Spells with casting times > 1 second: when do you pick the subject?

Michael Thayne · 02-25-2024, 10:40 PM

Suppose you start casting Daze, which has a 2 second casting time. Then one of your allies kills the target you were initially planning on hitting with the spell. Can you switch to another target on your following turn, or do you have to abort your casting and try again?

Anders · 02-26-2024, 07:02 AM

I'd allow them to switch. It's just a hassle otherwise.

Kromm · 02-26-2024, 10:05 AM

You pick the target when you roll the dice, same as for anything else that has a "target." Casting is not attacking, but its physical combat analog is a bunch of Ready maneuvers to prepare a weapon followed by an Attack maneuver to use it, not a series of Aim or Evaluate maneuvers to watch a specific foe followed by an Attack maneuver on that one foe. Concentrate is mental Ready, not mental Aim or Evaluate.

02-25-2024, 10:40 PM	#1
Michael Thayne Join Date: May 2010	Spells with casting times > 1 second: when do you pick the subject? Suppose you start casting Daze, which has a 2 second casting time. Then one of your allies kills the target you were initially planning on hitting with the spell. Can you switch to another target on your following turn, or do you have to abort your casting and try again? __________________ Handle is a character from the StarDrive* setting (a.k.a. d20 Future), not my real name.

02-26-2024, 07:02 AM	#2
Anders Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden	Re: Spells with casting times > 1 second: when do you pick the subject? I'd allow them to switch. It's just a hassle otherwise. __________________ “When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...” Marcus Aurelius

02-26-2024, 10:05 AM	#3
Kromm *GURPS* Line Editor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Montréal, Québec	Re: Spells with casting times > 1 second: when do you pick the subject? You pick the target when you roll the dice, same as for anything else that has a "target." Casting is not attacking, but its physical combat analog is a bunch of Ready maneuvers to prepare a weapon followed by an Attack maneuver to use it, not a series of Aim or Evaluate maneuvers to watch a specific foe followed by an Attack maneuver on that one foe. Concentrate is mental Ready, not mental Aim or Evaluate. __________________ Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> *GURPS* Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just *GURPS* News]