D&D 3E/3.5 Rules Query - 3.5E - Line of Effect for Spells

[captnq]

Sculpt Spell won't turn a Wall into a Dome. Or a Cone into a Dome. Or a Ray into a Dome.

If you want domes, use Resilient Sphere or Telekinetic Sphere.

You can find anything in 3.5, if you look hard enough.

Spellsword:
Channel Spell (Sp): At 4th level, a spellsword can channel
any spell he can cast into his melee weapon.

Now my spell affects a single target. I apply after I channel:

Eldritch Disciple:
Eldritch Spellweave (Su): Beginning at 5th level, you can
apply an eldritch essence invocation you know (other than
greatreach blast or spellblast; see the eldritch theurge class
features on page 57) to any divine spell that affects a target
or that requires a melee or ranged touch attack.

Doesn't say it is part of the spell or part of the casting. It is APPLIED to the spell. So I apply it after I channel. I choose to apply:

Eldritch Beam (3.5e Invocation)
Lesser; 4th; Blast Shape
Instead of using a standard eldritch blast, you may unleash an eldritch beam. The eldritch beam is a line that is 5 feet wide and 50 feet +5 feet per 2 levels (to a maximum of 100 feet) long.

So, Now I'm casting a Beam of Force Wall. Even though it's being affected by a Invocation, it is still a spell. Since metamagic rods are Use-Activated. And I do not Use the channeled spell until I choose to hit someone with it, I can now sculpt metamagic rod my wall spell

Now I make my Beam of Force Wall into a Sphere of Force Wall.

I just created a solid 20-foot radius ball of force.

Would anyone ever PLAY such a PC? I doubt it, but it is possible.

 

[delericho]

The problem with that is that Eldritch Disciple only works on divine spells, and wall of force is an arcane spell.

 

[Greenfield]

I'd throw an Empowered Greater Dispel BS on a Wall spell that delivers as a touch attack, ranged or otherwise, but that's a DM call, not a rules objection.

I spotted the same hole regarding Divine. I also saw the rabbit hole they used:

Eldritch Disciple:
Eldritch Spellweave (Su): Beginning at 5th level, you can
apply an eldritch essence invocation you know (other than
greatreach blast or spellblast; see the eldritch theurge class
features on page 57) to any divine spell that affects a target
or that requires a melee or ranged touch attack.

If they read that as "Any divine spell that affects a target, or any spell of any type that that requires a melee or ranged touch attack"...

It's an intentional misread, but it's there to be misread.

Actually, I do have a rules objection to a Wall of Force being delivered as a touch or ranged touch attack: It's not an attack. It doesn't affect an individual target in any way. No damage, no change, no affect of any kind to that person or object.

And though I haven't read the sources for those abilities, I suspect that we'd find a few more objections.

Also, I'm coming back to the idea of Epic levels being needed:

To become a Spellsword, you need to have a BAB of +4, and proficiency with all armors and shields, and all simple and martial weapons.

That suggests at least one level in Fighter, and seven in Wizard for BAB and weapon/armor requirements. Now add four levels in Spellsword for the first step in that set. That also gives you the bare minimum caster level to throw Wall of Force, since Spellsword adds spells every other level, bringing the caster level to 9. (WoF is 5th level).

Next, for Eldritch Disciple you need the ability to cast at least 2nd level Divine Spells, which implies at least three levels of Cleric. You also need the ability to use Invocations, meaning at least one level in Warlock.

Next you need at least 6 levels of Eldritch Disciple, five for the Eldritch Spellweave ability, and one more before the character has any Lesser Invocations, as required for the combination.

Those add up to 22, and I might have missed something.

And gosh, you stop gaining new spells and invocations at 20. So that build will never be able to do the combination described, unless there's another rabbit hiding somewhere in that hat. (Extra Invocation exists (Complete Arcane, page 79), but requires that you already be able to cast Lesser Invocations, which is what you couldn't do after level 20.)

Or, you could use Telekinetic Sphere, which can actually give that effect. Or the Wondrous Item from the DMG, Bead of Force.

 

[Ranes]

I'd throw an Empowered Greater Dispel BS on a Wall spell that delivers as a touch attack, ranged or otherwise, but that's a DM call, not a rules objection…

Oh, I don't know.

Prestige classes are purely optional and always under the purview of the DM.