Spellsword Channel Spell ability clarification [Archive] - Wizards Community

Spellsword Channel Spell ability clarification [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
jmweber9
05-15-06, 09:43 AM I've been searching all the boards for this and can't find the answer to this question. The Spellsword gains the ability to channel a spell through his melee weapon to affect only the target foe. Even if the spell has an area or ray spell effect, it only affects the target hit by the weapon. The Channel Spell ability goes on to say that the spell is discharged from the weapon upon a successful hit.

My question is this: what happens when a spell is channelled that allows for multiple attacks? For example, Scorching Ray at higher levels grants more than one ray. Does this mean all rays are disharged at once? If so, is there only one attack roll made? If all the rays don't go off at once, does the weapon hold the additional rays for subsequent attacks?

What if the channelled spell was prepared using a metamagic feat such as Split Ray or Repeat Spell?

Another example is Chill Touch that allows 1 touch attack per level. Does channelling this spell last for 1 attack per level or does it limit it to only 1 attack?

There are other examples, I'm sure, but the basic question is the same. Any "official" help would be very appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

John Weber
Graysidejedi
05-15-06, 02:18 PM John,

I could be wrong about this, but for spells with multiple effects, I've been playing it that all the effects are discharged, as per the spell being used (I think the text uses the phrase "as per the spell" in some fashion, but I don't have the book in front of me). Using scorching ray as an example, each of the rays would go off on the same attack roll, hitting the opponent struck with the weapon. I don't think you could hold in the weapon some of the rays created by the spell for later attacks because the spell doesn't work that way.

I don't see why spells prepared with metamagic feats would be excluded, but those spells would still only effect the opponent hit with the weapon the spell was channeled into. The text may say something to the effect of "any spell the character can cast." That's pretty inclusive. You also gave Chill Touch as an example. Again, if the spell is attacks per level, I think they would all go off as per the level of the person who cast the spell, all striking the opponent who was hit.

These aren't much help in the way of a ruling, but there are a few related threads in the archives: http://boards1.wizards.com/archive/index.php/t-59777.html and http://boards1.wizards.com/archive/index.php/t-100130.html
jmweber9
05-16-06, 09:33 PM Thanks for the input. In fact, this is exactly how I would rule it as well. Unfortunately, it's not a clear cut rule and that's why I was hoping to get something official that I had somehow missed- a link, a response from the Circle (I wish!) or an article from WoTC, etc.

To me, it seems more of an advantage to have all the spell's effects go off at once. However, it seems to good to be true and that's why I'm questioning it.

On a side note, it's my understanding that metamagic feats can only be incorporated in a channelled spell if the spell being channelled has been prepared (or spontaneously cast as a sorcerer would) that way. Sudden metamagic feats and metamagic rods would not work here as the spell is not actually being cast, it is being channelled. A slight distinction, but worthy of noting. Again, this is just my understanding of it, nothing official.

Thanks,

John

John,

I could be wrong about this, but for spells with multiple effects, I've been playing it that all the effects are discharged, as per the spell being used (I think the text uses the phrase "as per the spell" in some fashion, but I don't have the book in front of me). Using scorching ray as an example, each of the rays would go off on the same attack roll, hitting the opponent struck with the weapon. I don't think you could hold in the weapon some of the rays created by the spell for later attacks because the spell doesn't work that way.

I don't see why spells prepared with metamagic feats would be excluded, but those spells would still only effect the opponent hit with the weapon the spell was channeled into. The text may say something to the effect of "any spell the character can cast." That's pretty inclusive. You also gave Chill Touch as an example. Again, if the spell is attacks per level, I think they would all go off as per the level of the person who cast the spell, all striking the opponent who was hit.

These aren't much help in the way of a ruling, but there are a few related threads in the archives: http://boards1.wizards.com/archive/index.php/t-59777.html and http://boards1.wizards.com/archive/index.php/t-100130.html
redgamer
05-17-06, 12:52 AM I wouldn't count on chill touch releasing multiple time in one hit. The rules don't specifically cover an edge case like chill touch but I think it should be you get the effects of hitting someone once with chill touch and then the channel ability is used up. As for scorching ray you get to send all the rays your caster level allows at the target you strike with your weapon. I can't imagine there is an argument against that.
Graysidejedi
05-17-06, 10:43 AM On a side note, it's my understanding that metamagic feats can only be incorporated in a channelled spell if the spell being channelled has been prepared (or spontaneously cast as a sorcerer would) that way. Sudden metamagic feats and metamagic rods would not work here as the spell is not actually being cast, it is being channelled. A slight distinction, but worthy of noting. Again, this is just my understanding of it, nothing official.

Thanks,

John

I completely agree. The spell's effects are determined by how it was prepared, and for a spontaneous caster like a sorcerer, you can't prep with metamagic.

But... I wonder if you could apply metamagic at the time you put the spell into the weapon. A sorcerer isn't really prepping a spell when it is put into the weapon (as a wizard would), but they are expending the spell at that point, not when the spell goes off. This wouldn't seem to work with metamagic that effects casting time, but perhaps it would work with metamagics that determine the spell's effects, like extend or maximize? It's cheesy, but it seems okay by the rules. Offhand, I can't think of any reason why you couldn't do this. I could be wrong - I am completely speculating here. Maybe my brain is focusing too much on the "as if the spell had been cast" language that's used.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jmweber9 05-15-06, 09:43 AM	I've been searching all the boards for this and can't find the answer to this question. The Spellsword gains the ability to channel a spell through his melee weapon to affect only the target foe. Even if the spell has an area or ray spell effect, it only affects the target hit by the weapon. The Channel Spell ability goes on to say that the spell is discharged from the weapon upon a successful hit. My question is this: what happens when a spell is channelled that allows for multiple attacks? For example, Scorching Ray at higher levels grants more than one ray. Does this mean all rays are disharged at once? If so, is there only one attack roll made? If all the rays don't go off at once, does the weapon hold the additional rays for subsequent attacks? What if the channelled spell was prepared using a metamagic feat such as Split Ray or Repeat Spell? Another example is Chill Touch that allows 1 touch attack per level. Does channelling this spell last for 1 attack per level or does it limit it to only 1 attack? There are other examples, I'm sure, but the basic question is the same. Any "official" help would be very appreciated. Thanks everyone. John Weber
Graysidejedi 05-15-06, 02:18 PM	John, I could be wrong about this, but for spells with multiple effects, I've been playing it that all the effects are discharged, as per the spell being used (I think the text uses the phrase "as per the spell" in some fashion, but I don't have the book in front of me). Using scorching ray as an example, each of the rays would go off on the same attack roll, hitting the opponent struck with the weapon. I don't think you could hold in the weapon some of the rays created by the spell for later attacks because the spell doesn't work that way. I don't see why spells prepared with metamagic feats would be excluded, but those spells would still only effect the opponent hit with the weapon the spell was channeled into. The text may say something to the effect of "any spell the character can cast." That's pretty inclusive. You also gave Chill Touch as an example. Again, if the spell is attacks per level, I think they would all go off as per the level of the person who cast the spell, all striking the opponent who was hit. These aren't much help in the way of a ruling, but there are a few related threads in the archives: http://boards1.wizards.com/archive/index.php/t-59777.html and http://boards1.wizards.com/archive/index.php/t-100130.html
jmweber9 05-16-06, 09:33 PM	Thanks for the input. In fact, this is exactly how I would rule it as well. Unfortunately, it's not a clear cut rule and that's why I was hoping to get something official that I had somehow missed- a link, a response from the Circle (I wish!) or an article from WoTC, etc. To me, it seems more of an advantage to have all the spell's effects go off at once. However, it seems to good to be true and that's why I'm questioning it. On a side note, it's my understanding that metamagic feats can only be incorporated in a channelled spell if the spell being channelled has been prepared (or spontaneously cast as a sorcerer would) that way. Sudden metamagic feats and metamagic rods would not work here as the spell is not actually being cast, it is being channelled. A slight distinction, but worthy of noting. Again, this is just my understanding of it, nothing official. Thanks, John John, I could be wrong about this, but for spells with multiple effects, I've been playing it that all the effects are discharged, as per the spell being used (I think the text uses the phrase "as per the spell" in some fashion, but I don't have the book in front of me). Using scorching ray as an example, each of the rays would go off on the same attack roll, hitting the opponent struck with the weapon. I don't think you could hold in the weapon some of the rays created by the spell for later attacks because the spell doesn't work that way. I don't see why spells prepared with metamagic feats would be excluded, but those spells would still only effect the opponent hit with the weapon the spell was channeled into. The text may say something to the effect of "any spell the character can cast." That's pretty inclusive. You also gave Chill Touch as an example. Again, if the spell is attacks per level, I think they would all go off as per the level of the person who cast the spell, all striking the opponent who was hit. These aren't much help in the way of a ruling, but there are a few related threads in the archives: http://boards1.wizards.com/archive/index.php/t-59777.html and http://boards1.wizards.com/archive/index.php/t-100130.html
redgamer 05-17-06, 12:52 AM	I wouldn't count on chill touch releasing multiple time in one hit. The rules don't specifically cover an edge case like chill touch but I think it should be you get the effects of hitting someone once with chill touch and then the channel ability is used up. As for scorching ray you get to send all the rays your caster level allows at the target you strike with your weapon. I can't imagine there is an argument against that.
Graysidejedi 05-17-06, 10:43 AM	On a side note, it's my understanding that metamagic feats can only be incorporated in a channelled spell if the spell being channelled has been prepared (or spontaneously cast as a sorcerer would) that way. Sudden metamagic feats and metamagic rods would not work here as the spell is not actually being cast, it is being channelled. A slight distinction, but worthy of noting. Again, this is just my understanding of it, nothing official. Thanks, John I completely agree. The spell's effects are determined by how it was prepared, and for a spontaneous caster like a sorcerer, you can't prep with metamagic. But... I wonder if you could apply metamagic at the time you put the spell into the weapon. A sorcerer isn't really prepping a spell when it is put into the weapon (as a wizard would), but they are expending the spell at that point, not when the spell goes off. This wouldn't seem to work with metamagic that effects casting time, but perhaps it would work with metamagics that determine the spell's effects, like extend or maximize? It's cheesy, but it seems okay by the rules. Offhand, I can't think of any reason why you couldn't do this. I could be wrong - I am completely speculating here. Maybe my brain is focusing too much on the "as if the spell had been cast" language that's used.