List of Rays

[OracleofSilence]

So, I have been looking into Spellwarp Sniper (know its not great), so I have run into an issue. I am not particularly familiar with the list of ray spells, so...

Any good suggestions for damage/debuff rays? I know the classic Shocking Ray, Burning Ray, but what other rays... are really worth it (i am not sure if those can even be considered worth it).

[Flickerdart]

Someone else has done the job (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=9235.0) for you. I recommend Frost Breath (spellwarped = no-save daze).

[OracleofSilence]

Why thank you. Some how, google fu failed me...

[Diarmuid]

Of note, you dont need to focus on Ray spells as you're able to turn non-rays into rays with that PrC.

[nedz]

Here's one I prepared earlier - its fairly complete, but only goes up to 4th.
YMMV with a couple of them

Rays
0th

Ev *Ray of Frost


1st

Nc Ray of Enfeeblement (d6 +1/2 CL Str)
Tr Ray of Clumsyness (d6 +1/2 CL Dex)
Ev *Ray of Flame(d6/2 CL), may ignite
Div Targeting Ray (gives you and allies +1/3 CLs on ranged attacks)


2nd

Ev *Scorching Ray (4d6 fire, +1 ray/4 CL)
En *Ray of Stupidity (d4+1 Int)
En Sting Ray (1 action per rd, +2 ac, ...)
Ev *Blast of Force (d6/2 CL force, Knockdown)
Ev *Rainbow beam (dazzled, d12/3 random)
Ev *Ray of Ice(d6/2 CL cold), cannot move
Nc Ray of Sickness
Nc Ray of Weakness(-2 att, -10' speed)
Nc Escalating Enfeeblement (gives higher penalty to str on creatures with damage/penalty to ability scores or who are exhausted/fatigued)
Ev Seeking Ray (4d6 electric, 4 to hit with ray spells for CL rounds) SA
Nc Life Bolt (1d12 damage to undead per ray. 1 extra ray per 2 CLs above 1st, max 5 at 9. take 1 nonlethal dmg per ray that hits) SA


3rd

Nc Ray of Exhaustion (half speed, -6 Str, Dex)
Ev *Ice Lance(+4 to hit,6d6 cold/pierce,Fort Stunn d4 rds)
En Ray of Dizzyness
Tr Rust Ray
Nc Greater Disrupt Undead (1d8/2CL damage to undead (cap 10), allows you to redirect overkill damage to secondary target) SA


4th

Nc Ennervation (d4 neg levels)
Abj Ray of deanimation(d6/ to construct)


* Damage - eligible for sneak, skirimish etc.
Ev Evocation
Tr Transformation
En Ench
Cj Conjuration
Nc Necro

Sources
PH, SpC

Ed: Tidied up the list a little after suggestions from Venger

[Venger]

(great list)

one small thing though:

as per the rules in complete arcane on weaponlike spells, anything that deals negative energy or ability damage is also eligible for skirmish/SA (bonus damage is negative energy damage) so you could put a ** or the like next to enervation and ray of stupidity (since it's damage and not a penalty like ray of clumsiness) for that reason.

Here's a couple more I found. I left off divine ones like saltray and lanuor since you're going into spellwarp sniper and bad ones like distracting ray

1st

Div Targeting Ray (gives you and allies +1/3CLs on ranged attacks)


2nd

Necro Escalating Enfeeblement (gives higher penalty to str on creatures with damage/penalty to ability scores or who are exhausted/fatigued)
Evoc Seeking Ray (4d6 electric, 4 to hit with ray spells for CL rounds) SA
Necro Life Bolt (1d12 damage to undead per ray. 1 extra ray per 2 CLs above 1st, max 5 at 9. take 1 nonlethal dmg per ray that hits) SA


3rd

Necro Greater Disrupt Undead (1d8/2CL damage to undead (cap 10), allows you to redirect overkill damage to secondary target) SA


Sources
PHB2, SpC,CArc

[nedz]

Thanks Venger

Do you have a source for Seeking Ray, I couldn't find it in the listed sources.

Also I'm not sure about Greater Disrupt Undead and Ice Lance, because they are not strictly Rays. I deliberately didn't include the Orb spells for that reason. I may need to remove these.

[Venger]

Thanks Venger

Do you have a source for Seeking Ray, I couldn't find it in the listed sources.

Also I'm not sure about Greater Disrupt Undead and Ice Lance, because they are not strictly Rays. I deliberately didn't include the Orb spells for that reason. I may need to remove these.

sure, seeking ray is in PHB2.

greater disrupt undead is indeed a ray. it's instantaneous, and requires a ranged touch attack to hit. what did you mean, precisely?

I can't say the same for ice lance as I couldn't find it. where is it?

while fluffwise the orb of x spells don't sound like rays, mechanically, they are rays (ranged touch attack to hit) but that's understood.

[nedz]

As I understand it Ray spells have ray in their description. This is a requirement for a few things such as split ray metamagic.

Example

Ray of Frost
Evocation [Cold]
Level: Sor/Wiz 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: Ray
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
...

Ed: Icelance is in SpC, and its Effect states One lance of Ice
So its a lance spell ?:smallconfused:
Its a ranged attack spell (not touch)

I think I may need to refine my list.
I'll get back to you one this :smallsmile:

[KillianHawkeye]

while fluffwise the orb of x spells don't sound like rays, mechanically, they are rays (ranged touch attack to hit) but that's understood.

Orbs are not rays. They are spells which have an effect: "One orb of <energy>"

[nedz]

OK - I'm still working on refining the list.

But one thing is bugging me: Are their any other Lances spells ?:smallconfused:

[TuggyNE]

while fluffwise the orb of x spells don't sound like rays, mechanically, they are rays (ranged touch attack to hit) but that's understood.

All rays are ranged touch attacks, but not all ranged touch attacks are rays.

Fortunately, you don't need a ray to get crits/precision damage, or even a ranged touch -- all you need is an attack roll of some kind. (I'm pretty sure spells like spiritual weapon are excluded because of language like "strikes as a spell, not a weapon" and "receives no flanking bonus".)