Spells: Difference between revisions

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Many spells have a range of touch. To use these spells, you cast the spell and then touch the subject. In the same round that you cast the spell, you may also touch (or attempt to touch) as a free action. You may take your move before casting the spell, after touching the target, or between casting the spell and touching the target. You can automatically touch one friend or use the spell on yourself, but to touch an opponent, you must succeed on an attack roll.
Many spells have a range of touch. To use these spells, you cast the spell and then touch the subject. In the same round that you cast the spell, you may also touch (or attempt to touch) as a free action. You may take your move before casting the spell, after touching the target, or between casting the spell and touching the target. You can automatically touch one friend or use the spell on yourself, but to touch an opponent, you must succeed on an attack roll.


:* '''Touch Attacks:''' Touching an opponent with a touch spell is considered to be an armed attack and therefore does not provoke attacks of opportunity. The act of casting a spell, however, does provoke an attack of opportunity. [[Touch Attack]]s come in two types: melee Touch Attacks and ranged Touch Attacks. You can score critical hits with either type of attack as long as the spell deals damage. Your opponent's AC against a Touch Attack does not include any armor bonus, shield bonus, or natural armor bonus. His size modifier, Dexterity modifier, and deflection bonus (if any) all apply normally.
:* '''Touch Attacks:''' Touching an opponent with a touch spell is considered to be an armed attack and therefore does not provoke attacks of opportunity. The act of casting a spell, however, does provoke an attack of opportunity. [[Touch Attack]]s come in two types: melee Touch Attacks and ranged Touch Attacks. You can score critical hits with either type of attack as long as the spell deals damage. Normally only a natural 20 on the attack roll threatens a critical, and if confirmed, the hit point damage (if any) inflicted by the spell is doubled.  Your opponent's AC against a Touch Attack does not include any armor bonus, shield bonus, or natural armor bonus, and is usually listed separately on a monster's blueprint.


:* '''Holding the Charge:''' If you don't discharge the spell in the round when you cast the spell, you can hold the charge indefinitely. You can continue to make [[Touch Attack]]s round after round. If you touch anything or anyone while holding a charge, even unintentionally, the spell discharges. If you cast another spell, the touch spell dissipates. You can touch one friend as a standard action or up to six friends as a full-round action. Alternatively, you may make a normal unarmed attack (or an attack with a natural weapon) while holding a charge. In this case, you aren't considered armed and you provoke attacks of opportunity as normal for the attack. If your unarmed attack or natural weapon attack normally doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity, neither does this attack. If the attack hits, you deal normal damage for your unarmed attack or natural weapon and the spell discharges. If the attack misses, you are still holding the charge.
:* '''Holding the Charge:''' If you don't discharge the spell in the round when you cast the spell, you can 'hold the charge' of the attack energy in your hand and continue to make [[Touch Attack]]s round after round. If you wish, you can hold the charge for up to an entire day. This allows you to 'pre-cast' one touch-attack spell and have it ready throughout the day, if you desire, but this does carry some risk.  If you touch anything or anyone while holding a charge, even unintentionally, the spell discharges. If you cast another spell, the touch spell dissipates. You can touch one friend as a standard action or up to six friends as a full-round action. Alternatively, you may make a normal unarmed attack (or an attack with a natural weapon) while holding a charge. In this case, you aren't considered armed and you provoke attacks of opportunity as normal for the attack. If your unarmed attack or natural weapon attack normally doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity, neither does this attack. If the attack hits, you deal normal damage for your unarmed attack or natural weapon and the spell discharges. If the attack misses, you are still holding the charge.


:* '''Ranged Touch Spells in Combat:''' Some spells allow you to make a ranged [[Touch Attack]] as part of the casting of the spell. These attacks are made as part of the spell and do not require a separate action. Ranged Touch Attacks provoke an attack of opportunity, even if the spell that causes the attacks was cast defensively. Unless otherwise noted, ranged Touch Attacks cannot be held until a later turn.  As a note, if you cast a spell that allows you to make a ranged Touch Attack (such as scorching ray), and an enemy is within reach, do you do not provoke two attacks of opportunity (since no creature can make more than one attack of opportunity as a result of a single action, even if the action appears to provoke AOO's multiple times).
:* '''Ranged Touch Spells in Combat:''' Some spells allow you to make a ranged [[Touch Attack]] as part of the casting of the spell. These attacks are made as part of the spell and do not require a separate action. Ranged Touch Attacks provoke an attack of opportunity, even if the spell that causes the attacks was cast defensively. Unless otherwise noted, ranged Touch Attacks cannot be held until a later turn.  As a note, if you cast a spell that allows you to make a ranged Touch Attack (such as scorching ray), and an enemy is within reach, do you do not provoke two attacks of opportunity (since no creature can make more than one attack of opportunity as a result of a single action, even if the action appears to provoke AOO's multiple times).

Revision as of 03:06, 6 August 2017