Duskblade casting [Archive] - Wizards Community

Duskblade casting [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Drawdy
07-20-07, 09:56 PM I know since I'm the DM I have the right to rule however I want to, yada yada, yada, but I really would like to know what the official rules are (as well as how to find them) or at least a viable, logical theory.

Two Duskblade questions I haven't been able to find answers for:

1) Does the Duskblade need to have the "Somatic Casting" feat from Complete Mage to channel a spell through his weapon...especially if he's using a two handed weapon?

2) If a Duskblade channels a touch attack spell, such as Shocking Grasp, through his weapon and achieves a critical hit is the spell damage multiplied as well as the weapon damage? I know energy damage from magical weapons (such as a flamong sword) do not multiply, but this is not necessarily the same as mage spells requiring an attack roll (which is technically what this is in addition to a weapon attack) can crit hit.
Andrew
07-20-07, 11:40 PM Somatic components are still required to cast a spell through arcane channeling. Depending on how much confidence you have in the FAQ and such, this doesn't necessarily knock out using a two-handed weapon. You can shift the weapon to one hand, cast, and then restore your grip to attack. The FAQ suggests it should be a move action to shift a weapon from one hand to the other, but I think it's commonly in the realm of not-an-action to go from a one-handed grip on a longsword to a two-handed grip or vice-versa, so there a good case to be made both ways.

As for crits, the way Arcane Channeling is worded is such that you resolve the attack, including critical hits doubling the weapon's damage, and then apply the effects of the spell.
Marcus Majarra
07-21-07, 01:07 PM 1) If a duskblade spell has somatic components, the duskblade needs a way to supply them. Usually, this means having a free hand, but the Somatic Weaponry feat from Complete Mage will do it too.

2) Channeled spells are unaffected by critical hits. They're an additional benefit to making the melee attack that channels a spell. Effectively, the duskblade isn't attacking with the spell, as it would otherwise receive the usual benefits from scoring a critical hit.
Drawdy
07-21-07, 09:22 PM Thanks! I'm thinking Somatic Casting should be required...which is weird since Com. Mage came out after PHB II...and there's a concensus that the spell does not do crit damage.
pres_man
07-22-07, 12:39 PM Ask yourself this. Would you, as a DM, have a problem if a fighter in the group was wielding a longsword and had three attacks:
1st attack two-handed the longsword
2nd attack one-handed the longsword
3rd attack two-handed the longsword

If you do not have a problem with the above then that would indicate that switching handedness is a free action for you. If you would have a problem then you need to determine what type of action is switching handedness (swift action, move action, what).
Andrew
07-23-07, 08:08 PM Ask yourself this. Would you, as a DM, have a problem if a fighter in the group was wielding a longsword and had three attacks:
1st attack two-handed the longsword
2nd attack one-handed the longsword
3rd attack two-handed the longsword
You also have to decide if your opinion is any different for a ninja with three attacks as follows:
1st attack two-handed with a longspear
2nd attack throw a shuriken (drawing shuriken is a free action)
3rd attack two-handed with a longspear

It seems to me like instead of calling it all as one lump, I'd have a different opinion depending on if the weapon could still be wielded one-handed. I'd call it free to cast with a longsword and no shield while two-handing, but cost a move action to be wielding a two-handed weapon both before and after casting, even though I've got no RAW to go on there.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Drawdy 07-20-07, 09:56 PM	I know since I'm the DM I have the right to rule however I want to, yada yada, yada, but I really would like to know what the official rules are (as well as how to find them) or at least a viable, logical theory. Two Duskblade questions I haven't been able to find answers for: 1) Does the Duskblade need to have the "Somatic Casting" feat from Complete Mage to channel a spell through his weapon...especially if he's using a two handed weapon? 2) If a Duskblade channels a touch attack spell, such as Shocking Grasp, through his weapon and achieves a critical hit is the spell damage multiplied as well as the weapon damage? I know energy damage from magical weapons (such as a flamong sword) do not multiply, but this is not necessarily the same as mage spells requiring an attack roll (which is technically what this is in addition to a weapon attack) can crit hit.
Andrew 07-20-07, 11:40 PM	Somatic components are still required to cast a spell through arcane channeling. Depending on how much confidence you have in the FAQ and such, this doesn't necessarily knock out using a two-handed weapon. You can shift the weapon to one hand, cast, and then restore your grip to attack. The FAQ suggests it should be a move action to shift a weapon from one hand to the other, but I think it's commonly in the realm of not-an-action to go from a one-handed grip on a longsword to a two-handed grip or vice-versa, so there a good case to be made both ways. As for crits, the way Arcane Channeling is worded is such that you resolve the attack, including critical hits doubling the weapon's damage, and then apply the effects of the spell.
Marcus Majarra 07-21-07, 01:07 PM	1) If a duskblade spell has somatic components, the duskblade needs a way to supply them. Usually, this means having a free hand, but the Somatic Weaponry feat from Complete Mage will do it too. 2) Channeled spells are unaffected by critical hits. They're an additional benefit to making the melee attack that channels a spell. Effectively, the duskblade isn't attacking with the spell, as it would otherwise receive the usual benefits from scoring a critical hit.
Drawdy 07-21-07, 09:22 PM	Thanks! I'm thinking Somatic Casting should be required...which is weird since Com. Mage came out after PHB II...and there's a concensus that the spell does not do crit damage.
pres_man 07-22-07, 12:39 PM	Ask yourself this. Would you, as a DM, have a problem if a fighter in the group was wielding a longsword and had three attacks: 1st attack two-handed the longsword 2nd attack one-handed the longsword 3rd attack two-handed the longsword If you do not have a problem with the above then that would indicate that switching handedness is a free action for you. If you would have a problem then you need to determine what type of action is switching handedness (swift action, move action, what).
Andrew 07-23-07, 08:08 PM	Ask yourself this. Would you, as a DM, have a problem if a fighter in the group was wielding a longsword and had three attacks: 1st attack two-handed the longsword 2nd attack one-handed the longsword 3rd attack two-handed the longsword You also have to decide if your opinion is any different for a ninja with three attacks as follows: 1st attack two-handed with a longspear 2nd attack throw a shuriken (drawing shuriken is a free action) 3rd attack two-handed with a longspear It seems to me like instead of calling it all as one lump, I'd have a different opinion depending on if the weapon could still be wielded one-handed. I'd call it free to cast with a longsword and no shield while two-handing, but cost a move action to be wielding a two-handed weapon both before and after casting, even though I've got no RAW to go on there.