Mage Armor

[Lord Ben]

I read that Mage armor counts against touch attacks from incorpreal creatures. It doesn't count against normal touch attacks though right?

 

[Jeremy]

Correct. Incorporeal attacks are only touch attacks because they normally bypass armor, mage armor extends into their plane and is as real to them as plate is to your average joe.

A true touch attack should not be hindered by mage armor, because if my searing light spell hits you or your mage armor, it's still hitting you. At least that's how I understood it.

 

[kreynolds]

Correct. Incorporeal attacks are only touch attacks because they normally bypass armor, mage armor extends into their plane and is as real to them as plate is to your average joe.

A true touch attack should not be hindered by mage armor, because if my searing light spell hits you or your mage armor, it's still hitting you. At least that's how I understood it.

And you understand it correctly. Touch attacks are nasty.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

I read that Mage armor counts against touch attacks from incorpreal creatures. It doesn't count against normal touch attacks though right?

Yes it does count against touch attacks from incorporeal creatures. It is a force effect (see the descriptor in the spell description). And force effects affect incorporeal creatures normally, without the 50% chance of no effect from a corporeal source that is normally such a pain in the backside. That is also why Magic Missile and Spiritual Weapon spells work great against incorps.

Mage armor is an armor bonus, so it does not protect against a normal (corporeal) touch attack.