Target : Object, can the object be on another creature ?

SRD said:

Darkness
Evocation [Darkness]
Level: Brd 2, Clr 2, Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Object touched
Duration: 10 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

This spell causes an object to radiate shadowy illumination out to a 20-foot radius. All creatures in the area gain concealment (20% miss chance). Even creatures that can normally see in such conditions (such as with darkvision or low-light vision) have the miss chance in an area shrouded in magical darkness.

Normal lights (torches, candles, lanterns, and so forth) are incapable of brightening the area, as are light spells of lower level. Higher level light spells are not affected by darkness.

If darkness is cast on a small object that is then placed inside or under a lightproof covering, the spell’s effect is blocked until the covering is removed.

Darkness counters or dispels any light spell of equal or lower spell level.

Arcane Material Component: A bit of bat fur and either a drop of pitch or a piece of coal.

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skeptic said:

Hi, when a spell such as Darkness has a target : Object, what reach do you have to touch the object? Anything you wear/in hands, any object inside 5', any object within a 5' reach? Does that last one includes object on another creatures? If yes, does it require some kinds of "touch attack" ?

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Hypersmurf said:

Armor Class:
A carried or worn object’s AC is equal to 10 + its size modifier + the Dexterity modifier of the carrying or wearing character.

Of course, it's not clear whether you need to make a touch attack to touch an unattended object:
You can automatically touch one friend or use the spell on yourself, but to touch an opponent, you must succeed on an attack roll.

An unattended object is neither a friend nor an opponent, so it's not covered!

-Hyp.

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MarkB said:

Did you mean "attended" or "unattended" there? Because I'm pretty sure you don't need to roll to strike unattended objects, any more than you do in order to pick them up.

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Pielorinho said:

...Or do the same thing to the wizard's robe.

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Hypersmurf said:

If you take a full round action to line up a shot, you get an automatic hit with a melee weapon. If you just use a melee attack, the object has an AC.

If the unattended object is considered an opponent (thus requiring an attack roll), I see no reason the same rule would not apply. Let's say you're holding the charge on your Darkness spell; a standard action would allow you to touch the object with an attack roll vs (say) AC 5, while a full round action would result in an automatic hit.

If the unattended object is considered a friend, no attack roll is required.

If it's considered neither, it's unclear which is true.

-Hyp.

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MarkB said:

If, as a move action, you can reach out and touch an unattended object in order to pick it up, with no attack roll required, are there really any grounds whatsoever for requiring an attack roll in order to deliver a touch spell to that same target as a standard action?

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