Spontaneous casting

[Tobold Hornblower]

Is there any reason to for a Cleric to take Cure Light Wounds rather than some other first level spell that he can change to a Cure Light Wounds?

A long time ago here, someone gave me the idea that there was. Like it took a full round action instead of a standard action, or something. But having dug through the books, I can't find any reason to pray for a spell you can Spontaneously cast.

 

[Bauglir]

In your normal slots there's no reason. However your one domain slot per level cannot I believe be converted, so if you have the Healing domain then there's a case for memorizing a cure into that slot.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Also (although its very rarely advantageous), spontaneously casting a metamagicked Cure spell will take a full round, whereas casting a prepared, metamagicked Cure spell will remain a standard action.

AR

 

[PaulGreystoke]

Spontaneous casting of cure spells doesn't increase the casting time, although applying metamagic to a spontaneously cast spell would. As Bauglir noted, there is little reason to memorize a spell that a character can cast spontaneously unless it is a domain spell. This allows clerics to memorize spells that might prove useful instead of just always loading up on cures.

Also note that applying metamagic spontaneously increases the casting time from a standard action to a full round action, but the spell still goes into effect on the cleric's initiative this round - as opposed to a spell with a 1 round casting time which goes into effect right before the cleric's initiative of the next round.

 

[Tobold Hornblower]

Ahhhhh, the metamagic spells. That must be what I remember.

Thanks, guys.

 

[UltimaGabe]

...except that you can't apply Metamagic Feats to converted spells.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

...except that you can't apply Metamagic Feats to converted spells.

Beg to differ:

Spontaneous Casting and Metamagic Feats: A cleric spontaneously casting a cure or inflict spell can cast a metamagic version of it instead. Extra time is also required in this case. Casting a 1-action metamagic spell spontaneously is a full-round action, and a spell with a longer casting time takes an extra full-round action to cast.

AR

 

[Li Shenron]

Is there any reason to for a Cleric to take Cure Light Wounds rather than some other first level spell that he can change to a Cure Light Wounds?

A long time ago here, someone gave me the idea that there was. Like it took a full round action instead of a standard action, or something. But having dug through the books, I can't find any reason to pray for a spell you can Spontaneously cast.

Two reasons:

1) the metamagic use already mentioned
2) evil Clerics or Clerics of evil deities

In my experience, (1) is not much to be bothered about. Cure spells are usually not worth metamagicking:
Still Spell - you wouldn't need it for ASF, and you still have to make a touch attack (so it doesn't really even free your hand)
Silent Spell - possibly useful if you are Silenced
Empower/Maximize Spell - not worth the price with cure spells
Heighten/Extend/Enlarge/Widen Spell - not applicable (Enlarge can be used with Mass cure spells)
That leaves us with Quicken Spell, or metamagic from other sources (Reach Spell comes to my head).

However, a full-round casting time is not bad at all, you'd better still prepare something else.

 

[reiella]

Two reasons:

1) the metamagic use already mentioned
2) evil Clerics or Clerics of evil deities

In my experience, (1) is not much to be bothered about. Cure spells are usually not worth metamagicking:
Still Spell - you wouldn't need it for ASF, and you still have to make a touch attack (so it doesn't really even free your hand)
Silent Spell - possibly useful if you are Silenced
Empower/Maximize Spell - not worth the price with cure spells
Heighten/Extend/Enlarge/Widen Spell - not applicable (Enlarge can be used with Mass cure spells)
That leaves us with Quicken Spell, or metamagic from other sources (Reach Spell comes to my head).

Well, Empower or Maximize are actually good choices, because, if necessary (ie, you've run out of Heals + used your all 4th level and lower spell slots already) to still eek some healing out. Still not too useful with the Mass Cure Wounds for those higher spell slots. Unless you're healing an individual then a Empowered Cure Serious Wounds would fair a bit better than a Cure Light Wounds, Mass that is redundant.

Quicken Spell would be kinda worthless though on a Cure, for the same reason that it kinda sucks for Sorcerers .

 

[Christian]

Well, Empower or Maximize are actually good choices, because, if necessary (ie, you've run out of Heals + used your all 4th level and lower spell slots already) to still eek some healing out. Still not too useful with the Mass Cure Wounds for those higher spell slots. Unless you're healing an individual then a Empowered Cure Serious Wounds would fair a bit better than a Cure Light Wounds, Mass that is redundant.

Quicken Spell would be kinda worthless though on a Cure, for the same reason that it kinda sucks for Sorcerers .

But a cleric does have an option not available to sorcerers (barring the Arcane Preparation feat from Tome & Blood). He can prepare a quickened cure light wounds (for example) in a fifth-level slot.

I don't know why he'd want to-but he can.