Cover and Spellcasting

[IndySteve]

In the following example, the 'x's represent a corner of a wall, the 's' represents a player sorcerer, and the 'm' represents an enemy monster. During our game the other night, the player sorcerer stayed behind the corner and during his turn would lean out from the wall to cast Arcane Bolt (another form of Magic Missile) at the monster and return to his hidning place, never actually moving. The monster, armed with a longbow could not hit the sorcerer except with a readied attack, because the sorcerer had 100% cover.

m



x
x
x
x
xxxxxxxxx
s





My question is, is this legal or does the sorcerer have to step out from behind the corner to cast his spells and therefore lose the benefits of cover? Thanks for the help!

-Steve

 

[IndySteve]

okay the diagram didn't turn out like I wanted, but hopefully you get the idea. Obviously, I've no idea how to create the diagram properly! Sorry!

 

[Crothian]

While in real life, this may seem possible, but not tin the d20 universe. You can either move before or after the spell, not both.

 

[kreynolds]

And moving means taking a full 5-foot step beyond the corner of the wall to cast the spell. Just making sure we're all on the same page here.

 

[IndySteve]

I understand that the spellcaster cannot MOVE both before and after casting. That's not my question, though. There was never any actual movement. The player sorcerer simply peeked around the corner to cast the spell.

My question is this: Does the spellcaster actually have to MOVE??

 

[kreynolds]

I understand that the spellcaster cannot MOVE both before and after casting. That's not my question, though. There was never any actual movement. The player sorcerer simply peeked around the corner to cast the spell.

My question is this: Does the spellcaster actually have to MOVE??

Yes.

 

[IndySteve]

Thanks kreynolds. Can you please provide a reference, or is that just your opinion?

 

[Crothian]

I understand that the spellcaster cannot MOVE both before and after casting. That's not my question, though. There was never any actual movement. The player sorcerer simply peeked around the corner to cast the spell.

My question is this: Does the spellcaster actually have to MOVE??

Yes.

This would basically allow spell casters to cast with little threat of retalition. That's powerful. It's not allowed. If the PC complains, use it against the PCs and see if they think it should be allowed.

 

[IndySteve]

Crothian, I agree with you that this gives spellcasters a little too much power in this case, which is why I'm asking. NPCs can ready an attack on the spellcaster for when he peeks around the corner, though, so I cannot come to the conclusion that it is all-powerful. I'd like to tell my players they have to move first, but I would like a reference or at least the consensus of several particpants of these messageboards. Thanks!

 

[Crothian]

Okay, according to d20 you are in the space you are in. There is no leaning or anything like that. So, be able to cast a spell around the corner you have to actually move to a space that can see around the corner.

This isn't a harp at you, but a harp at people in general: I think it's better to look what you can do within the rules and what the rules allow then to come up with something and then claim it can be done because the book doesn't say no. Basically, it should be "Prove you can do it." not "Prove I can't do it."