Spectral Hand

[durza120]

I was looking throught the spell lists when i came across spectral hand. This spell seemed like a perfect way to deliver a touch attack spell without having to go near the target. But i was wondering, does this speel work with spells such as true strike and other medamagic feats?

 

[Nefrast]

I was looking throught the spell lists when i came across spectral hand. This spell seemed like a perfect way to deliver a touch attack spell without having to go near the target. But i was wondering, does this speel work with spells such as true strike and other medamagic feats?

True Strike gives you a bonus to "your next attack roll", it doesn't specify the action of which this attack roll is part of. So True Strike would work for an attack roll made through a Spectral Hand. But the problem is True Strike only works till the end of the next round.

So you must be able to make an attack with Spectral Hand before the end of the round following the round you cast True Strike. This is possible either by casting Spectral Hand before True Strike, or casting Spectral Hand quickened, so that you can make that attack in the same round.

Regarding meta magic feats, I don't see any reason to treat Spectral Hand any other way than other spells when it comes to applying metamagic effects.

 

[moritheil]

does this speel work with spells such as true strike and other medamagic feats?

True Strike is not a metamagic feat, so I'm not sure what you're asking.

If you want to know the optimal use of spectral hand, it's to sneak attack someone from 100' (or more) away as a multiclass rogue/mage.

 

[Ranes]

Under most circumstances, that isn't going to work. Spectral Hand doesn't flank an opponent, so the target will have to be denied its Dex bonus to AC. Then there's the issue of, "The rogue must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot..." (PHB, p50)

From 100' away? Not likely, unless some other device is at work to aid the rogue/mage's vision.

 

[javcs]

From 100ft away, call it a spot check, say it's a base of 5, making it a DC 15 Spot check, piece of cake. Even if it's a higher base DC, the net DC, effectively, will be the base DC, when 100ft out, taking 10, so, at levels where this would be worthwhile/doable, it's not going to be hard to make that DC.

With, say a maximized shocking grasp.

 

[moritheil]

Under most circumstances, that isn't going to work. Spectral Hand doesn't flank an opponent, so the target will have to be denied its Dex bonus to AC.

A rogue/mage can quite easily be invisible, you know.

 

[Ranes]

That doesn't explain how he's going to locate his opponent's weak spot, in order to sneak attack, from 'one hundred feet or more' away.

Edit: The rogue's sneak attack ability is normally limited to 30' (for ranged attacks) because, "a rogue can't strike with deadly accuracy from beyond that range." Seeing your target from 100' may be DC15 but picking out its vitals should be much harder, or why limit the ranged sneak attack?

 

[javcs]

A rogue/mage can quite easily be invisible, you know.

If he weren't, I would be worried, in all honesty.

Regarding the OP, since when would a caster not be able to apply an appropriate metamagic feat to a spell he can cast, assuming he's of sufficient level to do so and have a high enough level spell slot?

 

[moritheil]

That doesn't explain how he's going to locate his opponent's weak spot, in order to sneak attack, from 'one hundred feet or more' away.

Assuming you are human or some other race the mage is familiar with, being further away doesn't change your anatomy. For that matter, a rogue doesn't have to make a knowledge check to sneak attack someone, and can sneak attack even a creature he hasn't seen before.

I think you are imputing some sort of requirement that doesn't actually exist per RAW, and so of course it can't be met by RAW. If I can see you, I can melee sneak attack you as long as I can reach the spot with precision. The 30' ranged attack limit exists, but this is a MELEE attack.

 

[Ranes]

I think you are imputing some sort of requirement that doesn't actually exist per RAW, and so of course it can't be met by RAW.

See my edit.