Spiritual Weapon in the dark?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I've got a paladin in a dark room aware that there's someone in there with him. His weapon is not where he left it (mwah ha ha) and he wants to cast spiritual weapon on his unseen opponent.

Can he cast it on an opponent he cannot see? Does the opponent gain a saving throw bonus if so? Or is there a miss chance?

 

[Jack Simth]

Assuming it's complete darkness, and that the Paladin doesn't have Darkvision? It's completely and utterly useless:

"If the weapon goes beyond the spell range, if it goes out of your sight, or if you are not directing it, the weapon returns to you and hovers."(Emphasis added)

 

[moritheil]

He has to direct it at a target; if he can't specify a target, it doesn't attack. Most spells are not auto-targeting.

Note that there is a similar spell that creates a force weapon which reflexively attacks anyone who strikes you - but I'm pretty sure that's not the one you mean.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

You need to see the creature to target it -- this includes, after casting, if you want to send it to a new target.

That said, once you've sicced the spiritual weapon on someone, it doesn't matter if after that point you can no longer see him. The spiritual weapon will stay on him. Spiritual Weapon, along with Detect Magic and glitterdust/fairy fire, are great low level ways to deal with invisible opponents if you have no see invis or purge invis prepared.

How would this be useful for your player? If he had a means to see where the target is for just one round, he could set up his "homing beacon." The most common way this has happened in my games is against an invisible foe when a PC has the Clarity of Vision skill trick (Swift DC 20 spot to see invisiblility for one round).

[sblock]There are others to do this "point him out" trick in Spell Compendium, like targeting ray. My favorite being a level 1 spell that lasts round/level and causes a small cloud to persist over the foe's head, pelting him each round with 1 damage lightning bolts, reflex negates. It's just so awesomely annoying! Wish I could recall the name...[/sblock]

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Thanks, guys.

 

[starwed]

Note that if you can touch a creature, you no longer need line-of-sight to them.

I think you can attempt a touch attack against an unseen foe to target them with a spell, but you need to pick the correct square and beat the miss chance.

 

[Jack Simth]

Note that if you can touch a creature, you no longer need line-of-sight to them.

Normally, yes - but with this particular spell, you need line-of-sight to the spell - and if it's completely dark, you're kinda denied that.

 

[irdeggman]

Is the room just dark or is it total darkness?

There is a difference.

Darkness doesn't provide total concealment or block line of sight. Total darkness does.

 

[moritheil]

There are others to do this "point him out" trick in Spell Compendium, like targeting ray. My favorite being a level 1 spell that lasts round/level and causes a small cloud to persist over the foe's head, pelting him each round with 1 damage lightning bolts, reflex negates. It's just so awesomely annoying! Wish I could recall the name...

Level 1 druid spell, Thundercloud.

Started out as a level 0 spell in Dragon Magazine, which lasted 3 rounds and was extremely useful (they were balancing it against acid splash, which does 1d3 in one round.) Was edited to be level 1 for SpC, I think.

And of course, a druid can always cast faerie fire instead if you're not playing with splatbooks. That spell is really quite useful even at higher levels.