Would this break a wu-jens taboos?

[Devronq]

Lets say the Wu-jen had the taboo that he cannot touch dead bodies. He then casts a spell that requires a melee touch attack to hit and that spell killed his target. Did he break his taboo? It seems like there would be some point in which the target is dead and he is touching, or is the body not dead for a second or so (after being touched) making it ok? thanks in advance

[fluke1993]

Personally I would say that this doesn't violate his taboos given the fact that the initial touch was on a living person, it isn't a taboo to be in contact with dead bodies, it is a taboo to make contact with dead bodies. Now if the creature was a zombie or some-such this could be a whole nother can of worms.

[Devronq]

Personally I would say that this doesn't violate his taboos given the fact that the initial touch was on a living person, it isn't a taboo to be in contact with dead bodies, it is a taboo to make contact with dead bodies. Now if the creature was a zombie or some-such this could be a whole nother can of worms.

Ya i do see how that was the intention but as written it says

-Cannot touch a dead body.

With to such stipulations that " it isn't a taboo to be in contact with dead bodies, it is a taboo to make contact with dead bodies"

just says touch

[fluke1993]

That's exactly why this works though, to touch means: "to bring a bodily part into contact with especially so as to perceive through the tactile sense..." "or to strike or push lightly especially with the hand or foot or an implement"

This means that he is only forbidden to make contact with a dead body, which the target is NOT at the time of contact.

Additionally this also means that if the Wu-Jen is not the one doing the touching, even if he comes in contact with if he comes in contact with a corpse (ex. an ogre throws one at him) he does not violate his taboo.

This is not to say that the Wu-Jen should not (not that he has to but that it might add depth to) role play the act of touching a dead body as disturbing or mentally grating; by ritually cleaning him/herself ASAP; simply that mechanically there are no penalties for being in contact with dead bodies.

*edit: definition source; http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touch

[KillingAScarab]

Isn't there a feat you could take to learn spectral hand (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/spectralHand.htm) and avoid this definition nonsense?

[Ace Nex]

It all comes down to personal opinion on the matter. Some DM's say yes, some say no, either way it's up to you to decide.

[The Viscount]

I would say you are fine. It probably takes a moment for the spell to take effect, so if you move your hand away quickly enough, it should be fine.

[TuggyNE]

The usual definition of touch in D&D seems to exclude preexisting contact and contact initiated by someone else, for what that's worth.

[sreservoir]

it's a wu jen taboo; you define it as you and the gm see fit, and if you can't figure it out, you define it more specifically.