only one round.

Can a caster choose to extend his casting time to a full round in order to unleash massive destruction on enemies the next round? If you can voluntarily wait you'd be able to unleash 4 offensive spells the next round if you have a quickened spell and you're hasted.

 

[Artoomis]

I suppose you could.

There is no actual game mechanic to support this, but I don't see why you could not be allowed to do this. Of course, you risk having the spell disrupted.

 

[kreynolds]

First of all, it's kinda pointless. Secondly, it doesn't sit well with me. Why? Think about how difficult and costly it is to shorten a spell. You need to Quicken it, which is a feat you have to purchase, and the spell gets bumped up 4 levels. That's some pretty hefty costs. Seems to me that the casting times of spells are pretty static.

IMO, the rules do not allow something like that, and I wouldn't support it either. The books go to great length explaining what you have to do to shorten the casting time of a spell. Not covering how to extend your casting time kinda insinuates that you can't. Besides, I can think of better bonuses for extending your casting time: bonus to spell DC, bonus to dispel checks, bonus to damage, bonus to range, just pick one.

I understand that just because something isn't mentioned in the books, that doesn't mean that it can't be done. But think real hard about this: would you want me, the DM, throwing 4 spells in a round at you?

Edit: Added a missing "in" in the last sentence. Doh!

 

[Lord Ben]

If you're invis and casting a full-round fireball would you stay invis until you targeted it?

 

[kreynolds]

If you're invis and casting a full-round fireball would you stay invis until you targeted it?

Yes. Think about a sorcerer. If they empower a fireball, it is a full-round action to cast it. They remain invisible until the fireball actually damages an opponent. Hell, the fireball could completely blow up a jailhouse, but you would still be invisible as long as the jailhouse didn't have anything in it that would constitute your action as an attack.

 

[Artoomis]

kreynolds:

It's not 4 spells a round.

It's four spells one round, then maybe two the next round, and then 4 again...

I agree it's prety much pointless and dangerous, but what the heck. If you really don't want to cast three spells per round, but would rather stand around as a target and cast four/two rounds spells per round, I'd say go right ahead.

 

[kreynolds]

kreynolds:

It's not 4 spells a round.

Sorry, there is an "in" missing. Should have been:

4 spells in a round. My bad.

 

[Magus_Jerel]

See the following rule:

Special partial action: Start full round action

pg 127 PHB

 

[Lord Ben]

No, it's not any better over time but imagine the PC's surprise when they get hit with a fireball, fireball, fireball, and a magic missle on who ever is bleeding the worst (the quickened spell). They'll think they're under attack by 4 mages!!

 

[kreynolds]

See the following rule:

Special partial action: Start full round action

pg 127 PHB

I'm not seeing the relevance, except for when you are slowed or hasted and want to cast a full-round spell or perform a full-round action, but that's not under contention here. Am I missing something?