HYPERBOREA / Spellcasting and Hindered

Things I Worked On · **Posted by Ynas Midgard** 8/17/2018 8:26 am

p252 notes that

If a sorcerer is engaged in melee with an enemy and attempts to cast a spell, he is effectively hindered

which translates to having a penalty of -2 AC.
My question is whether the same penalty applies to missile attacks targeted at a sorcerer whilst casting? Even though the rules stay silent, an argument can be made that the sorcerer is equally distracted, therefore cannot pay full attention to and position properly against an incoming arrow.

Last edited by Ynas Midgard (8/17/2018 9:15 am)

**Posted by gizmomathboy** 8/17/2018 8:46 am

I would say they suffer the penalty. They aren't focusing on any kind of combat, missile fire included.

So, don't cast in melee . :-)

**Posted by mabon5127** 8/17/2018 9:28 am

gizmomathboy wrote:
I would say they suffer the penalty. They aren't focusing on any kind of combat, missile fire included.

So, don't cast in melee . :-)

I agree.

**Posted by Iron Ranger** 8/17/2018 10:41 am

Not sure I agree. Depends on when the missiles were launched. Also maybe on the level of the caster... I would think that with experience, staying cool as a cucumber under fire could become the norm.

**Posted by DMPrata** 8/17/2018 6:00 pm

If the sorcerer is casting in melee, then he suffers a –2 AC penalty vs. all attacks (melee and missile). If the sorcerer is not in melee, then he retains his normal AC vs. incoming missiles.

**Posted by Iron Ranger** 8/17/2018 8:14 pm

DMPrata wrote:
If the sorcerer is casting in melee, then he suffers a –2 AC penalty vs. all attacks (melee and missile). If the sorcerer is not in melee, then he retains his normal AC vs. incoming missiles.

Now this I can agree with!

How close can the caster get to the melee without being "in" the melee and suffering the penalty?
The length of the longest nearest weapon?

**Posted by DMPrata** 8/18/2018 9:01 am

Iron Ranger wrote:
How close can the caster get to the melee without being "in" the melee and suffering the penalty?
The length of the longest nearest weapon?

I’d use the enemies’ reach, as defined on p. 248.

**Posted by Iron Ranger** 8/19/2018 9:22 pm

DMPrata wrote:
Iron Ranger wrote:
How close can the caster get to the melee without being "in" the melee and suffering the penalty?
The length of the longest nearest weapon?

I’d use the enemies’ reach, as defined on p. 248.

Thanks David!
(Vol III, p. 212 for those of us still in the 1E boxed set.)

Things I Worked On · **Posted by Ynas Midgard** 8/22/2018 11:39 am

@ DMPrata
Oh yeah, I somehow missed that hindered applies to both melee and missile attacks. Thanks for the clarification!