Spell Storing Weapon & Critical Hit

[Shin Okada]

When you put a spell which usually require an (touch) attack roll, say, Shocking Grasp, and scored a critical his that weapon and then released the spell, do you multiply the damage of the spell, too?

 

[Saeviomagy]

When you put a spell which usually require an (touch) attack roll, say, Shocking Grasp, and scored a critical his that weapon and then released the spell, do you multiply the damage of the spell, too?

No.

 

[Hypersmurf]

When you put a spell which usually require an (touch) attack roll, say, Shocking Grasp, and scored a critical his that weapon and then released the spell, do you multiply the damage of the spell, too?

While it isn't specifically addressed, there are three arguments against it.

1. When delivering a touch spell with an unarmed strike, it's explicitly stated (Complete Arcane) that on a critical, the strike damage is multiplied but the spell damage is not. This is distinct from delivering a touch spell with a touch, where the spell damage can be multiplied on a critical.

2. The damage from Shocking Grasp could be considered a bonus damage die, much as the +1d6 damage of a Shocking sword would be, and thus not multiplied on a crit.

3. Why should a scimitar deliver a critical Inflict Light Wounds more often than a longsword, or why should a greataxe make a critical Inflict Light Wounds deliver more negative energy that a longsword?

-Hyp.

 

[Shin Okada]

Hypersmurf, your interpretations seem to be reasonable.

And, as I had several questions regarding Spell Storing weapon, I wrote a question regarding this to Customer Service and got a reply. I know their answers are not that much admired here but anyway I copy the result here.

My questions,

1. Caster level

What should be the caster level of the spell stored in a weapon?

A1) Minimum
Similarly named item, Ring of Spell Storing says "Each spell has a caster level equal to the minimum level needed to cast that spell. " Thus, Spell Storing weapon use the same rule.

A2) The original caster's caster level
As Spell Storing weapon ability has no such sentence in the description, we use the original caster's caster level.

A3) The Item's caster level (usually 12)
As Spell Storing weapon says nothing about the caster level of the spell, we use the default rule for magic items. Thus, spells CL = the item's CL.

2. Save DC

What should be the save DC of the stored spell?

A1) Use the original caster's DC.
As it says nothing about the DC of the spell save, use the original caster's save DC.

A2) 10 + Spell Level x 1.5 (round down)
As it says nothing about the DC of the spell save, we use the default rule for magic items.


3. Critical

When you put a spell which usually require an (touch) attack roll, say, Shocking Grasp, and scored a critical his that weapon and then released the spell, do you multiply the damage of the spell, too?

Their answers,

1. The caster level of the spell would be the caster level of the person who put the spell in the weapon. The only limitations are that the spell has to be targeted and it has to be a 3rd level spell or less. Of the options you provided, it would be A2.

2. The Save DC also depends on the save DC for the original caster, A1.

3. You could not crit with a spell cast out of the spell storing weapon. If you hit with the weapon, it automatically casts the spell on that creature. If you crit with the weapon hit, it does not crit with spell. So again, the spell automatically goes off targeting the creature you hit, but you cannot critically hit with it.

 

[Hypersmurf]

And, as I had several questions regarding Spell Storing weapon, I wrote a question regarding this to Customer Service and got a reply.

Well, I agree with their answer to Q3...

-Hyp.

 

[the Jester]

Well, I agree with their answer to Q3...

-Hyp.

Yeah, me too. I disagree with their others, however.