Casting while Prone?

[karash]

Is it possible to cast a spell while prone?

If a spellcaster is tripped and will incur an attack of opportunity from standing or crawling away, will he be able to cast defensively while prone? If so, would there be any penalties? I don't see anything in the PHB regarding this.

Thanks

 

[The Souljourner]

Sure, why not? No rules against it as far as I can see.

-The Souljourner

 

[karash]

Has anyone else seen this in their games?

 

[Gregor]

Maybe just add the same penalty for attacks while prone to the caster's concentration check of 10 + spell level?

Cheers,

 

[DiFier]

More questions for you to consider:

Is a 5' roll considered a 5' step?

could you cast darkness and then roll away? They can't see you so they don't get an AoO, right? how about invisibility (assuming your concentration is high enough that you don't take an AoO for casting while threatened)

I have done this before. Usually I have my charachter launch all his magic missles or a force blast at the guy. (which could knock him prone ) We sorta guessed at the rules cause it wasn't specified. My charachter has a high concentration so that was fine.

I would have spells that require a touch attack at -4. but ranged touch. I'm not sure. and area effect or cone spells I don't think I'd give a penalty at all. spells that you cast on yourself would have no penalty either.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Is a 5' roll considered a 5' step?

It depends if you're talking 3.0 or 3.5.

3.5 has defined moving 5' while prone to be a Standard Action that provokes an AoO.

There are no rules in the 3.0 Core Rules about how being prone affected your movement.

could you cast darkness and then roll away? They can't see you so they don't get an AoO, right?

It depends if you're talking 3.0 or 3.5.

In 3.5, Darkness only provides concealment, not total concealment, so you're still subject to AoOs.

In 3.0, there are no rules for concealment preventing AoOs (only cover).

-Hyp.