Spiritual Hammer Question

[Wepwawet]

On this cleric spell's description it says "Make a melee attack with the hammer"

Do you use your own strength to make this attack, as a regular melee attack?
Or do you use Wisdom, as in previous D&D versions?

Maybe I'm too stuck on previous versions, but controlling a magical spectral hammer floating around should have nothing to do with your own physical Strength, right?

 

[beej]

Huh. I told my cleric player to make a spell attack (which made sense at the time, since the hammer was a spell), but you're right, it does specify melee attack. @_@

 

[GMforPowergamers]

So we had the cleric of pelor said it would make sense for the other ccleric because his attack sucked... Then he asked if he could use wis instead of str

 

[dammitbiscuit]

Shocking grasp is also a "melee" attack. Don't get hung up on wording, just keep in mind that you're using a spell to make an attack.

 

[TerraDave]

My question is on sustaining it: once its out there, can you attack with it and do something else each round?

 

[Wepwawet]

Using your action you move the hammer up to 20ft and attack with it. Both with your action.

That's my understanding of it.

 

[KesselZero]

I pondered this too, and I'm pretty sure it would use Wis, since that's the "magic modifier." Melee just means it has to be next to the target.

TerraDave-- yeah, as far as anyone can tell you get two actions when your Hammer is a-Hammerin'.

 

[TerraDave]

Is the "part of your action" language meant to indicate that it goes away if you can't take an action? (e.g. passed out)