Can spellcasters cast while engaged in melee?

[Artanisace]

Hi guys, Im not allowing it but wanted to know what do you guys do. For me, casting requires some freedom to move your hands, concentrate, etc... Maybe ‘touch’ range spells could be used while in melee. And btw, do you allow movement and spellcasting and fighting withdrawal and spellcasting?

[Seven]

If you are asking about being able to cast spells while being attacked physically, then, yes, I allow that. Otherwise all those high level spell casting bosses would be pushovers.

The game does not talk about casting time.
If I remember correctly, the version of the game BFRPG is based on had specific rules regarding interrupting spell casting, but I have found very little of that in the rules.

Personally, I see the Vancian magic system (spend a long time committing the spell to memory and then recalling it when needed) resulting in casting taking minimal effort.

[Dimirag]

Casting spells is considered the same as attacking, you can move & cast, cast while in melee, etc, but you can't cast & attack.

Casting in melee has its drawback besides the low AC and HP of a standard MU, any combatant that realizes its fighting in melee against a caster can choose to interrupt the spell casting process

As a side note, BFRPG magic isn't Vancian as commonly expected, but rather "Zelaznian", casters prepare spells rather than memorize, they cast 90-99% of the spell and hold it until needed, then they utter the last words, completing the spell. That's why learning spells form scrolls is not a thing in BFRPG, the scroll contains the latent spell and the last piece of the spell so it can be released.

[Seven]

That might be, but I don't recall character casting spells in Dying Earth so much as just recalling them.

[Solomoriah]

Vance has no bearing whatsoever on spellcasting in Basic Fantasy. "Vancian" magic as interpreted by the games that came before is one thing I could never wrap my mind around... never liked it as described. When I read the second Amber series, where Merlin son of Corwin is preparing spells by investing the energy and creating the forms, I liked that much better. Mechanically it's pretty much the same, but the flavor suits me.

You may, of course, do it however you like in your own game, as always.

[RecklessRoleplayer]

I allow it, but if it's a ranged spell I use the same rules as regular missile fire(pg47), giving a -5 attack penalty. Other than that I don't mind since they run the risk of interruption, unless you use an initiative system that doesn't support it.

[Artanisace]

Makes sense Thank you everyone for your answers!