Can a touch spell affect more than 1 target? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can a touch spell affect more than 1 target? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
FGBill
04-19-08, 07:05 PM Sorry for what should be a simple question but I get into a "fight" with it every time with one of the players. He claims that he can cast 1 "cure (l/m/c) wounds" spell and heal everybody standing adjacent to him. His idea is that he can touch everybody adjacent to him in 6 seconds. I say it takes him 6 seconds to channel the positive energy to 1 target.
He agrees to abide by the Forum's decision, so please help. I'm afraid his next step is to be able to use a single touch attack on every adjacent target.:mad:

Thanks!
Shaggy_Shaggs
04-19-08, 08:19 PM No. Touch spells are generally one-shot effects, exceptions to that will spell themselves out (examples chill touch (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/chillTouch.htm), plane shift (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/planeShift.htm)).
Zuggster
04-19-08, 08:37 PM <boot to the players head>

For the backing of the Rules....

CLW - Target: Creature Touched
Chill Touch (as mentioned above) Target: Creature or Creatures Touched

The Text of each also backs it up...."Creature Touched..." vs "Each Touch...."
calronmoonflower
04-19-08, 09:19 PM Some rare touch attacks allow for more than one target. If they do then the spell itself will says if you can.

Example: The Hammer power from the Expanded Psionics Handbook allows for multiple touch attacks.
FGBill
04-20-08, 11:49 AM Thanks! That's what I thought and now he'll believe me. :w00t:
narack
04-21-08, 08:25 AM You can do up to 8 touch on a full round action. but if the spell affect 1 person it's useless to touch 8
Douglasm
04-21-08, 09:24 PM Yes, you can touch multiple people in one round, but this does not change the target line of a spell's description. A Cure Light Wounds spell has a target of "creature touched". Note the singular. Teleport, on the other hand, can affect "touched willing creatures". Note the plural. Attempting to touch many people with a Cure Light Wounds will result in it discharging on the first person touched and having no effect on anyone else. Attempting to touch many people while casting Teleport will result in all of the touched creatures who are willing (up to the limit specified in the full text) being Teleported with you.
hollow_ghost
04-21-08, 09:30 PM Else what would be the point of Cure/Inflict Light Wound, Mass and Bull's Strength, Mass except for the long distance? I mean why waste a perfectly good high level spell slot for a Mass-something spell if you can do it with a level 1 slot, even if it means getting people closer?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FGBill 04-19-08, 07:05 PM	Sorry for what should be a simple question but I get into a "fight" with it every time with one of the players. He claims that he can cast 1 "cure (l/m/c) wounds" spell and heal everybody standing adjacent to him. His idea is that he can touch everybody adjacent to him in 6 seconds. I say it takes him 6 seconds to channel the positive energy to 1 target. He agrees to abide by the Forum's decision, so please help. I'm afraid his next step is to be able to use a single touch attack on every adjacent target.:mad: Thanks!
Shaggy_Shaggs 04-19-08, 08:19 PM	No. Touch spells are generally one-shot effects, exceptions to that will spell themselves out (examples chill touch (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/chillTouch.htm), plane shift (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/planeShift.htm)).
Zuggster 04-19-08, 08:37 PM	<boot to the players head> For the backing of the Rules.... CLW - Target: Creature Touched Chill Touch (as mentioned above) Target: Creature or Creatures Touched The Text of each also backs it up...."Creature Touched..." vs "Each Touch...."
calronmoonflower 04-19-08, 09:19 PM	Some rare touch attacks allow for more than one target. If they do then the spell itself will says if you can. Example: The Hammer power from the Expanded Psionics Handbook allows for multiple touch attacks.
FGBill 04-20-08, 11:49 AM	Thanks! That's what I thought and now he'll believe me. :w00t:
narack 04-21-08, 08:25 AM	You can do up to 8 touch on a full round action. but if the spell affect 1 person it's useless to touch 8
Douglasm 04-21-08, 09:24 PM	Yes, you can touch multiple people in one round, but this does not change the target line of a spell's description. A Cure Light Wounds spell has a target of "creature touched". Note the singular. Teleport, on the other hand, can affect "touched willing creatures". Note the plural. Attempting to touch many people with a Cure Light Wounds will result in it discharging on the first person touched and having no effect on anyone else. Attempting to touch many people while casting Teleport will result in all of the touched creatures who are willing (up to the limit specified in the full text) being Teleported with you.
hollow_ghost 04-21-08, 09:30 PM	Else what would be the point of Cure/Inflict Light Wound, Mass and Bull's Strength, Mass except for the long distance? I mean why waste a perfectly good high level spell slot for a Mass-something spell if you can do it with a level 1 slot, even if it means getting people closer?