Spectral Hand: Incorporeal Touch?

[TessarrianDM]

The spell description says that it creates an incorporeal hand that can be used to deliver touch spells. Would these be considered incorporeal touch attacks, meaning that the armor bonus Mage Armor and Greater Mage Armor grant would apply to these attacks?

 

[Jack Simth]

They're still spell touch attacks, so Mage Armor and other [Force] effects don't help (although a Wall of Force and similar would, due to line of effect issues).

 

[DogBackward]

As long as we're talking about Spectral Hand, has there been any official rulin on it's precise use? As in, does it essentially make all my touch attacks medium-range touches, or do I actually have to keep track of where my hand is andhow it moves and so on? If so, what's the speed?

 

[frankthedm]

I read "any touch range spell of 4th level or lower that you cast can be delivered by the spectral hand." and "The hand is incorporeal " as the hand must contend with force based armors. I'm not that steadfast on the position though, all a player would have to say to get me to change my mind is "I want the Devourer's energy draining Spectral Hand to ignore my force armor."

Spectral Hand
Necromancy
Level: Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: One spectral hand
Duration: 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

A ghostly, glowing hand shaped from your life force materializes and moves as you desire, allowing you to deliver low-level, touch range spells at a distance. On casting the spell, you lose 1d4 hit points that return when the spell ends (even if it is dispelled), but not if the hand is destroyed. (The hit points can be healed as normal.) For as long as the spell lasts, any touch range spell of 4th level or lower that you cast can be delivered by the spectral hand. The spell gives you a +2 bonus on your melee touch attack roll, and attacking with the hand counts normally as an attack. The hand always strikes from your direction. The hand cannot flank targets like a creature can. After it delivers a spell, or if the hand goes beyond the spell range, goes out of your sight, the hand returns to you and hovers.

The hand is incorporeal and thus cannot be harmed by normal weapons. It has improved evasion (half damage on a failed Reflex save and no damage on a successful save), your save bonuses, and an AC of at least 22. Your Intelligence modifier applies to the hand’s AC as if it were the hand’s Dexterity modifier. The hand has 1 to 4 hit points, the same number that you lost in creating it.

 

[blargney the second]

I agree with Frank. (I seem to be saying that a lot in here lately.)
-blarg