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Message: <blockquote data-quote="fuindordm" data-source="post: 9768495" data-attributes="member: 5435">My interpretation of p.65 is that if a spellcaster begins a combat round adjacent to a melee combatant then they should not even attempt casting."Spells cannot be cast while violently moving -- such as running, dodging a blow, or even walking normally."To get your normal AC during melee you must be actively dodging and parrying, since this activity is an assumed part of melee and justifies the low number of "real attacks" per round. On the other hand, even a one-segment spell requires the caster to adopt a position of stillness and concentration to get in the proper frame of mind before releasing the spell. If a PC tried to do this next to a hostile combatant, then I would give the latter a free attack at +4 to hit (no Dex but active magical defenses might apply) -- similar to striking a motionless opponent. I would give that free attack regardless of who won initiative. Attempting to cast a spell is these conditions is an act of desperation!So the sword vs spell question normally only comes up in play if an enemy unexpectedly charges the spellcaster on a round where they announce they are casting a spell, and I consider that the only condition worth tracking is whether the enemy reaches the caster during the casting interval. If we add weapon speed to the initiative on top of that (+5-7 segments for a typical one-handed weapon) then the fighter would almost never make their attack in time. Weapon speeds (typically 5-10 for the weapon in hand) are not really on the same scale as casting times (typically 1-5 for common cleric and MU spells).Is it RAW? I think it is as close to RAW as any other interpretation, regardless of GG's Dragon article and convoluted examples given.</blockquote>

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