Do you have to have a target to cast a spell?

[Gilby]

What the title says. Is there a rule somewhere clarifying/confirming this?

[Overread]

Page 233 in main rule book under Wizards section of the rules (also in the pdf online)

Casting spells - "In order to cast a spell, first say which spell the wizard is going to attempt to use (it must be one they know). To cast the spell, roll 2d6. If the total is equal to or greater than the casting value of the spell, the spell is successfully cast."

Most spells state then if they are successfully cast select a target within x inches etc.. Ergo technically speaking yes you can cast a spell without a target; though in the real practical world players measure range and will likely declare targets before attempting to cast (though technically you don't have to). 

In theory this means that yes you can measure the distance to several units to your wizard and then cast a spell without telling your opponent the target of the spell until after you've attempted to cast and they have either allowed it or attempted to unbind it. You are not required to tell your opponent the target of the spell until after the casting phase (which includes the counter casting) is completed. Of course if the spell is target self then you will have to declare as that is information on the spells warscroll and thus openly known to all players. 

 

 

Note because measuring distances is freely done at any point if you don't measure and just declare you're casting a spell your opponent is free to read the range from the spell description and measure possible targets to your wizard before they choose to unbind or not. 

 

Note 2 this appears to be how spells are intended to work, however its likely one of those mental leaps most players won't realise until after its shown to them as otherwise many are going to copy-cat how ranged attacks work where you declare targets before attempting to hit.

 

edit - note that most spells state something along the lines of "if successfully cast pick a target within x inches" this implies quite strongly that if there is a legal target for the spell then you must use the spell if it is successfully cast. There is no choice built into the language. Therefore you cannot attempt to cast and then not use a spell if there is a legal target within range of your mage for the spell. So you can't trick your opponent by moving a mage close and then wasting your spells to get them to waste their dispels. 

Edited July 27, 2018 by Overread

[Aginor]

Interesting thing to note:

A Slann can increase the range of a spell by 6" if he rolls 10+ on the casting roll.

So I cast Arcane Bolt despite being 20" away from any targets. If it is a 10+ roll, and not unbound, then I choose an enemy unit and roll damage.

But...what if it is less than 10?

IMO it just does nothing, I just wasted a spell slot. But I think there is really no rule that clearly says what is supposed to happen.

Anyway, the example clearly shows that you first cast the spell, then pick the target. Otherwise that ability would make no sense at all.

[Overread]

Aginor if you cast a spell and there is no legal target then clearly the spell does nothing and ends. The wizard simply stands there and finds themselves a fool with no legal target and lets the energies flow away. You still count as having cast the spell so;

1) You have used up that spell casting count for the wizard.

2) You have actually cast the spell, so you also cannot recast that same spell in the same turn and must wait until your next magic turn to cast it once more. 

 

So its a double gamble not just on the wizards spell cast counter, but also on the spell itself. 

[Phantajisto]

I was wondering this too. Tzeentch wizards get Fate Points for casting spells so it's nice to be able to cast even when out of range.

[BaldoBeardo]

2 minutes ago, Gilby said:

What the title says. Is there a rule somewhere clarifying/confirming this?

Context needed - what are you trying to get out of casting a spell with no target available?

[Nico]

No need to select a target - the wording of Arcane Bolt etc. only involves selecting a target after it has been cast and not unbound.

[Overread]

4 hours ago, Phantajisto said:

I was wondering this too. Tzeentch wizards get Fate Points for casting spells so it's nice to be able to cast even when out of range.

How is the wording? To they have to fully cast and resolve and hit their target or just cast a spell itself? Depending on the wording Tzeentch wizards could generate for themselves one or two extra charges without having to have a viable target. Then again if they've got access to a spell lore as normal chances are throwing a buff on one of your units or on themselves is better  than just wasting a casting. 

[Danish Bull]

Dis this ever get clarified 100%?