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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KarinsDad" data-source="post: 1284231" data-attributes="member: 2011">You are assuming that "comes into effect" means that the spell is successful. Granted, that is not normally a bad assumption, but it is when there is a question on the rules.The quoted rule:"Most spells have a casting time of 1 standard action. A spell cast in this manner immediately takes effect."states that the effect is immediate. No ANDS, IFS, BUTS, or MAYBES. A different rule (like AoO or Readying) can change whether the effect occurs, but that does not mean that the effect is not immediate. It is just an immediate effect that did not occur.There are two basic ways to interpret the two rules I quoted:1) My way. Standard actions are like atoms. They are basically indivisible. If you start one, you minimally attempt to finish it. You may be prevented from finishing it, but you at least always attempt to start what you finish.2) Your way. Standard action have a start and an execution. If you get interrupted (whether that interruption is successful or not), then you do not need to execute the action that you started.The problem with the second interpretation is that there are no rules to support it.The quote:"Assuming he is still capable of doing so, he continues his actions once you complete your readied action."does not do this. This means that IF he is capable (not if he does not decide to change his mind) he FINISHES his action(s). This is a metagaming rule describing that things like dice rolls continue, not a "what can the character decide to do" rule. If the character was planning on casting and then moving, he can decide to move (or not move or do a move equivalent) wherever he wants because the move action is a separate action which was not yet declared. The standard action spell, on the other hand, was the action that triggered the readied action and hence cannot be changed. It happened as stated (it just was not successful).Example: Wizard casts a Melf's Acid Arrow. Fighter gets an AoO and hits. If the Wizard makes his Concentration roll, he then still rolls his ranged touch to hit for the MAA. He then still rolls his damage if he hits. This is all metagaming (i.e. rules about how the mechanics of the game is played). But, he does not get to change target from the Cleric to the Fighter. He does not get to decide to not cast the spell at all, just because the Fighter hit him in the interim. He has already cast the spell, the mechanics of that have not yet occurred. If the Wizard fails his Concentration roll, he does not get to roll to hit, but he also does not get to change his target and does not get to decide to not cast the spell. The spell is cast and the spell is lost in this case.The success of his action is irrelevant to him performing the action.And yes, since the rule you quoted here does not support your position, I'm still waiting for one that does.All standard actions are instantaneous with respect to you declaring what you are doing and it just happens. Whether it is successful or not is dependent on circumstances.If in the "middle" of your spell, you are AoOed and fail your concentration check and lose the spell.Do you get to do some OTHER action? No, of course not.Your action failed, but you still DID your action. You still lost the spell because you still (unsuccessfully) cast the spell.Starting an action is no different then completing it.Completing an action in metagaming terms (i.e. rolling the dice to hit or for damage for something else) is different than completing an action in game terms (i.e. I do this). You do the action the instant you declare what it is, you just are not necessarily successful with it. You cannot change the action in mid-action. There are no rules that allow for that for standard actions. If you find one, let us know.</blockquote>

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