[3.5] Dawn of the Touch-Attack specialist?

[Kalendraf]

I just got my 3.5 books last night. After flipping thru the pages, one thing that caught my eye were the changes to and addition of touch attack spells. There's a serious update to Shocking Grasp. Ever since 1st edition, Shocking Grasp has seemed like the ugly stepchild of 1st level attack spells falling behind many other favorites like color spray, sleep or burning hands at the low levels, and then being badly eclipsed by magic missile at higher caster levels. Risking a melee attack to dishout a mere d8 + 1 per level did not seem to be worth it. It appears that the designers agreed.

The new Shocking Grasp deals a d6 electrical per caster level (max 5d6), still has the benefits of +3 to attack an opponent in metal armor, and it allows no saving throw. Factor in the rule that you can score a critical hit on a 20 with touch attack spells (I verified that rule is still there just to be sure), and Shocking Grasp is suddenly a much deadlier spell. How many other 1st level spells have the potential of dealing 10d6 damage w/o a save?

Shocking Grasp won't eclipse magic missile for utility. But it now seems to at least present a viable option to try.

Spectral Hand still exists largely unmodified in 3.5. It no longer can flank attack, but still adds +2 on attack rolls to deliver touch spells and has the same medium distance. Using Spectral Hand to deliver multiple Shocking Grasps is likely to be tried much more often with a lot more punch, like a 5d6 jolt in your back, or worse, a 10d6 jolt on your codpiece! Beware the Hand!

There are a few other touch spells that were added as well which make me wonder if a touch-specialist could now be a viable caster type now. There's the new 2nd level Touch of Idiocy which is the bane of casters of all types or it can easily reduce less intelligent creatures to a comatose state. Even the new 0-level Touch of Fatigue may be useful.

Could the release of 3.5 signal the dawn of the touch specialist? It's probably too early to tell, but until then, I suggest heeding my earlier message.

Beware the Hand!

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

Personally, I'm very happy about this development and it would be quite refreshing to see low-level wizards and sorcerers using these kind of attack strategies instead of the proven magic missile/burning hands barrages...

-Zarrock

 

[Michael Tree]

Does Shocking Grasp give the caster 1 attack/level?

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

Does Shocking Grasp give the caster 1 attack/level?

No. It just deals 1d6 damage per caster level up to a max of 5d6 (as listed above).

-Zarrock

 

[Saeviomagy]

I don't think touch of idiocy can reduce someone to a comatose state. I'm pretty sure it has a 1 pt minimum on the stats drained.

However - fear the monk/sorceror! Low level touch attack spells combined with unarmed blows!

 

[Kalendraf]

I agree that it is refreshing to see a new caster type becoming viable. I am sick of seeing caster after caster having nothing but Mage Armor and Magic Missle used as their only 1st level spells. Previously, Spectral Hand was never taken since it was not worth using a 2nd level slot for anything but a buff spell. With the reduction of buff spell duration, I think Spectral Hand is a lot more attractive now as well, although I have a gut feeling that Scorching Ray, Scorching Ray, Scorching Ray, Scorching Ray may wind up being the new 2nd level list many players use. Hopefully someone will try out the Hand.

Suppose a wizard or sorcerer wanted to become a "Touch Specialist". What feats would be good to take? Does something like Weapon Focus: Unarmed Strike contribute on melee touch attacks? Would that feat work thru Spectral Hand?

 

[Kalendraf]

I don't think touch of idiocy can reduce someone to a comatose state. I'm pretty sure it has a 1 pt minimum on the stats drained.

You are quite right. I missed that point when I read about Touch of Idiocy. Still a nasty spell, especially against enemy casters. Do characters who lose stat points like this lose their spells? I would expect bonus spells to be lost, but I'm not sure about regular ones. The spell description doesn't explain this, just mentioning that spells can't be cast if the ability falls too low.

 

[Li Shenron]

I think Weapon Finesse (Touch) was the must-have feat to make a spellcaster good with touch spells, given the fact that the majority of arcane spellcasters have low Str and average or high Dex for defense. The new WF adds some side benefits, for example for elven arcane casters (Rapier), and may make the caster use Daggers instead of QStaffs.

IMHO the 2 disadvantages for Touch casters were that 1) there were not very many touch spells, and 2) most of the time you are casting close to the foe and provoke AoO.

I don't know if 1) goes away with new spells in 3.5. Not that they were too few, but for my own taste the selection was not very wide. I have to say anyway I didn't study the possibility fully, thI didn't count the touch spells in PHB, so it may be very untrue.

With good Concentration/Casting Defensively (and with the rule that you can combine cast+move+touch in a FRA, if it's still there - or was it a FAQ? ) you can get rid of the 2).

My favourite thing about touch spells is that many don't have ST, and if you miss the first attempt you can still attack and deliver the same spell in the next round.

 

[Jhyrryl]

Fastest Growing Damage Spell

I like this change. At 1d6 per level (capped at 5th), it's now the fastest growing damage spell in a wiz/sorc's arsenal until they get fireball or lightning bolt, making it a very viable option.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

My favourite thing about touch spells is that many don't have ST, and if you miss the first attempt you can still attack and deliver the same spell in the next round.

Hmm... I don't know about that. You can "hold the charge" from round to round, but I believe once you commit to an attack, you have to discharge the spell-- and if you miss, it's wasted.



Wulf