New Feats: "Conceal Casting", and "Cast on the Run"

[Sixchan]

After a debate(read: argument) on whether an Archer with a readied action could detect the casting of a Still and Silenced spell, I had these ideas:

Conceal Casting [Metamagic]
You can cast Silent, Stilled spells without any visible indicator that you are casting a spell.
Prerequisites: Silent Spell, Still Spell
Benefit: When you cast a spell that is Both silent and Stilled, you can hide the look of concentration well enough that the casting cannot be spotted. However, while this means that you are not singled out for attack because you are casting a spell, if you are attacked, you still make a concentration check, and if you are attacked, your attacker gets an AoO against you as you are still casting. Using this feat adds 0 to the caster level.
Normal: If you don't have this feat, you still have a look of concentration that an observant attacker can recognise as casting, and as such you will likely be singled out for attack by people looking to disrupt your casting.

Cast while Moving [Metamagic]
While you are moving, you can cast a defensive spell without slowing down or stopping.
Prereqisites: Still spell, Silent Spell, Conceal Casting, Combat Casting
Benefit: While casting a Stilled spell and Silenced spell, you can cast a defensive spell on yourself while moving normally or running. This feat allows the caster to keep his concentration while moving so that he can, for example, cast invisibility while running away from something. The caster cannot keep his concentration well enough to be able to hit with an offensive spell and also take into account his movement for aiming. The caster cannot be overly obstucted in his run, such as running over bumpy ground or running through a forest. Using this feat adds 0 to the caster level
Special: The spells can only be cast on the caster himself.
Optional: The character can run and cast in a dungeon, but will take random directions unless the Player can detail the way he wants to run without hesitation, or he has someone leading him.

Just a first draft of a recent idea, and so probably not that good, but what do you think?

EDIT: Changed to Metamagic.
EDIT: "Cast while moving" renamed to the more sensible "Cast on the Run" Clarification of caster only rule for Cast on the Run.
EDIT: Clarification of extra spell levels added.

 

[Sagan Darkside]

Salutations,

They look fine to me, but I would not have given in to the initial argument. Unless the archer made a spellcraft check of a very high DC- he would be clueless.

Good luck
SD

 

[Drawmack]

I would make them metamagic type but other then that they look good.

 

[Mordane76]

I didn't think Stilled and Silent spells even allowed for a Spellcraft check -- it's like you're not casting to cast, other than the action required (like aiming and whatnot). Could you direct me to the thread where this discussion took place? I'd really like to take a look at that.

 

[jlhorner1974]

Even without the feat, I would probably allow the Wizard an opposed Bluff or a Concentration check (with a penalty) vs. the archer's Sense Motive or Spellcraft check (with appropriate situational modifiers) to disguise a silent, still spell.

The logic is that a spellcaster with good Bluff skills can disguise his spell much better, or a spell caster with a high Concentration skill makes concentrating seem so effortless that it reduces the obvious outward signs of concentration.

 

[Sagan Darkside]

I didn't think Stilled and Silent spells even allowed for a Spellcraft check -- it's like you're not casting to cast, other than the action required (like aiming and whatnot).

I agree that by the rules a character should not get a check, but I could see the argument that someone who knows their stuff about magic could look for the signs someone is using meta-magic to hide their spellcasting.

Otherwise- it just gives too much of an edge to the caster in such situations.

SD

 

[Sixchan]

This is the thread:
http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34302

A spellcraft check isn't appropriate as spellcraft is to detect the casting of a specific spell, rather than that the mage is casting. We decided on a near-impossible spot check.

 

[Mordane76]

Jeez... I mean, does that mean that an archer can shoot at anyone with a concentrating look on their face under the preface that their target is casting a spell? It could just be a skinny fighter with a case of gas...

Is the archer required to have ranks in Spellcraft to even attempt the Spot check?

 

[Sixchan]

It was more based on the idea that if the archer was already planning on attacking the wizard, would the wizard slowing down and visibly concentrating give the archer enough of an indicator to use a ready action to attack when the wizard casts?

I thought a Sense Motive or Spot check was nessecary, as did most others, although I'm inclined towards a sense motive rather than spot check.

 

[jlhorner1974]

I think it is good to use skills to resolve things like this wherever possible. Highly skilled creatures can do amazing things. Just make the DC as high as you think it needs to be.

This leads me to an interesting tactic: Can you fake a spell by bluffing and "concentrating"?

Example: Two evil wizards and their minions engage a party in combat. The party archers go first, and each ready an action to attack the first evil wizard that casts a spell.

The wizard that goes first (who will probably be loaded up with mage armor, protection from arrows, shield, or all of the above) bluffs in an attempt to fake the casting of a spell. With a good bluff check, let's say he does well enough to make it look like he is really casting a spell and the archers botch a Sense Motive and are fooled.

If the archers perceive what appears to be their trigger, they each take their readied actions and shoot.

Then the other wizard casts a real spell, and won't be interrupted because the first wizard already drew out the readied actions from the archers...