Handling auto casting defensively?

[Creatix]

I allow it because as per the rules it makes total sense and it is not game breaking or disruptive in any way, but I am just curious...


What suggestions do you have to deal with a cleric that SO FAR can automatically succeed at any casting defensive check he is forced to make? No roll necessary since the auto 1 doesn't fail on a skill check. Adding up totals in ranks + combat cast, he simply says "I'm casting defensively" and never has to roll and does what he wants in my creatures face, no matter what or how many is there.

Im not trying to get rid of this for him but I would just like to look at some ideas as to how to change it so its not so auto. I like randomness in a game that rolls dice and this is now removed.


Any official rulings would be better as well in case I am missing something


Thanks in advance!

 

[nameless]

Like you said, it's in no way too powerful, so leave it be. Adding randomness is not a good thing for the players, and this one obviously felt it was important to cast spells in melee. He sacrificed for this, so make him feel the burn somewhere he made a cut instead.

There is one thing you can do if you REALLY want to raise the DC though, and that's give a circumstance penalty to the concentration check. Don't do it all the time, but if there is something happening that is extremely distracting happening, I'd feel justified in giving a -1 to -4 penalty on concentration checks. Enemies can also use ready actions to force concentration checks that are usually higher than defensive casting checks. Just make sure you're fair with these, since its easy for PCs to think the DM is cheating to make them lose.

-nameless

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I wouldn't worry about it. The cleric in question obviously spent a lot of skill points to be able to do that (and possbily a feat or two as well).

Myself, I've noticed that bad guys rarely fail concentration checks to cast defensively too as PCs approach high levels. It's not really a problem for either side.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

If he has the bonus to do so, and announces it, there's no reason why you should not allow him that to be auto. Remember that it's a regular occurrance and some are prepared for it by readying actions to attack spellcasters when they cast a spell. That works even with ranged weapons...