A Druid casts wind walker in the group. Transforming into clouds takes 10 rounds. What happens when the group is being attacked in the second round. Does the group have to wait till the transformation is complete? Or can the group stop the transformation and fight against their enemies?
Spells with a casting time longer than one action/BA/reaction usually aren't used in combat, but if they are you should note that the spell only takes effect after the casting duration is over. So if a druid began casting wind walk on round 1, then on round 10 on the druid's turn the entire group would instantly turn into clouds. Casting times is how long the spell takes to cast, not how long the spell takes to take effect once it is cast. This also means that the druid can lose the spell if he loses concentration at any point in those 10 rounds.
Spells with a casting time longer than one action/BA/reaction usually aren't used in combat, but if they are you should note that the spell only takes effect after the casting duration is over. So if a druid began casting wind walk on round 1, then on round 10 on the druid's turn the entire group would instantly turn into clouds. Casting times is how long the spell takes to cast, not how long the spell takes to take effect once it is cast. This also means that the druid can lose the spell if he loses concentration at any point in those 10 rounds.
Of course, this doesn't address what would happen if the spell is already cast and per the spell's description it takes 1 minute to transform to and from a cloud.
Though it is not specified in the rules (as far as I know), I would have this transformation treated the same way as casting a spell (requiring to use your action and concentration for 10 turns to transform), so you could stop part way.
Basic Rules > Chapter 10: Spellcasting > Casting a Spell > Casting Time > Longer Casting Times Certain spells (including spells cast as rituals) require more time to cast: minutes or even hours. When you cast a spell with a casting time longer than a single action or reaction, you must spend your action each turn casting the spell, and you must maintain your concentration while you do so. If your concentration is broken, the spell fails, but you don't expend a spell slot. If you want to try casting the spell again, you must start over.
Basic Rules > Chapter 10: Spellcasting > Casting a Spell > Duration > Concentration You lose concentration on a spell if you are incapacitated or if you die.
You can drop the spell in the first minute while casting by stopping the action or losing concentration, but the Wind Walk spell states "Reverting takes 1 minute, during which time a creature is incapacitated and can't move." You are incapacitated while transforming so you have no action and you are not concentrating for the second minute. Essentially, if you are attacked at this time, you're screwed. The only thing that may save you is if your DM rules that the resistance to damage from nonmagical weapons applies from the time you begin to transform into a cloud until the time you fully revert to your normal form.
It doesn't once cast, but since the casting time is 1 minute, the caster needs to be concentrating on the process of casting until the casting is complete:
Certain spells (including spells cast as rituals) require more time to cast: minutes or even hours. When you cast a spell with a casting time longer than a single action or reaction, you must spend your action each turn casting the spell, and you must maintain your concentration while you do so. If your concentration is broken, the spell fails, but you don't expend a spell slot. If you want to try casting the spell again, you must start over.
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A Druid casts wind walker in the group. Transforming into clouds takes 10 rounds. What happens when the group is being attacked in the second round. Does the group have to wait till the transformation is complete? Or can the group stop the transformation and fight against their enemies?
Spells with a casting time longer than one action/BA/reaction usually aren't used in combat, but if they are you should note that the spell only takes effect after the casting duration is over. So if a druid began casting wind walk on round 1, then on round 10 on the druid's turn the entire group would instantly turn into clouds. Casting times is how long the spell takes to cast, not how long the spell takes to take effect once it is cast. This also means that the druid can lose the spell if he loses concentration at any point in those 10 rounds.
OK thanks dir answering my question. A quick follows Up: what if the spell ist cast through a magic Item like the necklace of prayer of beads?
Casting times don’t typically change unless the magic item specifically states it shortens the casting time
Of course, this doesn't address what would happen if the spell is already cast and per the spell's description it takes 1 minute to transform to and from a cloud.
Though it is not specified in the rules (as far as I know), I would have this transformation treated the same way as casting a spell (requiring to use your action and concentration for 10 turns to transform), so you could stop part way.
Thanks guys for the clarification. I will use it like you suggested.
Basic Rules > Chapter 10: Spellcasting > Casting a Spell > Casting Time > Longer Casting Times
Certain spells (including spells cast as rituals) require more time to cast: minutes or even hours. When you cast a spell with a casting time longer than a single action or reaction, you must spend your action each turn casting the spell, and you must maintain your concentration while you do so. If your concentration is broken, the spell fails, but you don't expend a spell slot. If you want to try casting the spell again, you must start over.
Basic Rules > Chapter 10: Spellcasting > Casting a Spell > Duration > Concentration
You lose concentration on a spell if you are incapacitated or if you die.
You can drop the spell in the first minute while casting by stopping the action or losing concentration, but the Wind Walk spell states "Reverting takes 1 minute, during which time a creature is incapacitated and can't move." You are incapacitated while transforming so you have no action and you are not concentrating for the second minute. Essentially, if you are attacked at this time, you're screwed. The only thing that may save you is if your DM rules that the resistance to damage from nonmagical weapons applies from the time you begin to transform into a cloud until the time you fully revert to your normal form.
That's wrong Wind Walk doesn't require concentration.
It doesn't once cast, but since the casting time is 1 minute, the caster needs to be concentrating on the process of casting until the casting is complete:
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)