Arcane Channeling + Shocking Grasp

[Rokes]

So last night our 3rd level duskblade wanted to use arcane channeling to hit the BBEG wearing breastplate with shocking grasp. The question is, does he gain the +3 bonus for the BBEG wearing metal armor?

A side question; If the attack misses, does the spell stay "charged" in the weapon a la the Spellsword, or does it disappear?

From the SRD:

Shocking Grasp
Evocation [Electricity]
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature or object touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
Your successful melee touch attack deals 1d6 points of electricity damage per caster level (maximum 5d6). When delivering the jolt, you gain a +3 bonus on attack rolls if the opponent is wearing metal armor (or made out of metal, carrying a lot of metal, or the like).


From PHB2

Arcane Channeling:

...you can use a standard action to cast any touch spell you know and deliver the spell through your weapon with a melee attack. <snip> If the melee attack is successful, the attack deals damage normally; then the effect of the spell is resolved.

 

[Nifft]

IMHO: Yes. The attack bonus is part of the spell's effect (since the spell's text pertains explicitly to "delivering" the spell, and so does the Duskblade's text).

Cheers, -- N

 

[Rokes]

Well the on-the-spot ruling was that it didn't, since shocking grasp gets that bonus during a "touch" attack and the duskblade is making a "melee" attack.

We were thinking that if he just tried to touch the guy with the sword, then he'd get +3, but since he was trying to make a melee attack and actually hit with his weapon for damage, the spell didn't aid in his ability to land the attack.

 

[theredrobedwizard]

But one can touch an opponent with a melee attack without actually damaging them, so I'd rule in favor of giving them the +3 to hit. Maybe make some kind of specific ruling wherein if they would hit the opponent's Touch AC, but no the normal AC, they only do Shocking Grasp damage.

-TRRW

 

[Nifft]

This is what the spell description says:

When delivering the jolt, you gain a +3 bonus on attack rolls if the opponent is wearing metal armor (or made out of metal, carrying a lot of metal, or the like).

Arcane Channeling likewise specifies that you are delivering the spell. The spell doesn't require that it be delivered with a touch attack -- even without Duskblade in the picture, the spell could be delivered with an Unarmed Strike, for example.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Rokes]

When you look at it that way, it seems to read in favor of the duskblade. I still have a problem though, and I know it's never good to try to compare D&D "fyziks" with real world physics, but being an engineer, I can't help it...

Maybe I'll just tell my head that it turns the duskblade's sword into a giant electromagnet.

 

[Fifth Element]

I'm playing a 3rd-level duskblade with shocking grasp right now. The way my DM is ruled is that since the spell is resolved after a successful hit, the +3 bonus does not apply. However, on tha same basis the charge is held until a successful attack is made, or another touch spell is cast (either normally or through arcane channeling).

 

[TheGogmagog]

I agree with the 'yes' to the +3 applying, making that a nice bonus for the duskblade.

A side question; If the attack misses, does the spell stay "charged" in the weapon a la the Spellsword, or does it disappear?

Yes the spell stays charges when using the low level version. When using the full attack version the spell ends at the end of the round. There are times when a high level duskblade may want to use the standard action attack instead of full attack (like when moving, or just because he's expecting to miss.)

I believe this is also answered by the FAQ.

 

[blargney the second]

The way my DM is ruled is that since the spell is resolved after a successful hit, the +3 bonus does not apply. However, on tha same basis the charge is held until a successful attack is made, or another touch spell is cast (either normally or through arcane channeling).

This is how I'd rule it.

 

[wildstarsreach]

So last night our 3rd level duskblade wanted to use arcane channeling to hit the BBEG wearing breastplate with shocking grasp. The question is, does he gain the +3 bonus for the BBEG wearing metal armor?

A side question; If the attack misses, does the spell stay "charged" in the weapon a la the Spellsword, or does it disappear?

From the SRD:

Shocking Grasp
Evocation [Electricity]
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature or object touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
Your successful melee touch attack deals 1d6 points of electricity damage per caster level (maximum 5d6). When delivering the jolt, you gain a +3 bonus on attack rolls if the opponent is wearing metal armor (or made out of metal, carrying a lot of metal, or the like).


From PHB2

Arcane Channeling:

...you can use a standard action to cast any touch spell you know and deliver the spell through your weapon with a melee attack. <snip> If the melee attack is successful, the attack deals damage normally; then the effect of the spell is resolved.

I am currently playing a duskblade at 6th. It can in a short term become over whelming for a DM with monsters. I move up, my character has both Blade of Blood and Shocking Grasp. I'm only getting one attack. I cast Blade of Blood sacrificing 5 HP to get 3d6, this spell is a swift action, then arcane channel Shocking grasp for an additional potential of 5d6, then roll to hit. I do 1d8+3+3d6+5d6 doing about 35 points on average to living creatures. This will take most cr's of the appropriate level down to about 40%, if I do nothing else with spell, I can repeat this 5 times using 2nd level spells as well. 3rd-8th level is IMO the best time for the Duskblade.