Does Weapon Focus(Ray) and Point Blank Shot stack?

[Gamereaper]

Does Weapon Focus(Ray) and Point Blank Shot stack within 30 feet?

What other combinations work nicely for increasing Ranged Touch?

What penalties do I get towards firing a ray spell in point blank without Point Blank Shot?

[BWR]

1. Yes.
2. Anything that increases your attack bonus. Precise Shot is nice if you are firing into melee a lot, but between touch ACs and the far more useful feats you can use, e.g. metamagic, you're better off using other means of increasing your attack bonus. True Strike spell, BAB, higher Dex, reducing the target's AC, being invisible; the list goes on.
3. none.

[Gamereaper]

So if I'm standing right next to someone, I can still fire rays?

[Kamai]

So if I'm standing right next to someone, I can still fire rays?

You can, but you're subject to (I believe) 2 attacks of opportunity, if they have combat reflexes. One for spellcasting (which can be negated by defensively casting), and one for making a ranged attack.

[HaikenEdge]

You can, but you're subject to (I believe) 2 attacks of opportunity, if they have combat reflexes. One for spellcasting (which can be negated by defensively casting), and one for making a ranged attack.

Which can be negated with something like Close Combat Shot.

[Gamereaper]

Which can be negated with something like Close Combat Shot.

This feat is exactly what I was looking for. Can I have the details for that feat, I can't find them.

[MirddinEmris]

Close Combat Shot is not a feat, but a class feature of Order of Bow Initiate PrC. Otherwise, you should use this (http://dndtools.eu/) resource for searching feats/classes/spells/etc from DnD 3.5

[Gamereaper]

I'm a sorcerer, is there anything that could help me in melee range casting ray spells?

I don't want to cornered and beaten like a pinata. (Laughing Face)

[Gamereaper]

Which can be negated with something like Close Combat Shot.

How is that relevant for a ray shooting spell caster?

[Gamereaper]

Close Combat Shot is not a feat, but a class feature of Order of Bow Initiate PrC. Otherwise, you should use this (http://dndtools.eu/) resource for searching feats/classes/spells/etc from DnD 3.5

Thanks, but I already use dndtools. (Smiley Face)

[HaikenEdge]

How is that relevant for a ray shooting spell caster?

The text for Close Combat Shot (emphasis mine):

At 2nd level, an initiate can attack with a ranged weapon while in a threatened square and not provoke an attack of opportunity.

My understanding is that a ray is still a ranged weapon, meaning something like Close Combat Shot would negate the AoO provoked making a ranged attack while threatened by an enemy in melee.

[Spuddles]

I'm a sorcerer, is there anything that could help me in melee range casting ray spells?

I don't want to cornered and beaten like a pinata. (Laughing Face)

Sure; just dont get into melee. Be invisible, flying, or lay down some battlefield control, like black tentacles.

You can also cast a non-ray spell while in melee using the casting defensively rules.

[Psyren]

If you do want it in feat form, PF has Point Blank Master (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/point-blank-master-combat).

[Phaederkiel]

there is a feat called "ranged recall", which is quite nice if you cannot allow your rays to miss.

[Jgosse]

get shield proficiency, pick up a mithril buckler and shield casting from ROS. Boom any spell no AOO and you get shield bonus.

[Gamereaper]

get shield proficiency, pick up a mithril buckler and shield casting from ROS. Boom any spell no AOO and you get shield bonus.

You don't need a proficiency with a mithral buckler, do you?

Regardless, I have it already.

[Vortenger]

Unless the blaggard has reach and you let yourself be in a terrible tactical location, the usual "I 5-foot shift away and cast (whatever)!" covers 90% of your bases

[Studoku]

get shield proficiency, pick up a mithril buckler and shield casting from ROS. Boom any spell no AOO and you get shield bonus.
It needs to be a mithril light shield- a buckler isn't enough for Shielded Casting. Not that this is an issue unless you need both hands. It also has a couple of prereqs which are a little annoying.

[ericgrau]

I'm a sorcerer, is there anything that could help me in melee range casting ray spells?

I don't want to cornered and beaten like a pinata. (Laughing Face)

24 hours of false life and 24 hours of mage armor (or greater mage armor) helps a lot. A lesser rod of extend spell helps with hour/level buffs in general.

Don't forget precise shot if you're in a party. I'd take that before weapon focus. I might not ever take weapon focus if your feats are limited, because by the time you hit your level 9 or 12ish feat your BAB is high enough that you don't really need it anymore. Halfling or whisper gnome can give you another +2 to hit (+1 from size, +1 from dex).

[Jgosse]

It needs to be a mithril light shield- a buckler isn't enough for Shielded Casting. Not that this is an issue unless you need both hands. It also has a couple of prereqs which are a little annoying.

I never noticed that.