Can ettins cast 2 spells at once?

[Silver Griffon]

Ok. Since the two heads of an ettin are described as if they were independent minds (talking to themselves, no penalties for two weapons) can an ettin with levels in a spell casting class cast two spells at once?
Can each head have a different class?
If my Druid/Shifter uses greater wild shape to become an ettin, he gets the extraordinary ability to use two weapons with no penalty. If ettins can cast two spells, does he get that too?
Do I have to use diplomacy to get the other head to cooperate?

 

[LokiDR]

Ok. Since the two heads of an ettin are described as if they were independent minds (talking to themselves, no penalties for two weapons) can an ettin with levels in a spell casting class cast two spells at once?
Can each head have a different class?
If my Druid/Shifter uses greater wild shape to become an ettin, he gets the extraordinary ability to use two weapons with no penalty. If ettins can cast two spells, does he get that too?
Do I have to use diplomacy to get the other head to cooperate?

For simplicity, I would say no on all counts. This is sheer powergaming madness.

For the purpose of discussion, there is a high level RR spell called "Two Minds". This allows you to cast two spells in a round by time-sharing your hands. While one mind takes a move-equivalent, the other mind casts a spell. They then switch roles. This is a 9th level spell, however, and should not be an ability you can back-door into by changing your form.

 

[AuraSeer]

I would allow a natural ettin to cast two spells at once. It's a special case, since it's effectively two creatures that share one body.

However, someone who polymorphs or wild shapes into an ettin would not suddenly create a new independent mind. (That is, their single original mind would control both heads.) No double spells for you.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

There's a feat at the WotC site called Multiple Head Casting.

You must have two or more independently sentient heads... Polymorph Self will not allow you to qualify for this feat.

Multiple Head Casting [General]
You take advantage of an extra head to cast spells.

Prerequisites: Naturally possess two or more independently intelligent heads*.

Benefit: If you have a hand free for casting, one of your heads can use a free partial action each round to cast a spell requiring verbal, somatic and material components while your other head takes normal actions, including melee or spellcasting, during the same round. Spells without somatic and material components may be cast as a free partial action even if you have no free hands. Spells that take longer than 1 action to cast cannot be cast while the other head is engaged in melee or spellcasting.

Normal: Without this feat, you can never use an extra head to cast a spell while another head engages in combat or spellcasting.

Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Each time you take the feat, it applies to another head (if any), allowing it to take a free partial action to cast a spell.

*Note: You can’t gain this feat if you do not naturally possess two or more independently intelligent heads. Thus, one-headed spellcasters can not gain this feat by resorting to polymorph self or similar magic. Shapechange or other appropriate 9th-level magic does allow a spellcaster to gain this feat.

 

[Silver Griffon]

There's a feat at the WotC site called Multiple Head Casting.

You must have two or more independently sentient heads... Polymorph Self will not allow you to qualify for this feat.

Multiple Head Casting [General]
You take advantage of an extra head to cast spells.

Prerequisites: Naturally possess two or more independently intelligent heads*.

Benefit: If you have a hand free for casting, one of your heads can use a free partial action each round to cast a spell requiring verbal, somatic and material components while your other head takes normal actions, including melee or spellcasting, during the same round. Spells without somatic and material components may be cast as a free partial action even if you have no free hands. Spells that take longer than 1 action to cast cannot be cast while the other head is engaged in melee or spellcasting.

Normal: Without this feat, you can never use an extra head to cast a spell while another head engages in combat or spellcasting.

Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Each time you take the feat, it applies to another head (if any), allowing it to take a free partial action to cast a spell.

*Note: You can’t gain this feat if you do not naturally possess two or more independently intelligent heads. Thus, one-headed spellcasters can not gain this feat by resorting to polymorph self or similar magic. Shapechange or other appropriate 9th-level magic does allow a spellcaster to gain this feat.

Thanks! That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I was leaning towards allowing this for natural ettins anyway when I DM, but making it a feat makes more sense. Casting a spell requires a level of mental focus above and beyond that required to swing a pair of clubs. I wouldn't do it with my own character, but I think that I will allow shifters IMC to take the feat if they have access to the appropriate form just like they can take multiattack, etc. Any thoughts on that?

 

[Xarlen]

Check out the Ettin thing on the WotC website (Monster Mayhem or Spellbook one). It had a Barbarian/Sorceror Ettin, who casted spells with one head, and fought with the other.