Cute.
I'm glad you brought up ray of frost. Its a perfect counterpoint example.
First of all, the text about Twinned Spell on PHB. 102 specifically and clearly says that ray of frost is eligible. No one doubts that and no one has ever made a thread about it, so while imitating my argument is funny, its also not applicable. Now let's look at the differences.
Of course it is usable! It just doesn't great you a second beam. The rules give you an additional target, not a second beam or a second ranged attack roll.
Make a ranged spell Attack against the target
Can you not read the difference between that and this?
As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a melee attack with a weapon against one creature within the spell's range, otherwise the spell fails.
Yes. One requires that you make a ranged spell attack against a target.
The other requires you make a melee weapon attack against a target.
The ray of frost text doesn't include the words "must make". It just says "Make" Why do you supposed that is?
It constrains which creatures you can make the melee weapon attack, which the spell grants, against.
Why does every other spell in every other book (excepting green flame blade which was clearly written by the same person) equally give similar instructions as ray of frost in regards to making a spell attack?
I've spent some time trying to generate natural wording for "this spell grants a melee weapon attack against its target and on a hit blah", and they all suck.
And no other spells mention melee "weapon" attacks.
Yes, this spell uses the melee weapon attack rules. Not the melee spell attack rules. Melee spell attacks are a rules element described in the combat section that uses your casting modifier. Melee weapon attacks are also described; they use strength, and dexterity sometimes, and charisma on a hexblade warlock.
That is the core of the difference between these spells.
Even shocking grasp, which has also been held up as a comparative example in this thread, says "make a melee spell attack"
Yes, because shocking grasp uses int, cha or wis (depending on which casting stat) to make the attack roll, while this one uses str, dex (if finesse weapon) or (on a hexblade) cha.
A spell attack is a roll of the dice to see if your magic prowess can succeed or not. PHB 205 tells us
Some spells require the caster to make an attack roll to determine whether the spell effect hits the intended target
A spell attack roll is an attack roll you make with your casting stat.
What Booming Blade does differently is create an additional requirement. A weapon must be used. Not a ghost magic, brought into being by its need to exist weapon which would have been mentioned if that were the intent, just like it is with spiritual weapon.
Did I mention a ghost weapon
anywhere? No I did not. Why are you bringing up a
ghost weapon when responding to me? It also doesn't involve a polymorphed chicken from the moon, nor does it involve upside down pyramids with beholder eyestalks.
Just "a weapon" that we can assume means one which you are armed with and are capable of wielding. And Its not asking for a "spell attack" of any kind.
Attack Rolls
When you make an
Attack, your
Attack roll determines whether the
Attack hits or misses. To make an
Attack roll, roll a d20 and add the appropriate modifiers. If the total of the roll plus modifiers equals or exceeds the target’s
Armor Class (AC), the
Attack hits. The AC of a character is determined at
Character Creation, whereas the AC of a monster is in its stat block.
Modifiers to the Roll
When a character makes an
Attack roll, the two most
Common Modifiers to the Roll are an ability modifier and the character’s
Proficiency Bonus. When a monster makes an
Attack roll, it uses whatever modifier is provided in its stat block.
Ability Modifier: The ability modifier used for a melee weapon
Attack is
Strength, and the ability modifier used for a ranged weapon
Attack is
Dexterity.
Weapons that have the
Finesse or
Thrown property break this rule. Some
Spells also require an
Attack roll. The ability modifier used for a spell
Attack depends on the
Spellcasting Ability of the spellcaster.
A spell attack means you use the spellcasting ability of the spellcaster. See above.
Magic is not making the attack.
Magic is causing the attack to happen. Without the spell causing the attack to happen, you
are not allowed to cast a spell and make an attack on the same action.
If you say that the spell text doesn't grant you the ability to make an attack while casting it, the spell does nothing. I mean, that is a position. I don't think it is yours. Is it?
So, assuming you agree that booming blade is a spell that does something, then the spell grants you the ability to make an attack while casting it.
[SNIP] more about ghost arms. I am disappointed you aren't also ruling out polymorphed chickens teleporting being caused by the spell. I mean, they aren't caused by the spell either, but you spend so much time talking about ghost arms they might feel left out in also not being mentioned as not happening.
If you want double the the damage from the weapon, you have to double the requirement to actually swing that weapon. Physically. And doing so is a lot harder than "pointing at two targets." If it wasn't, then every class would be able to make 2 melee attacks each round.
Most classes don't have the ability to take the attack action and make two attacks.
Every class can make two attacks each round. Pick up two small rocks (if your DM agrees they are "light": failing that, two daggers). Now make an attack. And make a bonus action attack.
There we go, two attacks in a round.
That is what you said, and it is wrong. Probably because it isn't what you wanted to say; I think you meant "two attacks in an action". To be more clear, it is "two attacks by taking the attack action". And yes, many classes cannot make two attacks by taking the attack action.
No class can make an attack while casting a spell as an action, unless the spell grants an attack. Either booming blade grants an attack, or it doesn't.
Only a few classes can make a spell attack as an action, unless they cast a spell. Some spells grant spell attacks as part of the spell. Either ray of frost grants a spell attack, or it doesn't.
Both booming blade and ray of frost pick a target. Twin spell applies to both, and let you pick an additional target. If both ray or frost and booming blade grant an attack (one a spell attack, one a melee attack), either the ability to attack
each target is granted, or not. By the rules as written, no additional attacks are granted by twin spell.
Ray of Frost only deals damage if the Beam hits the target. That beam is described as singular. Booming blade only deals damage if the weapon attack hits the target. That weapon attack is described as singular. Twin Spell does
not give two Beams, it just gives another target. So there is no rules text that supports there being a second beam, just as there is no rules text that supports there being a second weapon attack in Booming blade. Without that second swing or beam, the second target cannot be hit, so no effect occurs on them.
Making a ranged spell attack isn't something a sorcerer can do without a spell. Being able to do a ranged spell attack without a spell is very rare -- sun soul monks and the returned dead rogue are the only two that I can think of -- and second ranged spell attack without a spell permitting it is something only radiant sun soul monks can do! Sorcerers simply lack the ability to do it naturally, unless a spell permits them to do it.
And as twin spell doesn't grant a second beam nor a second ranged spell attack, using twin spell on ray of frost is permitted, but mostly useless. Just like Booming Blade.
As a DM, you are free to houserule that ray of frost gets a second beam, but booming blade doesn't. I'm not stopping you. I'm just saying that ray of frost's inability to hit a second target is directly in line with booming blade's inability.
Both grant an attack. One is a melee weapon attack, one is a ranged spell attack. Both have an effect if the attack hits the target. Twin spell works on both, and grants an additional target. Twin spell does not grant an additional attack in either case.