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Thread: A silly build with silly damage
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2022-01-16, 07:53 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2016
Re: A silly build with silly damage
As said, either you get:
a) multiple charges
or
b) charges that hold longer for than a single touch attack.
I don't see any other valid interpretation for an instantaneous effect. If you have another valid option, I'm curious.
First of all, both Chill Touch and Scorching Ray only get one attack at their minimum CL. I don't see what that has to do with anything, but there's no difference between the two spells in that regard. Second of all, Scorching Ray says "You may fire one ray, plus one additional ray for every four levels beyond 3rd (to a maximum of three rays at 11th level)." and Chill Touch says "You can use this melee touch attack up to one time per level." The wordings are almost identical. The only difference is that Scorching Ray explicitly requires you to use all of the attacks simultaneously. Notably, it doesn't grant you the ability to make all of the attacks simultaneously, nor does it say that the attacks need to occur when you cast the spell. For both of those, you need RC 136. Also, as I mentioned in a previous post, there are a few spell that function similarly to Scorching Ray but don't specify that all of the attacks need to be simultaneous, like Hailstones. Given that the wording is basically identical, I don't see why you're saying that they function in completely different ways.
The problem is what the spells enable you to do. While Scorching Ray allows you to directly use rays (which bypasses the attack action declaration), for which it demands ranged touch attacks (as part of the effect), Chill Touch sole allows you to use a "melee touch" (action). The first attack is free due to the general touch spell rules, in the round you cast the spell. Any further "attack" also has to be "used", therefore requiring the regular actions required for it.
Producing multiple rays ( =multiple attack actions) is not the same as granting multiple (touch spell) uses (requiring a separate action).
You are treating their spell text identical, because you are used to touch spell giving a free attack on their cast. But that is not part of their effect text, it's the general Touch Spells in Combat rule. Scorching Ray produces attacks while Chill Touch enables you to do (touch) attacks. This is why the multiple attack rule doesn't work for Chill Touch (and other "touch spells"). Because Chill Touch never produces attacks/attack actions.
Still, the important thing here is that you can't hold the charge for Chill Touch. Therefore, none of the rules pertaining to using touch spells in later rounds would apply to it. The only way you could use all of the attacks granted is if you use them all in the same round that you cast the spell.
PS: sorry for the late response, but I was short on time the past days. And deeper rule discussions always need some preparation time..^^Extended Signature with Links to all my build showcases in the forum
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Gaive'Ur, the last Eldritch Knight of Bane (✝)
PACMAN, the Southern Beholder Mage (accelerated spell progression + double 9s)
Optimus Urbana Hierophantus - a Mobile Suit Gundam / Mech / Transformers build
Orko, He-man & Battlecat (a Dragonfire Mount's Ubermount and its Ubermount)
Giant Dwarf, the Rock Superstar (a War Chanter build)