Casting Time

This entry tells how much time is needed to complete the casting of a spell once it is begun.

Casting a spell with a casting time of 1 action is an attack action. The spell takes effect immediately.

Casting a spell with a casting time of 1 full round is a full-round action. A character can take a 5-foot step before, during, or after casting, but you cannot otherwise move. The spell takes effect at the beginning of that character’s turn in the round after he or she began to cast it. The character then acts normally after the casting is completed.

A spell that takes 1 minute to cast comes into effect just before the character’s turn 1 minute later (the character spends each of those 10 rounds casting as a full-round action).

When a character begins a spell that takes 1 full round or longer to cast, he or she must continue the invocations, gestures, and/or concentration from one round to just before his or her turn in the next round (at least). If the character loses concentration after starting the casting and before it is complete, the spell is lost (see the Concentration skill).

A character retains his or her Dexterity bonus to Defense while casting a spell.

Attacks of Opportunity: Generally, if a character attempts to cast a spell, he or she provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening enemies. Table: FX Actions in Combat specifies whether a certain activity provokes attacks of opportunity. If a character takes damage from an attack of opportunity, he or she must make a Concentration check or lose the spell he or she was trying to cast.

Casting on the Defensive: A character may attempt to cast a spell while on the defensive. This option means casting the spell while paying attention to threats and avoiding blows. In this case, the character are no more vulnerable to attack than he or she would be if the character was just standing there, so casting while on the defensive does not provoke an attack of opportunity. It does, however, require a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to pull off. Failure means the spell is lost..

Table: FX Actions in Combat
Attack Actions	AoO?
Activate a ring, rod, staff, wand, or wondrous item	No
Cast a spell (attack action casting time)	Yes
Concentrate to maintain an active spell or power	No
Dismiss a spell or power	No
Drink a potion	Yes
Manifest a power (attack action manifestation time)	Yes
Read a scroll	Yes
Turn or rebuke undead	No
Use spell-like ability	Yes
Use supernatural ability	No
Use extraordinary ability	No
Use touch spell on self	No
Move Actions	AoO?
Direct or redirect an active spell or power	No
Full-Round Actions	AoO?
Cast a spell (full-round action casting time)	Yes
Manifest a power (full-round action manifestation time)	Yes
Use touch spell on up to six friends	Yes
Free Actions	AoO?
Cease concentration on a spell or power	No
Prepare spell components to cast a spell	No
Make Spellcraft check on counterspell attempt	No