Arcane Channeling for friendly spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Arcane Channeling for friendly spells [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
weepingminotaur
01-25-08, 01:16 PM One of my players will be playing a duskblade in the upcoming module and wants to know if he can use arcane channeling to deliver spells like Dimension Hop to his fellow party members or on himself. The idea is that he wants to be able to cast these types of spells while wielding a sword and shield, instead of having to leave one hand free for spellcasting. Essentially he'd be delivering a friendly tap with his weapon, either to himself or to party members in need.

Is there anything RAW that pertains to this subject? And what do people think about letting a duskblade deliver non-attack spells through Arcane Channeling?

Thanks,

weepingminotaur
weepingminotaur
01-27-08, 12:43 PM Anyone?
Cold Napalm
01-27-08, 12:53 PM Umm no he can not. It needs to be a MELEE attack...not a tap. Since dimensional hop is a touch range spell, he could use a melee attack to do damage and have the spell work on allies or himself just fine. Also there is a the somatic caster feat in complete mage that lets you cast with a sword and shield just fine.
Tedronai
01-28-08, 12:05 AM Well, technically, Arcane Channeling only works in conjunction with a 'weapon attack', specifically a melee weapon attack, but that's not particularly relevant, and not a 'touch attack', which would be the closest representation of a 'friendly tap'.
eamon
01-28-08, 04:57 AM The duskblade could choose to take -4 on his attack roll however and do non-lethal damage (i.e., choose to hit with the "flat of the blade" so to speak).

Notably, this won't prevent damage from energy-enchantments on the blade. Conceivably, if the party trust him abnormally, or they've trained to do this, they could try not to avoid his strikes, and he would only need to hit their flat-footed AC. Finally, I would rule that you can voluntarily lower your strength bonus to hit; that is, take a -1 penalty to hit for each -1 penalty to damage (-1.5 for a two handed weapon).

If you want to be cheesy, consider a whip.
eamon
01-28-08, 07:26 AM (A whip always deals nonlethal damage, and has the nice benefit of dealing no damage to creatures with an armor bonus of +1 or a natural armor bonus of +3 - against almost everyone in your party you could use a whip without dealing damage, that is)
weepingminotaur
01-28-08, 12:41 PM Thanks for the feedback, guys. I actually think I'm going to disallow it. Not only is there nothing RAW to support it, but it seems to run contrary to what I consider the spirit of arcane channeling, which is a mystical buildup of energy in the duskblade that he can channel and transmit in explosive bursts of melee attacks. It ain't meant to be used for gentle lovetaps on allies, IMO. :)

And there is always Somatic Weaponry in case my player wants to be able to cast spells while wielding a sword and shield.

I'm glad I got your opinions on this issue, though, very helpful.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
weepingminotaur 01-25-08, 01:16 PM	One of my players will be playing a duskblade in the upcoming module and wants to know if he can use arcane channeling to deliver spells like Dimension Hop to his fellow party members or on himself. The idea is that he wants to be able to cast these types of spells while wielding a sword and shield, instead of having to leave one hand free for spellcasting. Essentially he'd be delivering a friendly tap with his weapon, either to himself or to party members in need. Is there anything RAW that pertains to this subject? And what do people think about letting a duskblade deliver non-attack spells through Arcane Channeling? Thanks, weepingminotaur
weepingminotaur 01-27-08, 12:43 PM	Anyone?
Cold Napalm 01-27-08, 12:53 PM	Umm no he can not. It needs to be a MELEE attack...not a tap. Since dimensional hop is a touch range spell, he could use a melee attack to do damage and have the spell work on allies or himself just fine. Also there is a the somatic caster feat in complete mage that lets you cast with a sword and shield just fine.
Tedronai 01-28-08, 12:05 AM	Well, technically, Arcane Channeling only works in conjunction with a 'weapon attack', specifically a melee weapon attack, but that's not particularly relevant, and not a 'touch attack', which would be the closest representation of a 'friendly tap'.
eamon 01-28-08, 04:57 AM	The duskblade could choose to take -4 on his attack roll however and do non-lethal damage (i.e., choose to hit with the "flat of the blade" so to speak). Notably, this won't prevent damage from energy-enchantments on the blade. Conceivably, if the party trust him abnormally, or they've trained to do this, they could try not to avoid his strikes, and he would only need to hit their flat-footed AC. Finally, I would rule that you can voluntarily lower your strength bonus to hit; that is, take a -1 penalty to hit for each -1 penalty to damage (-1.5 for a two handed weapon). If you want to be cheesy, consider a whip.
eamon 01-28-08, 07:26 AM	(A whip always deals nonlethal damage, and has the nice benefit of dealing no damage to creatures with an armor bonus of +1 or a natural armor bonus of +3 - against almost everyone in your party you could use a whip without dealing damage, that is)
weepingminotaur 01-28-08, 12:41 PM	Thanks for the feedback, guys. I actually think I'm going to disallow it. Not only is there nothing RAW to support it, but it seems to run contrary to what I consider the spirit of arcane channeling, which is a mystical buildup of energy in the duskblade that he can channel and transmit in explosive bursts of melee attacks. It ain't meant to be used for gentle lovetaps on allies, IMO. :) And there is always Somatic Weaponry in case my player wants to be able to cast spells while wielding a sword and shield. I'm glad I got your opinions on this issue, though, very helpful.