Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Andrew Clucas 02-11-05, 12:01 AM	OK, I was quietly planning what spells and feats I might use for a future character, when I stumbled onto this thorny question: 'Chill Touch' normally functions by covering the caster's hand in cool blue flames for 1 round per caster level, allowing the infliction of 1d6 damage, plus the possibility of 1 point of Str damage, with a touch attack. That much is fine, but if a 'Chill Touch' wand is discharged, does the wand (or just the pointy end) glow with flames until the spell expires? I was under the impression that (in the usual way of things) when a charge was expended it was instantly 'gone', and didn't tend to have a lingering effect - on the wand, anyway.... Or, from a different angle, would you cast the spell 'on' yourself, and then have your hand coated in the blue firey coldness for the duration? And while I'm questioning everything about 'Chill Touch', wouldn't it make sense to make the duration "1 round and/or successful attack per caster level", whichever comes first? So (for example), if a sorcerer/monk cast the spell, then attacked his target with a Flurry of Blows, he could hit at least a couple of times WITH THE SPELL in a single round.... Don't get me wrong, I love the spell - its just that the mechanics seem to be a little shaky. And forgive me if anyone's asked this before - I couldn't get the Search function to work!
tarkin 02-11-05, 12:17 AM	The wand is NEVER part of the spell in any way shape or form. You discharge the wand, it covers your body. Once you have completed the # of required attacks, the spell ends.
Andrew Clucas 02-11-05, 02:52 AM	Ok, I guess that does make sense - so you hold the wand in one hand, and the other one 'lights up' - or something like that. I guess my duration question is a matter for the DM....
The Demonbinder of the Abyss 02-11-05, 07:29 AM	Its the same with all wands. For example, with a wand of Fireball you dont point the wand, you draw the spell from the wand and cast it, by pointing your finger just like the spell. The wand only holds the spell energy, it has nothing to do with the casting.
Nom 02-11-05, 08:34 AM	By the rules, the wand causes the spell effect (DMG pg 213, "spell trigger"). "No gestures or spell finishing is needed". However, if this spell effect requires you to have a hand free, then by the rules you would have to use the wand in one hand and touch with the other. That said, there's no reason not to allow the caster to use the wand as part of the spell, such as touching the opponent with the wand (rather than the hand) to deliver a melee touch attack. At no point do the rules discuss drawbacks or restrictions on using a wand to cast touch attack spells, which strongly suggests that this is not an intended nerf but an unintended side effect. Of course, the DM should not allow players to gain special advantages through this tactic. For example, casting a touch spell from a staff does not grant you reach, nor allow you to make a melee attack with the staff to deliver the touch spell. Casting a touch spell from a wand does not render you immune to effects which trigger when the opponent is touched. The only grace being given is that the wand / hand can be treated as one entity, rather than the wand "occupying" the hand. The caveat I'd add is that a caster who uses this rule, and then decides to remove the wand from the "active" hand before the touch spell triggers should void the spell.
Nurlithion 02-14-05, 12:25 PM	make touch attacks with wand/staff, just for coolness.
Nephlite 02-14-05, 01:42 PM	OK, I was quietly planning what spells and feats I might use for a future character, when I stumbled onto this thorny question: 'Chill Touch' normally functions by covering the caster's hand in cool blue flames for 1 round per caster level, allowing the infliction of 1d6 damage, plus the possibility of 1 point of Str damage, with a touch attack. That much is fine, but if a 'Chill Touch' wand is discharged, does the wand (or just the pointy end) glow with flames until the spell expires? I was under the impression that (in the usual way of things) when a charge was expended it was instantly 'gone', and didn't tend to have a lingering effect - on the wand, anyway.... Or, from a different angle, would you cast the spell 'on' yourself, and then have your hand coated in the blue firey coldness for the duration? And while I'm questioning everything about 'Chill Touch', wouldn't it make sense to make the duration "1 round and/or successful attack per caster level", whichever comes first? So (for example), if a sorcerer/monk cast the spell, then attacked his target with a Flurry of Blows, he could hit at least a couple of times WITH THE SPELL in a single round.... Don't get me wrong, I love the spell - its just that the mechanics seem to be a little shaky. And forgive me if anyone's asked this before - I couldn't get the Search function to work! Chill Touch functions for not "1 round/level" but for 1 successful touch/level. Basically you can hold the charge for chill touch for days if you never use your hands (pretty hard) Where does Chill touch say 1 round/level?
Lassiviren 02-14-05, 01:47 PM	Actually you can hold the charge until you cast another spell. Using that hand for other non casting purposes has no affect on the spell.
Nephlite 02-14-05, 02:01 PM	Actually you can hold the charge until you cast another spell. Using that hand for other non casting purposes has no affect on the spell. Really not even if you hug someone? (lol not too often but eh) Awesome so as long you don't cast you have a chill touch active for a couple uses.
Phrennzy 02-14-05, 04:30 PM	And while I'm questioning everything about 'Chill Touch', wouldn't it make sense to make the duration "1 round and/or successful attack per caster level", whichever comes first? So (for example), if a sorcerer/monk cast the spell, then attacked his target with a Flurry of Blows, he could hit at least a couple of times WITH THE SPELL in a single round.... That's covered in Touch Spells. Most (if not all) touch spells linger on your hand until discharged. So as others have said, you can carry the spell charge for a considerable time, as long as you don't use that hand. In the case of the monk & flurry, each successful hit uses up one charge on the spell, up to the level of the caster. "You can use this melee touch attack up to one time per level." So if the monk hit someone twice in one round, the Chill Touch would apply to both attacks (assuming at least a 2nd level caster). If the caster was higher level the monk could continue to attack with the Chill Touch on later rounds.