Disrupting Spellcasters

[Thorntangle]

I'm going to take the Occult Slayer PrC in a few levels and wanted to get some advice on how to best disrupt spellcasters. My primary and bonded weapon will be a greatsword, but may reconsider.

On first analysis, it looks extremely difficult to disrupt spellcasters unless they you push their back to a wall or corner them. Otherwise they can always 5' step away and you can't catch them. Based on my reading of the rules, the only way I can see that you can consistently ready to disrupt a spellcaster is to have a weapon with reach.

I'm hoping to see an addition to the FAQ stating that a Charge action can be readied with a movement equal to a normal move.

Any advice?

 

[irdeggman]

A reach weapon is more effective for that purpose than a greatsword. Since the spellcaster can't take a 5 ft step and get out of reach.

 

[Pinotage]

I believe a readied action can include a 5 ft step at least. So if you're up against a spellcaster, ready and action with a 5 ft step and smack when he starts casting.

Pinotage

 

[Thorntangle]

I believe a readied action can include a 5 ft step at least. So if you're up against a spellcaster, ready and action with a 5 ft step and smack when he starts casting.

Yes, you can include a 5' step in a readied action if you have not moved that round. So, if I make a normal move or 5' step to get in the casters face, I can't ready a 5' move as part of my attempt to attack/disrupt. And getting right up next to the caster is necessary.

Hence the problem.

Even if I have a glaive and I move up adjacent to the caster, a canny DM/caster will just stay in place and cast right next to me - out of reach. So I'll amend what I said earlier. It appears that the only consistent disrupter would be a spiked chain wielder. Blech.

Please. Won't someone help me come up with some brilliant ideas so I can avoid the spiked chain?

 

[mikebr99]

Isn't there a feat that cancels defensive casting when you are threatening them?

Mike

 

[RigaMortus]

There is a MageSlayer feat that prevents them from Casting Defensively if you threaten them.

The other thing is, can you do a partial charge, or did they get rid of that in 3.5? Because then you could be within 30' of them and ready the charge if they start casting.

Our group still allows for partial charge I beleive (but that might not be 3.5). A partial charge is a single move plus an attack.

 

[Pinotage]

Yes, you can include a 5' step in a readied action if you have not moved that round. So, if I make a normal move or 5' step to get in the casters face, I can't ready a 5' move as part of my attempt to attack/disrupt. And getting right up next to the caster is necessary.

Ah, that clarifies it then. OK, so move up to the little mage and grapple him. Don't have to use a Spiked Chain, he's unarmed so no AoO and you'll easily pin him and keep him from casting unless he can reach his material components or can cast spells that only use verbal components.

Pinotage

 

[Victim]

Yes, you can include a 5' step in a readied action if you have not moved that round. So, if I make a normal move or 5' step to get in the casters face, I can't ready a 5' move as part of my attempt to attack/disrupt. And getting right up next to the caster is necessary.

Hence the problem.

Even if I have a glaive and I move up adjacent to the caster, a canny DM/caster will just stay in place and cast right next to me - out of reach. So I'll amend what I said earlier. It appears that the only consistent disrupter would be a spiked chain wielder. Blech.

Please. Won't someone help me come up with some brilliant ideas so I can avoid the spiked chain?

Shoot them with a ranged weapon. No defensive casting, no need to approach or worry about 5ft steps, no need to injure yourself on a fire shield. And then use Many Shot with your readied action.

 

[azmodean]

May be taken as a standard action if you are limited to taking only a single action in a round.

This is somewhat debatable I guess, but I would allow a charge where you move up to your spped as a readied action. Remember though, in this case you have to be at least 10' away from the caster. Once you do this, the caster can move away if they have a move left, or possibly take a 5' step. If they don't end their turn adjacent to you, your best bet might actually be to use your move action to back away from them, placing yourself between 10' and your speed in feet away from them and then ready for another charge.

If your DM doesn't go for this scenario, go for a ranged or thrown weapon, that's the easiest thing to use to disrupt, and as Victim said, you can use Manyshot to keep your damage up even while readying to disrupt.

 

[Thorntangle]

This is somewhat debatable I guess, but I would allow a charge where you move up to your spped as a readied action.

It's sellable, but up to the DM. And the consensus I've gotten is that, no, a charge cannot be readied by the strict letter of the rule because actions other than a standard or move are allowable as readied actions - "You can ready a standard action, a move action, or a free action."

I'm not sure, but I think this was done on purpose to eliminate people charging around corners, foes to which they have no line of sight, etc. i.e. I can't see the wizard around a hall corner, so I move 40' to the end of the hall and now can see him 35' further down the hall. I only moved my normal move, so now I ready an action to charge if he starts casting. Even though I only end up moving my normal charge range of 80' or less, I have charged a foe for which I had no line of sight and around a corner.

If your DM doesn't go for this scenario, go for a ranged or thrown weapon, that's the easiest thing to use to disrupt, and as Victim said, you can use Manyshot to keep your damage up even while readying to disrupt.

Good idea, but I'm more of a melee character, a bruiser.