Casting while Feather Falling

[Cilibrin]

Do you allow someone falling with Feather Fall to cast additional spells? Say the person is 500' up and they're falling with Feather Fall. Should they be able to cast spells each round? What type of DCs would you set up for this scenario?

Cheers

 

[Beale Knight]

Do you allow someone falling with Feather Fall to cast additional spells? Say the person is 500' up and they're falling with Feather Fall. Should they be able to cast spells each round? What type of DCs would you set up for this scenario?

Cheers

I'd let them cast spells almost per normal. The rules say a concentration check of 10+Spell level is called for if the character's undergoing Vigorous Motion, and Feather Fall certainly isn't vigorous. I might call for some sort of Dexterity based check to see if the PC dropped need material components while digging them out, but that'd probably be it.

 

[Ylis]

I would say no. Yes, Feather Fall's motion is not vigorous, but it certainly puts said spellcaster in a precarious position. Due to the fact that he'd likely want to watch where he was going, etc, he might have his concentration already on other things. And I would assume if the spellcaster wanted to cast other spells while Feather Fall was in effect, he is in some type of combat situation or other danger....

If you did decide to allow them to cast, however, I'd say a concentration check should be made once a round for both Feather Fall and the other spell. Since Feather Fall is a spell that has effects last for x amount of rounds, it is assumed (unless I missed some rules somewhere) that concentration is needed to maintain it.

 

[Olorin]

I would say no. Yes, Feather Fall's motion is not vigorous, but it certainly puts said spellcaster in a precarious position. Due to the fact that he'd likely want to watch where he was going, etc, he might have his concentration already on other things. And I would assume if the spellcaster wanted to cast other spells while Feather Fall was in effect, he is in some type of combat situation or other danger....

If you did decide to allow them to cast, however, I'd say a concentration check should be made once a round for both Feather Fall and the other spell. Since Feather Fall is a spell that has effects last for x amount of rounds, it is assumed (unless I missed some rules somewhere) that concentration is needed to maintain it.

You did miss some rules.
There are many many spells that have effects that last x amount of time that don't require concentration to maintain, and Feather Fall is one of them.
If concentration is required, it's listed in under the Duration header in the spell description.

Feather Fall
Duration: Until landing or 1 round/level

Implosion
Duration: Concentration (up to 4 rounds)

I'd say a Concentration check to cast while feather falling is not unreasonable, but you are falling quite slowly, so I'd say DC 5+spell level on the check.

 

[Beale Knight]

I would say no. Yes, Feather Fall's motion is not vigorous, but it certainly puts said spellcaster in a precarious position. Due to the fact that he'd likely want to watch where he was going, etc, he might have his concentration already on other things. And I would assume if the spellcaster wanted to cast other spells while Feather Fall was in effect, he is in some type of combat situation or other danger....

Well he's only going down, the spell doesn't make a provision for any lateral control, so I don't think the caster needs to watch where's he going (unless there's an alligator pit he's trying to avoid, but again, I think if he want's to move laterally, he'd have to cast a spell, which brings us back on topic).

Now if the caster is under attack as he's Feather Falling, than I agree a Concentration check may well be called for. However I don't think that Feather Falling is inherently precarious to call for such a check.

If you did decide to allow them to cast, however, I'd say a concentration check should be made once a round for both Feather Fall and the other spell. Since Feather Fall is a spell that has effects last for x amount of rounds, it is assumed (unless I missed some rules somewhere) that concentration is needed to maintain it.

The duration reads: "Until landing or 1 round per level." I would rule that once the spell's cast there's no need for concentration to keep it in effect, since there's no mention of the word concentration anywhere in the spell description.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Concentration check, prolly 10 or 15 + spell level. Feather falling probably isn't a whole lot more stable than casting a spell from the back of a galloping horse, so while it's possible, they're going to have to be good at focusing their attention; e.g.: Concentration check.

 

[Olorin]

Concentration check, prolly 10 or 15 + spell level. Feather falling probably isn't a whole lot more stable than casting a spell from the back of a galloping horse, so while it's possible, they're going to have to be good at focusing their attention; e.g.: Concentration check.

I think people are overestimating how fast you are falling under the effects of a Feather Fall spell. The spell description says you fall at 60 ft per round. That's 10 ft/second, which works out to 6.8 miles/hour.

That's much slower than most galloping horses. So I would go easy on the DC for the Concentration check or not require one at all. Getting at material components could be an issue though, depending on where and what they are.

 

[Ylis]

You did miss some rules.
There are many many spells that have effects that last x amount of time that don't require concentration to maintain, and Feather Fall is one of them.
If concentration is required, it's listed in under the Duration header in the spell description.

Feather Fall
Duration: Until landing or 1 round/level

Implosion
Duration: Concentration (up to 4 rounds)

I'd say a Concentration check to cast while feather falling is not unreasonable, but you are falling quite slowly, so I'd say DC 5+spell level on the check.

Shhhhh...if you don't tell my players, I won't I guess I've done the "evil GM" thing without meaning to...I simply require a concentration check for any spells that last x amount of time (especially if you want to cast another one), simply because it makes sense, to me, for concentration to have to be kept up to keep those effects going...but, I tend to "rewrite" rules for my games that tend to make it a little more challenging for the players, and my players are highly unlikely to sit down and read any book front to cover, so my variations are generally accepted in-house...

So, ok, time for me to review the *actual* rules again, lol...been a long time since I've looked at them.... Scatterbrain awaaaaaay!

 

[BSF]

Shhhhh...if you don't tell my players, I won't I guess I've done the "evil GM" thing without meaning to...I simply require a concentration check for any spells that last x amount of time (especially if you want to cast another one), simply because it makes sense, to me, for concentration to have to be kept up to keep those effects going...but, I tend to "rewrite" rules for my games that tend to make it a little more challenging for the players, and my players are highly unlikely to sit down and read any book front to cover, so my variations are generally accepted in-house...

So, ok, time for me to review the *actual* rules again, lol...been a long time since I've looked at them.... Scatterbrain awaaaaaay!

So, um, do you require concentration checks to keep Mage Armor up? Stoneskin? Protection from Elements? Definitely could make for an interesting game.

Back on topic.

You have no control of where you are going to land when you use feathe fall. So, I wouldn't worry too much about requiring a Concentration check for the falling. As well, it isn't as if you are falling too fast. However, you don't have any stability. Depending on your personal interpretation for somatic components, maybe a big Concentration check would be in order. (Is it gesticulating wildly with extravagent arm waving or is it small motions?) But, keep in mind that you are allowed to walk and cast in a round, or even fly and cast if you are using the fly spell. It doesn't seem like it would create something terribly unbalanced to use spells while feathe falling.

It does open up interesting tactics and options. Imagine falling down toward that horde of orcs while laying waste with fireball. I mean, c'mon, it looks cool and you are an easy target for them to hit back if they have the means. What about when a character is bull rushed off a cliff over the ocean. Is it that big a deal to allow the wizard to use the water breathing spell before hitting the water?

 

[I'm A Banana]

That's much slower than most galloping horses.

That's still a brisk jog, under unusual circumstances, with winds and magic buffetting you about....

*shrug* Spellcasting is a pretty exacting process, yo. If a swarm of bats flying at your face distracts you, I'd imagine falling (even at a safe speed) would, too...