Casting Time

[LivingTriskele]

In general, how long does it take to cast a Spontaneous or Formulaic Spell? I understand that a Round is 6 seconds. Is it safe to assume that the spell fires off at the end of the round?

Edit: Disregard this question I'll just assume the spell takes effect on the magus' Initiative, just to keep it simple...

[Fruny]

@LivingTriskele

Edit: Disregard this question I'll just assume the spell takes effect on the magus' Initiative, just to keep it simple...

Which is what the rules say on page 174.

[vornmegil]

Curious as to how someone is able to interrupt a caster if the spell takes place on the caster's initiative, unless they are readying an action. If a spell is declared on initiative and then goes off on the same count a round later, this would seem to follow the spirit of the rule that a spell takes 1 round to cast. However by RAW this is not the case. Anyone have any ideas?

[callen]

@vornmegil

Curious as to how someone is able to interrupt a caster if the spell takes place on the caster's initiative, unless they are readying an action. If a spell is declared on initiative and then goes off on the same count a round later, this would seem to follow the spirit of the rule that a spell takes 1 round to cast. However by RAW this is not the case. Anyone have any ideas?

Well, we don't know a lot, but we know some. Fast-cast spells must be able to go off sooner since you can get them to affect things before your initiative. Also, since you can do a fast-cast spell plus a normal spell in one round, each must take less than the full round. You can do many fast-cast spells in a round if you're skilled enough, so presumably they take noticeably less time than a normal spell, plus the name implies as much. Multiple-cast spells do not take less time; in terms of computer programming, it can be stated that these spells are 100% parallelizable and optimally so. Since multiple-cast spells do not take less time, these rules don't imply how much time that is. Beyond the minimal amount I've said, I don't think I can say anything more definitive.

[Brutus]

I thought that you couldn't do a fast-cast and normal spell in the same round....

[Jonathan.Link]

@Brutus

I thought that you couldn't do a fast-cast and normal spell in the same round....

The language is confusing...

@Ars Magica 5th Edition

It takes approximately one combat round to cast a spell, unless it is fast-cast. Thus, a magus cannot cast more than one normal spell, or [more than] a fast-cast and a normal spell, in the same round. A very fast magus may be able to cast more than one fast-cast spell, but this is beyond most magi.

I've seen HRs that enforce all spells must be fast cast within the round... IMO, this isn't necessary if you treat fast casting as reactionary and (primarily) defensive, and don't get into situations where you fast cast a BoAF at an opponent, after having lost initiative to beat your initiative and take him out before he takes you out. Fast casting Wizard's Leap or sidestep, or something that is defensive, rather than offensive gives fast cast rules a reason to exist.

[Brutus]

Thanks, your edit makes it a little clearer.