Kineticist casting attacks of opportunity

[Cren]

Thought I'd have some solo kineticist fun but noticed everytime i cast a blast it provokes an attack of opportunity from enemies. Was there a way to not provoke them?

[Procrastinating Gamer]

Originally posted by Autocthon:

Originally posted by Shadow88:

Only feat I know of that lets you cast in combat is Combat Casting and that just gives a bonus on the concentration check to avoid provoking the AoO.

Problem is - a Kineticist's blasts aren't spells so Combat Casting would do nothing for them. They're ranged attacks and, to my knowledge, there is no way at all (even in tabletop) to avoid provoking an AoO when making a ranged attack while in melee.

EDIT: Just to elaborate, while I think of it - if it's done at range and requires an attack roll, it'll provoke an attack of opportunity (unless it's description specifically says it doesn't provoke, which the Kinetic Blast ability does not). Doesn't matter if it's a crossbow, scorching ray, a laser pistol from Numeria, or a thrown weapon, it'll provoke.

IIRC point blank master[www.d20pfsrd.com] is in the game. And KB should be a valid option for it. But you'd be using kinetic blade in melee if you were using anything. Which is, you guessed it, melee. And better at dealing damage against one target than a ranged build by a wide margin.

How did I never know about that feat? Gonna have to remember that if I ever find a campaign for that Gunslinger that I've been wanting to play. Although come to think of it, there's probably no way to avoid provoking when reloading, which is a bit of an issue when using blackpowder weapons.

[Autocthon]

Originally posted by Shadow88:

How did I never know about that feat? Gonna have to remember that if I ever find a campaign for that Gunslinger that I've been wanting to play. Although come to think of it, there's probably no way to avoid provoking when reloading, which is a bit of an issue when using blackpowder weapons.

Well you probably didn't know about it because its gated behind fighter or ranger levels.

Sword and Pistol Combat might be more attainable without dips[www.d20pfsrd.com].

You can also use the Gunslinger Deed

Lightning Reload (Ex): At 11th level, as long as the gunslinger has at least 1 grit point, she can reload a single barrel of a one-handed or two-handed firearm as a swift action once per round. If she has the Rapid Reload feat or is using an alchemical cartridge (or both), she can reload a single barrel of the weapon as a free action each round instead. Furthermore, using this deed does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

[haplok]

Originally posted by Shadow88:

Originally posted by Cren:

Righto thanks, had a vague memory there was a feat that let you cast in melee but was propably thinking of something else lol. Went with 20 DEX 20 WIS 1 lvl monk and 4 levels so far in (water) psychokineticist. Solo because I love playing these games with a single character :P

Only feat I know of that lets you cast in combat is Combat Casting and that just gives a bonus on the concentration check to avoid provoking the AoO.

Problem is - a Kineticist's blasts aren't spells so Combat Casting would do nothing for them. They're ranged attacks and, to my knowledge, there is no way at all (even in tabletop) to avoid provoking an AoO when making a ranged attack while in melee.

EDIT: Just to elaborate, while I think of it - if it's done at range and requires an attack roll, it'll provoke an attack of opportunity (unless it's description specifically says it doesn't provoke, which the Kinetic Blast ability does not). Doesn't matter if it's a crossbow, scorching ray, a laser pistol from Numeria, or a thrown weapon, it'll provoke.

What about other Form Infusions, though? Such as Spindle, Wall, Deadly Earth, Cloud, Cyclone, Detonate?
They no longer test the attack vs AC and instead have regular saves (usually reflex, some don't even have a save). Do they provoke AoOs also? Does Combat Casting help here?

[Weaver]

I think there is a range feat that allow to shoot while in melee without provoking AoO, point blank master maybe? Not sure if it would work with blasts though.

[Procrastinating Gamer]

Originally posted by haplok:

What about other Form Infusions, though? Such as Spindle, Wall, Deadly Earth, Cloud, Cyclone, Detonate?
They no longer test the attack vs AC and instead have regular saves (usually reflex, some don't even have a save). Do they provoke AoOs also? Does Combat Casting help here?

I'm not sure if those provoke an AoO or not. I'd say not but, reading how these abilities work in tabletop, I can see a GM ruling either way.

That being said; Combat Casting would not help with this for one very simple reason - they're still not spells. Spells are the things you cast out of spell slots and Kineticists do not use spell slots and do not cast spells. Therefore, Combat Casting is utterly useless to a Kineticist unless they multiclass into an actual spellcasting class.

[Autocthon]

Originally posted by Shadow88:

I'm not sure if those provoke an AoO or not. I'd say not but, reading how these abilities work in tabletop, I can see a GM ruling either way.

That being said; Combat Casting would not help with this for one very simple reason - they're still not spells. Spells are the things you cast out of spell slots and Kineticists do not use spell slots and do not cast spells. Therefore, Combat Casting is utterly useless to a Kineticist unless they multiclass into an actual spellcasting class.

Kinetic Blast (Sp)[www.d20pfsrd.com]

Kinetic Blast is a spell like ability[www.d20pfsrd.com]. It functions as aspell like ability. Spell like abilities function as spells (even if there is no spell-equivalent). This means you provoke an AoO for using any blast unless it says otherwise, it also means you actually provoke 2 AoOs when you cast a standard blast in melee (once for casting a spell like ability, a second time for using a ranged attack). It also means you can cast a kinetic blast defensively and you make concentration checks when casting kinetic blast for any reason you would make concentration checks when casting a spell.

[Procrastinating Gamer]

Ah, I see. I was only ever looking at the Kinetic Blast's own description, I didn't notice that the ability said "gains a kinetic blast wild talent of her choice". Now that I've read the Wild Talent ability's description, ignore everything I've said related directly to Kinetic Blasts in this thread. Man, now I feel really stupid for missing that.