Does casting in a grapple provoke AoO from grappler?

[Quasqueton]

Say the mage is grappled by a fighter. When the mage casts Teleport (verbal component only), does the fighter get an AoO against the mage?

How about if the mage is pinned? Can he still pull off the verbal-only spell?

Thanks.

Quasqueton

 

[Bagpuss]

No the fighter doesn't get an Attack of Opportunity, from the SRD

While a character is grappling, that character's ability to attack others and defend a itself is limited.
No Threatened Area: A character doesn't threaten any area while grappling.
No Dexterity Bonus: A character loses it's Dexterity bonus to AC (if a it has one) against opponents a it isn't grappling. (A character can still use the bonus against opponents the character is grappling.)

If you don't threaten an area then you cannot get attacks of opportunity.

 

[kreynolds]

Say the mage is grappled by a fighter. When the mage casts Teleport (verbal component only), does the fighter get an AoO against the mage?

No. You don't threaten an area while you are grappling.

How about if the mage is pinned?

No attack of opportunity.

Can he still pull off the verbal-only spell?

Yes.

 

[Pax]

No the fighter doesn't get an Attack of Opportunity, from the SRD

[...]

If you don't threaten an area then you cannot get attacks of opportunity.

Unless your grapple is from Improved Grab, and you used only one hand to do it (in which case, YOU aren't grappled, you still threaten an area, and can even move, heh).

 

[kigmatzomat]

Say the mage is grappled by a fighter. When the mage casts Teleport (verbal component only), does the fighter get an AoO against the mage?
How about if the mage is pinned? Can he still pull off the verbal-only spell?

Well, there are no AoOs in the situation, BUT there is a weird snag in grappling. There is a list of actions you can perform while grappled: attack with weapon in hand, escape artist check and counter-grapple. From our read, and this came up the other day in a game when the mage was grappled by a dragon with Snatch so it was read by many people, you can ONLY perform those actions while grappled. Spellcasting is not on the list, nor is using a magic item or drawing a weapon.

Our opinion was that since you were at least grabbed, the opponent would automatically disrupt concentration, kind of like trying to recite the alphabet backwards while someone tries to gouge your eyeballs out.

 

[shilsen]

Re: Re: Does casting in a grapple provoke AoO from grappler?

Well, there are no AoOs in the situation, BUT there is a weird snag in grappling. There is a list of actions you can perform while grappled: attack with weapon in hand, escape artist check and counter-grapple. From our read, and this came up the other day in a game when the mage was grappled by a dragon with Snatch so it was read by many people, you can ONLY perform those actions while grappled. Spellcasting is not on the list, nor is using a magic item or drawing a weapon.

Our opinion was that since you were at least grabbed, the opponent would automatically disrupt concentration, kind of like trying to recite the alphabet backwards while someone tries to gouge your eyeballs out.

Spellcasting is on the list. You're presumably looking at the "If You're Grappling" section on pg.137 of the PHB. Look at the bottom of the same page, under "Other Grappling Options", and spellcasting is mentioned as an option there.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Re: Re: Does casting in a grapple provoke AoO from grappler?

There is a list of actions you can perform while grappled: attack with weapon in hand, escape artist check and counter-grapple. Spellcasting is not on the list, nor is using a magic item or drawing a weapon.

Are you using the PHB or the SRD?

The PHB explains the circumstances under which you may cast while grappled; the SRD does not.

-Hyp.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Re: Re: Re: Does casting in a grapple provoke AoO from grappler?

Spellcasting is on the list. You're presumably looking at the "If You're Grappling" section on pg.137 of the PHB. Look at the bottom of the same page, under "Other Grappling Options", and spellcasting is mentioned as an option there.

Ah, you're right. You can cast spells with components you have in hand. The mage in my game had a wand in hand and had no verbal-only spells. The player was mightily irritated that "activate magic item" wasn't on the list but spellcasting was. Hmmm, must be getting senile in my old age......

That's different from the situation in question with the verbal-only teleport. Moo, moo-moo.

 

[Quasqueton]

Thanks.

OK, thanks. By the "does not threaten an area while grappling" text, it seemed pretty obvious. But then the idea of the fighter actually holding the mage in his hands kind of shook that concept.

Quasqueton

 

[Storminator]

Even without the AoO casting from a grapple isn't free. To successfully cast while grappled you must make a Concentration check with DC = opponent's grapple check.

So you can teleport out, unless the fighter shakes you like a ragdoll.

PS