Are Ranged Touch spells a subset of Touch spells? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are Ranged Touch spells a subset of Touch spells? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rerednaw
03-30-07, 04:21 PM That's basically the question.

I was just wondering if a spellcasting ghost that tries to cast a ranged touch spell is subject to the same limitation as a touch spell, i.e. cannot unless target is ethereal.
Timlagor
04-02-07, 01:40 PM I haven't checked on the ghost but "Ranged Touch Spells" are indeed a subset of "Touch Spells" ..in general.

It looks like something that will suffer table variation.
Hariman
04-02-07, 07:00 PM If a wizard casting the same spell at an ethereal ghost from the material plane couldn't hit the ghost, then the ghost can't hit the wizard with the spell.

I think (I'm not 100% sure) that an ethereal ghost striking at the material plane has the same limitations as a corporeal character striking at the ethereal plane.

So if a ghost can't touch an enemy with a touch spell, the ghost can't ranged touch an enemy with a ranged touch spell.

And no, ranged touches aren't a subset of touch spells. They're their own type of attack that just happens to strike at the same defense (Touch AC) in a different manner.
jstorrie
04-02-07, 08:03 PM Hariman's got this one. Ranged touch attacks are not a subset of touch attacks, they are a set of their own.
Jay_Ibero_911
04-02-07, 08:05 PM Creatures existing only on the ethereal plane have no way to impact the material plane. A manifesting ghost however, is incorporeal, not just ethereal, meaning they are in fact present on the material plane as well as the ethereal. So a ghost can cast scorching ray on a corporeal target on the material plane for instance.
Timlagor
04-03-07, 11:15 AM A manifesting ghost.

Force effects (and Transdimentional Spells) only go from Material to Ethereal and not the other way around.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rerednaw 03-30-07, 04:21 PM	That's basically the question. I was just wondering if a spellcasting ghost that tries to cast a ranged touch spell is subject to the same limitation as a touch spell, i.e. cannot unless target is ethereal.
Timlagor 04-02-07, 01:40 PM	I haven't checked on the ghost but "Ranged Touch Spells" are indeed a subset of "Touch Spells" ..in general. It looks like something that will suffer table variation.
Hariman 04-02-07, 07:00 PM	If a wizard casting the same spell at an ethereal ghost from the material plane couldn't hit the ghost, then the ghost can't hit the wizard with the spell. I think (I'm not 100% sure) that an ethereal ghost striking at the material plane has the same limitations as a corporeal character striking at the ethereal plane. So if a ghost can't touch an enemy with a touch spell, the ghost can't ranged touch an enemy with a ranged touch spell. And no, ranged touches aren't a subset of touch spells. They're their own type of attack that just happens to strike at the same defense (Touch AC) in a different manner.
jstorrie 04-02-07, 08:03 PM	Hariman's got this one. Ranged touch attacks are not a subset of touch attacks, they are a set of their own.
Jay_Ibero_911 04-02-07, 08:05 PM	Creatures existing only on the ethereal plane have no way to impact the material plane. A manifesting ghost however, is incorporeal, not just ethereal, meaning they are in fact present on the material plane as well as the ethereal. So a ghost can cast scorching ray on a corporeal target on the material plane for instance.
Timlagor 04-03-07, 11:15 AM	A manifesting ghost. Force effects (and Transdimentional Spells) only go from Material to Ethereal and not the other way around.