Taking a 5' step to cast

[lior_shapira]

Sorry if this is an obvious/asked-all-the-time question.

Suppose a mage is up close to a monster (they're in melee) and the mage is ahead in initiative. The mage chooses each turn to take a 5' step back and then casts a standard action spell at the creature (lets say something harmful). Am I correct that the monster doesn't get attacks of opportunity? and the wizard doesn't need to roll concentration checks even if he's hit on the mosnter's turn?

thanks, lior

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

That's correct.

A smart monster, in such a case, might ready an action to attack the mage if it begins casting.

 

[Bigwilly]

Correct.

- Of course, if a mage is going toe-to-toe with a monster, he's in trouble (unless fully buffed up).

- If the monster has 10' reach, he's in deep trouble as he's still in AoO range even if he takes a 5' step.

- If the monster has more than 10' reach he's dead meat.

Bigwilly

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

That is indeed a big part of what a 5' step is for.

The archer can do a similar thing by taking a 5'-step and letting loose a volley of arrows at his target.

AR

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Savvy tacticians will often use non-damaging attacks to neutralize spellcasters for that exact reason. Consider grappling, tripping, overruning, etc.

When I am playing a grunt, I will often provoke an AoO from the spellcaster and a mook or two if it will allow me to move behind the spellcaster. If he 5' steps away from me, he will be stepping towards the rest of the party where he will pulped by the rest of the team.

Monsters usually do not have to be so subtle because a lot of them have 10' reach and/or Improved Grab.

 

[Nail]

Grappling is a huge, huge, huge way of dealing with this problem.

 

[Lamoni]

Grappling is a huge, huge, huge way of dealing with this problem.

Problem? I don't see any problem.

What does the 5' step change with the monster's capability to hit him? Assuming the monster doesn't have reach, they can still pound the wizard with a full attack each round. If a wizard ever finds himself in this situation, I think he has the bigger problem and is wise to use their spell to get far away.

If a level 11 fighter could make full-attacks against a level 11 wizard without risking any retaliation that would seem like a problem to me. (unless of course they are able to drop the wizard after one round)

Of course, there are options for the spellcaster and the fighter to take. (which is what Nail was pointing out) The spellcaster can cast a spell to try to immobilize the fighter so he can't pursue with a 5' step and the fighter can grapple or trip. Normally it makes sense for both to be able to exchange attacks against each other if those options aren't chosen. The wizard is already at a disadvantage with lower HP and a lower AC.

The same can be said with casting on the defensive. Casting on the defensive can still be done if you are up against a wall, which is nice. Without these options, I would never want to play a spellcaster.

 

[Plane Sailing]

A smart monster, in such a case, might ready an action to attack the mage if it begins casting.

I dunno. I rather think a smart monster is better off getting his attacks in (and possibly manouevring so that the wizard is in a position where he can't just take a 5ft step, because of other enemies or terrain features etc).

Readying an action means you are losing your current action and giving up a full attack in order to get a single attack.

Plus strictly speaking readying an action as you suggest wouldn't work since the mage would be too far away from you when he starts casting You'd be better readying an action if he moves away from you... then you might get an AoO if he casts next to you or a standard attack if he moves away to cast.

Cheers

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Plane:

You may take a 5' step as part of a readied action.

Not everyone has multiple attacks, so "giving up a full attack in order to get a single attack" is, for a large number of characters / creatures, a zero-sum transaction.

"If he steps away" might be the better trigger. However, in such a case, the intelligent wizard would merely withdraw - preferably around the corner - rather than casting a spell.

In such a case, however, you've still accomplished your goal: stop the wizard from 5' stepping and casting.