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<blockquote data-quote="Malin Genie" data-source="post: 957219" data-attributes="member: 1058">&quot;Targeted&quot; spells are quite different from &quot;Effect: Ray&quot; spells.For example, to cast a targeted spell you actually need a target.&nbsp; OTOH with a Ray you can fire one into the darkness, into thin air hoping there is an invisible opponent lurking there, above your head just to impress the peasants, et cetera.Ray spells use the Ranged Touch attack mechanic; so you can hi the wrong target (including one of your own party members if they happen to be providing cover.)&nbsp; A Targeted spell strikes precisely the opponent Targeted.On the basis that an &quot;Effect: Ray&quot; spell doesn't specify targets, and looking at the clear differences above, I would never allow chaining of a Ray.&nbsp; However, if you did, how would you adjudicate it?The idea of chaining is that the main spell hits the primary target, and then secondary effects devolve from that onto the secondary targets.&nbsp; So how can a caster 'aim' the secondary rays?&nbsp; On what basis do you make the touch attacks?&nbsp; Presumably you calculate cover using the primary victim as the 'new' source, but what about concealment - is that calculated from the POV of the caster or the primary victim?I do agree that the wording of Split Ray is unfortunate; however, a Ray can have a 'target' in the non-magical sense, the same way as an arrow, crossbow bolt or sword blow has a target.&nbsp; That is, a Ray spell does not have a Target, but it creates an effect which can have a target - in the broader sense of the word, as opposed to the technical definition of a Targeted spell.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Malin Genie, post: 957219, member: 1058"] "Targeted" spells are quite different from "Effect: Ray" spells. For example, to cast a targeted spell you actually need a target. OTOH with a Ray you can fire one into the darkness, into thin air hoping there is an invisible opponent lurking there, above your head just to impress the peasants, et cetera. Ray spells use the Ranged Touch attack mechanic; so you can hi the wrong target (including one of your own party members if they happen to be providing cover.) A Targeted spell strikes precisely the opponent Targeted. On the basis that an "Effect: Ray" spell doesn't specify targets, and looking at the clear differences above, I would never allow [i]chain[/i]ing of a Ray. However, if you did, how would you adjudicate it? The idea of [i]chain[/i]ing is that the main spell hits the primary target, and then secondary effects devolve from that onto the secondary targets. So how can a caster 'aim' the secondary rays? On what basis do you make the touch attacks? Presumably you calculate cover using the primary victim as the 'new' source, but what about concealment - is that calculated from the POV of the caster or the primary victim? I do agree that the wording of Split Ray is unfortunate; however, a Ray can have a 'target' in the non-magical sense, the same way as an arrow, crossbow bolt or sword blow has a target. That is, a Ray spell does not have a Target, but it creates an effect which can have a target - in the broader sense of the word, as opposed to the technical definition of a Targeted spell. [/QUOTE]

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