Can a warlock blast with his eyes? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can a warlock blast with his eyes? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rebornarcanist
05-15-07, 08:52 AM Where does the Eldricht blast come from? Can I blat with my eyes or mouth, or is it only with hands?
JWT
05-15-07, 09:02 AM Where does the Eldricht blast come from? Can I blat with my eyes or mouth, or is it only with hands?

Sure - so long as the mechanics don't change mess with the flavor all you want. (As long as the DM sez OK too.)
WinDReiN
05-15-07, 09:03 AM It's a spell-like ability, so I would say hands...unless an invocation states it bursts borft from your eyes or sth...
lukelightning
05-15-07, 09:06 AM I say yes, but that doesn't remove your blast's somatic component, so you still need a free hand to gesture.
FallingIcicle
05-16-07, 05:54 AM Thematically, you can describe the way you cast it any way you want, but it doesn't change the fact that it has a somatic component.

If you wanted to make it so that you could shoot it from your eyes without a somatic component, that would require some kind of house-ruled feat or blast shape invocation.
Vegepygmy
05-16-07, 11:22 AM I say yes, but that doesn't remove your blast's somatic component, so you still need a free hand to gesture.Spell-like abilities don't have any components (PHB, page 180). EDIT: (But see below.)

Eldritch blasts from the eyes are completely kosher, with or without a free hand.
nightwyrm
05-16-07, 11:26 AM For style points, you can shoot out of your a$$ as long as you meet the requirements.
CantripN
05-16-07, 11:33 AM Spell-like abilities don't have any components (PHB, page 180).

Eldritch blasts from the eyes are completely kosher, with or without a free hand.

Warlocks are an exception to the rule. They have both somatic and verbal components.
Muktar
05-16-07, 11:35 AM I can see it now:

Person A, "What do they call you?"
Person B, "I'm Joe but most call me Fart Cannon of Doom!"

Spell-like abilities don't use somatic components.

[Edit] I just reread the rules for Eldritch Blast and Invocation and neither of them talk about somatic or verbal components.
Vegepygmy
05-16-07, 11:40 AM Warlocks are an exception to the rule.Ah! So they are.

Strange that they buried this information under "Weapon and Armor Proficiency," but it's there.
Muktar
05-16-07, 11:46 AM Ohhh . . .it is
BaelinWhale
05-16-07, 11:50 AM Originally Posted by CantripN
Warlocks are an exception to the rule.
Ah! So they are.

Strange that they buried this information under "Weapon and Armor Proficiency," but it's there.

I don't think that's entirely correct. It's been my understanding that the Warlock's Eldritch Blast doesn't have any somatic components. It's his Invocations that do.
Muktar
05-16-07, 11:52 AM They both do. Reread the the second paragraph under weapons and armor section for warlocks. It specifically talks about Invocations and Eldritch Blast.
Tectorman
05-16-07, 12:15 PM I don't remember seeing anything saying that a Warlock's invocations (eldritch blast or otherwise) require anything verbal.

Will be checking back tomorrow.
MightyPotamus
05-16-07, 12:18 PM I'm glad that someone finally thought to actually read the book on whether or not warlocks have somatic components, now if someone would jut read the rules on the original question.

Nowhere does it actually say that the blast comes from any specific body part. Assuming that it comes from the hand is just that, an assumption. The player is free to declare (it's part of that fun process of illustrating and personifying your character) that the ray originates from the hand, eye, bellybutton, forehead, kneecap, tooth, genitals, or sphincter. I would even say that it could be declared that the ray originates from a random location on the body that happens to be facing the right direction or even from a corona that briefly forms around the body and coalesces into the ray.

The book never says that the hands must be free to use the eldrich blast or even that the hands are even involved. The word somatic means "pertaining to the body" (soma = Latin: body) and I hate how everyone assumes that somatic components are done with the hands only; if they were only done with the hands, they would be "manual components" (manus = Latin: hand.)

*END RANT*

*Edit: Tectorman, you're right. they contain no verbal components whatsoever. I was too busy ranting about the semantics of ray origin and somatic components to rant about other senseless assumptions that players make that do nothing to further the game.
TheCobra
05-16-07, 12:30 PM I hate how everyone assumes that somatic components are done with the hands only

The rules say you need a free hand to provide somatic components.
CantripN
05-16-07, 12:39 PM The rules say you need a free hand to provide somatic components.

So for all I care, you can make your Somatic component by sticking your tongue out. You still need to have a free hand, and people would still recognize it as a Somatic component.

As for Verbal, yes, you're right, there are none. Even for things like Baleful Utterance... Queer.
MightyPotamus
05-16-07, 12:41 PM The rules say you need a free hand to provide somatic components.

...for spells. Invocations are not spells, they do not play by the same rules as spells. The rules for invocations simply state that they contain somatic components.
CantripN
05-16-07, 12:43 PM ...for spells. Invocations are not spells, they do not play by the same rules as spells. The rules for invocations simply state that they contain somatic components.

Somatic (S)
A somatic component is a measured and precise movement of the hand. You must have at least one hand free to provide a somatic component.

That's from the SRD. Now shush.
lukelightning
05-16-07, 01:03 PM As for Verbal, yes, you're right, there are none. Even for things like Baleful Utterance... Queer.

That's because the utterance is so baleful that it gets bleeped out, like naughty words on the radio.
CantripN
05-16-07, 01:04 PM That's because the utterance is so baleful that it gets bleeped out, like naughty words on the radio.

Good thing we don't have censorship here, then.
Chimaera2000
05-16-07, 06:41 PM Good thing we don't have censorship here, then.

Just be careful that you don't accidentally listen to the funniest joke in the world (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IysnS5wO60g), then. The results could be catastrophic.

And yes, so long as you make the appropriate somatic components, your warlock can consume enemies with fireballs from your eyes and lightning bolts from your arse.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZhMuLEzP7s) or you can just be Cyclops (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHJxJpRqqyo).
Chimaera2000
05-16-07, 06:48 PM Double post! Oh, yeah!
TheCobra
05-16-07, 06:57 PM If you really want eyebeams, just take Ocular Spell.
Nezkrul
05-16-07, 07:43 PM however, baleful utterance is a sonic attack (it mimics the Shatter spell) so a silence effect would prevent it from affecting the silenced area. (but silence doesnt stop you from casting it, LOL)
navar100
05-17-07, 02:16 AM Spell-like abilities don't have any components (PHB, page 180). EDIT: (But see below.)

Eldritch blasts from the eyes are completely kosher, with or without a free hand.

But Eldritch Blast and other invocations do anyway.
navar100
05-17-07, 02:16 AM Warlocks are an exception to the rule. They have both somatic and verbal components.

No, only somatic components.

Baleful Utterance is verbal I suppose.
Muktar
05-17-07, 03:43 AM Spell-Like abilities according to the ToM pg. 139, which supersedes the DMG(because it says) Spell-Like abilities have no verbal, somatic, material, focus, or xp components. Of course, the wording for Warlock even supersedes this and therefore only has a somatic component. Baleful Utterance also has a verbal component because it says that you speak.
lukelightning
05-17-07, 09:27 AM Can a warlock make a baleful utterance with his butt?
Changling_Bob
05-17-07, 09:39 AM That's because the utterance is so baleful that it gets bleeped out, like naughty words on the radio.

When I play a warlock this is actually how I play it: the word is said, but noone can hear it, or their mind blocks it out or something and just the effect occurs. I figure the somantic component is the movement of the mouth.
Rebornarcanist
05-17-07, 09:49 AM So after this long debate...I assume that there are no rules that forbids my warlock to shoot bolt out his ass or eyes?
lukelightning
05-17-07, 09:53 AM So after this long debate...I assume that there are no rules that forbids my warlock to shoot bolt out his ass or eyes?

No. But then again, there is nothing preventing a wizard from casting mordenkainen's disjunction from his earlobe. But he's still gotta have a free hand.
FallingIcicle
05-18-07, 06:13 AM It doesn't really matter where the blast comes from as long as you don't try to use that to get some kind of mechanical advantage. I generally assume that spells originate from the caster's hands unless the spell indicates otherwise (eyebite for example). But do whatever you want in your games.

That said, I think it's fair to assume that it is meant to come from your hands, as every picture in every book I've seen showing a warlock using his eldritch blast is depicted that way. Complete Mage also mentions the strange mystical blasts that they *throw*.
Suin Bahhar
05-18-07, 08:38 AM From the eyes? Not in my games.
Ocular spells are broken too.
Millennium
05-18-07, 08:50 AM As long as this is flavor-only, then sure. In that case, however, you still need to follow all the mechanical rules as though he were blasting from his hands. In the case of somatic components, this would mean that you still need to do something with your hands, but the blast can come from whereever you want. The same goes for any other part of the warlock's body, but please don't send this thread on a one-way trip to the Mature boards.
MightyPotamus
05-18-07, 08:56 AM Somatic (S)
A somatic component is a measured and precise movement of the hand. You must have at least one hand free to provide a somatic component.

That's from the SRD. Now shush.

You are correct, Sir. I owe you an apology.
It's been awhile since I read that definition, and the Wizards are usually better with the English language than that.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rebornarcanist 05-15-07, 08:52 AM	Where does the Eldricht blast come from? Can I blat with my eyes or mouth, or is it only with hands?
JWT 05-15-07, 09:02 AM	Where does the Eldricht blast come from? Can I blat with my eyes or mouth, or is it only with hands? Sure - so long as the mechanics don't change mess with the flavor all you want. (As long as the DM sez OK too.)
WinDReiN 05-15-07, 09:03 AM	It's a spell-like ability, so I would say hands...unless an invocation states it bursts borft from your eyes or sth...
lukelightning 05-15-07, 09:06 AM	I say yes, but that doesn't remove your blast's somatic component, so you still need a free hand to gesture.
FallingIcicle 05-16-07, 05:54 AM	Thematically, you can describe the way you cast it any way you want, but it doesn't change the fact that it has a somatic component. If you wanted to make it so that you could shoot it from your eyes without a somatic component, that would require some kind of house-ruled feat or blast shape invocation.
Vegepygmy 05-16-07, 11:22 AM	I say yes, but that doesn't remove your blast's somatic component, so you still need a free hand to gesture.Spell-like abilities don't have any components (PHB, page 180). EDIT: (But see below.) Eldritch blasts from the eyes are completely kosher, with or without a free hand.
nightwyrm 05-16-07, 11:26 AM	For style points, you can shoot out of your a$$ as long as you meet the requirements.
CantripN 05-16-07, 11:33 AM	Spell-like abilities don't have any components (PHB, page 180). Eldritch blasts from the eyes are completely kosher, with or without a free hand. Warlocks are an exception to the rule. They have both somatic and verbal components.
Muktar 05-16-07, 11:35 AM	I can see it now: Person A, "What do they call you?" Person B, "I'm Joe but most call me Fart Cannon of Doom!" Spell-like abilities don't use somatic components. [Edit] I just reread the rules for Eldritch Blast and Invocation and neither of them talk about somatic or verbal components.
Vegepygmy 05-16-07, 11:40 AM	Warlocks are an exception to the rule.Ah! So they are. Strange that they buried this information under "Weapon and Armor Proficiency," but it's there.
Muktar 05-16-07, 11:46 AM	Ohhh . . .it is
BaelinWhale 05-16-07, 11:50 AM	Originally Posted by CantripN Warlocks are an exception to the rule. Ah! So they are. Strange that they buried this information under "Weapon and Armor Proficiency," but it's there. I don't think that's entirely correct. It's been my understanding that the Warlock's Eldritch Blast doesn't have any somatic components. It's his Invocations that do.
Muktar 05-16-07, 11:52 AM	They both do. Reread the the second paragraph under weapons and armor section for warlocks. It specifically talks about Invocations and Eldritch Blast.
Tectorman 05-16-07, 12:15 PM	I don't remember seeing anything saying that a Warlock's invocations (eldritch blast or otherwise) require anything verbal. Will be checking back tomorrow.
MightyPotamus 05-16-07, 12:18 PM	I'm glad that someone finally thought to actually read the book on whether or not warlocks have somatic components, now if someone would jut read the rules on the original question. Nowhere does it actually say that the blast comes from any specific body part. Assuming that it comes from the hand is just that, an assumption. The player is free to declare (it's part of that fun process of illustrating and personifying your character) that the ray originates from the hand, eye, bellybutton, forehead, kneecap, tooth, genitals, or sphincter. I would even say that it could be declared that the ray originates from a random location on the body that happens to be facing the right direction or even from a corona that briefly forms around the body and coalesces into the ray. The book never says that the hands must be free to use the eldrich blast or even that the hands are even involved. The word somatic means "pertaining to the body" (soma = Latin: body) and I hate how everyone assumes that somatic components are done with the hands only; if they were only done with the hands, they would be "manual components" (manus = Latin: hand.) END RANT *Edit: Tectorman, you're right. they contain no verbal components whatsoever. I was too busy ranting about the semantics of ray origin and somatic components to rant about other senseless assumptions that players make that do nothing to further the game.
TheCobra 05-16-07, 12:30 PM	I hate how everyone assumes that somatic components are done with the hands only The rules say you need a free hand to provide somatic components.
CantripN 05-16-07, 12:39 PM	The rules say you need a free hand to provide somatic components. So for all I care, you can make your Somatic component by sticking your tongue out. You still need to have a free hand, and people would still recognize it as a Somatic component. As for Verbal, yes, you're right, there are none. Even for things like Baleful Utterance... Queer.
MightyPotamus 05-16-07, 12:41 PM	The rules say you need a free hand to provide somatic components. ...for spells. Invocations are not spells, they do not play by the same rules as spells. The rules for invocations simply state that they contain somatic components.
CantripN 05-16-07, 12:43 PM	...for spells. Invocations are not spells, they do not play by the same rules as spells. The rules for invocations simply state that they contain somatic components. Somatic (S) A somatic component is a measured and precise movement of the hand. You must have at least one hand free to provide a somatic component. That's from the SRD. Now shush.
lukelightning 05-16-07, 01:03 PM	As for Verbal, yes, you're right, there are none. Even for things like Baleful Utterance... Queer. That's because the utterance is so baleful that it gets bleeped out, like naughty words on the radio.
CantripN 05-16-07, 01:04 PM	That's because the utterance is so baleful that it gets bleeped out, like naughty words on the radio. Good thing we don't have censorship here, then.
Chimaera2000 05-16-07, 06:41 PM	Good thing we don't have censorship here, then. Just be careful that you don't accidentally listen to the funniest joke in the world (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IysnS5wO60g), then. The results could be catastrophic. And yes, so long as you make the appropriate somatic components, your warlock can consume enemies with fireballs from your eyes and lightning bolts from your arse.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZhMuLEzP7s) or you can just be Cyclops (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHJxJpRqqyo).
Chimaera2000 05-16-07, 06:48 PM	Double post! Oh, yeah!
TheCobra 05-16-07, 06:57 PM	If you really want eyebeams, just take Ocular Spell.
Nezkrul 05-16-07, 07:43 PM	however, baleful utterance is a sonic attack (it mimics the Shatter spell) so a silence effect would prevent it from affecting the silenced area. (but silence doesnt stop you from casting it, LOL)
navar100 05-17-07, 02:16 AM	Spell-like abilities don't have any components (PHB, page 180). EDIT: (But see below.) Eldritch blasts from the eyes are completely kosher, with or without a free hand. But Eldritch Blast and other invocations do anyway.
navar100 05-17-07, 02:16 AM	Warlocks are an exception to the rule. They have both somatic and verbal components. No, only somatic components. Baleful Utterance is verbal I suppose.
Muktar 05-17-07, 03:43 AM	Spell-Like abilities according to the ToM pg. 139, which supersedes the DMG(because it says) Spell-Like abilities have no verbal, somatic, material, focus, or xp components. Of course, the wording for Warlock even supersedes this and therefore only has a somatic component. Baleful Utterance also has a verbal component because it says that you speak.
lukelightning 05-17-07, 09:27 AM	Can a warlock make a baleful utterance with his butt?
Changling_Bob 05-17-07, 09:39 AM	That's because the utterance is so baleful that it gets bleeped out, like naughty words on the radio. When I play a warlock this is actually how I play it: the word is said, but noone can hear it, or their mind blocks it out or something and just the effect occurs. I figure the somantic component is the movement of the mouth.
Rebornarcanist 05-17-07, 09:49 AM	So after this long debate...I assume that there are no rules that forbids my warlock to shoot bolt out his ass or eyes?
lukelightning 05-17-07, 09:53 AM	So after this long debate...I assume that there are no rules that forbids my warlock to shoot bolt out his ass or eyes? No. But then again, there is nothing preventing a wizard from casting mordenkainen's disjunction from his earlobe. But he's still gotta have a free hand.
FallingIcicle 05-18-07, 06:13 AM	It doesn't really matter where the blast comes from as long as you don't try to use that to get some kind of mechanical advantage. I generally assume that spells originate from the caster's hands unless the spell indicates otherwise (eyebite for example). But do whatever you want in your games. That said, I think it's fair to assume that it is meant to come from your hands, as every picture in every book I've seen showing a warlock using his eldritch blast is depicted that way. Complete Mage also mentions the strange mystical blasts that they throw.
Suin Bahhar 05-18-07, 08:38 AM	From the eyes? Not in my games. Ocular spells are broken too.
Millennium 05-18-07, 08:50 AM	As long as this is flavor-only, then sure. In that case, however, you still need to follow all the mechanical rules as though he were blasting from his hands. In the case of somatic components, this would mean that you still need to do something with your hands, but the blast can come from whereever you want. The same goes for any other part of the warlock's body, but please don't send this thread on a one-way trip to the Mature boards.
MightyPotamus 05-18-07, 08:56 AM	Somatic (S) A somatic component is a measured and precise movement of the hand. You must have at least one hand free to provide a somatic component. That's from the SRD. Now shush. You are correct, Sir. I owe you an apology. It's been awhile since I read that definition, and the Wizards are usually better with the English language than that.