Spiritual Weapon

[Olaf the Stout]

In the spell description for Spiritual Weapon it says that the spell has a range of 100ft + 10 ft/level. It also says that you can use a move action to change who the weapon is attacking. In the round that you change who the weapon is attacking it gets 1 attack.

By my understanding a Spiritual Weapon cast by a 5th level Sorcerer or Wizard could move 300ft and attack someone at the cost of a move action. i.e. It is attacking someone 150ft in front of the caster and he commands it to attack someone 150ft behind him.

I know that is a bit of an extreme case, but even if it is only 200ft movement it still seems a little on the high side to me. Am I missing something or is this the way that the spell was intended to work?

Olaf the Stout

 

[Pyrex]

Well, aside from the fact that Spiritual Weapon is not on the Wiz/Sor spell list, you've got it right.

 

[frankthedm]

Considering the weapon can be sent back to the cleric by breaking line of sight it is, it does not feel that bad to me.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

I think it is reasonably fair. If the movement bothers you, remember that in essence it is a spiritual weapon, not a standard mace, sword, etc.This is purely for flavor purposes but I uasually don't think of the weapon as flying at breakneck speeds across the battlefield so much as I see the weapon blink out where it currently is and reappear in its new spot. Of course, all the normal rules are followed as per the spell description. But in this sense it becomes more of a projection of thought/will than an actual weapon flying around at supersonic speeds.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Well, aside from the fact that Spiritual Weapon is not on the Wiz/Sor spell list, you've got it right.

Doh! Yes, I should have said Cleric not Wiz/Sor. My bad.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I think it is reasonably fair. If the movement bothers you, remember that in essence it is a spiritual weapon, not a standard mace, sword, etc.This is purely for flavor purposes but I uasually don't think of the weapon as flying at breakneck speeds across the battlefield so much as I see the weapon blink out where it currently is and reappear in its new spot. Of course, all the normal rules are followed as per the spell description. But in this sense it becomes more of a projection of thought/will than an actual weapon flying around at supersonic speeds.

Strangely enough, the thought of it blinking in and out does make me feel a lot better about the spell than the weapon zooming around the battlefield at breakneck speeds. And I think that it fits well with the flavour of spells in general.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Considering the weapon can be sent back to the cleric by breaking line of sight it is, it does not feel that bad to me.

So do people think that the weapon attacking someone from the opposite side to the Cleric is still in his sight? I imagine that the definition may be different compared to line of sight. I think it is more there so that the weapon can't chase people around corners or through different rooms in a building.

Olaf the Stout

 

[frankthedm]

So do people think that the weapon attacking someone from the opposite side to the Cleric is still in his sight? I imagine that the definition may be different compared to line of sight. I think it is more there so that the weapon can chase people around corners or through different rooms in a building.

Olaf the Stout

No, the weapon cannot chase people around corners or through different rooms in a building[unless those rooms are all lined up.]

In 3E one is assumed to have LOS all around of them, so running around the cleric would not send the weapon back to the cleric.

Running behind a wall would send the weapon back to the cleric. Even if you re-emerge the weapons is back with the cleric who now is stuck using a move action to get further use of the spell.

Blinding the cleric would send the weapon back to the cleric.

Igniting a smoke stick in your space would protect you from this spell fairly well. cough, cough, cough.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

No, the weapon cannot chase people around corners or through different rooms in a building[unless those rooms are all lined up.]

In 3E one is assumed to have LOS all around of them, so running around the cleric would not send the weapon back to the cleric.

Running behind a wall would send the weapon back to the cleric. Even if you re-emerge the weapons is back with the cleric who now is stuck using a move action to get further use of the spell.

Blinding the cleric would send the weapon back to the cleric.

Igniting a smoke stick in your space would protect you from this spell fairly well. cough, cough, cough.

Double D'oh! I meant to say can't chase people around corners, not can!

I'll edit my previous post.

Olaf the Stout

 

[frankthedm]

No biggie.