Spiritual Weapon

[werk]

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

I think you are really struggling with believability or realism...can't really help with that, the game is not a reality simulator.

Line of Sight is different from facing, though. There is no facing anymore, so anything in a 360 degree radius around the cleric is in his LoS unless it is blocked by some concealing object.
So the SW could easily attack someone 150' to the east, then someone 150' to the west. Technically, the cleric doesn't have to 'turn around' or look the other way because there are no real mechanics for doing that...it's just not important. The SW can travel that distance because it does not move, and has no movement rate or mode. It's just an effect, and it operates within its area of effect as per the spell description.

Hope that helps!

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I think you are really struggling with believability or realism...can't really help with that, the game is not a reality simulator.

Line of Sight is different from facing, though. There is no facing anymore, so anything in a 360 degree radius around the cleric is in his LoS unless it is blocked by some concealing object.
So the SW could easily attack someone 150' to the east, then someone 150' to the west. Technically, the cleric doesn't have to 'turn around' or look the other way because there are no real mechanics for doing that...it's just not important. The SW can travel that distance because it does not move, and has no movement rate or mode. It's just an effect, and it operates within its area of effect as per the spell description.

Hope that helps!

Yeah, sometimes I have to remind myself that D&D does not model realism, it models D&D! Of course I seemed to have trouble with a magically created weapon that seemed to move 300ft and attack someone in 6 seconds yet I have no trouble believing that something that almost looks like a giant lizard can fly, cast spells and shoot fire out of its mouth!

I have to remember that sometimes realism should just take a hike.

Olaf the Stout

 

[moritheil]

Does everyone run spiritual weapon that way? IMC one has to have LoS to target it, but after targeting one does not, provided that the weapon itself is still in the caster's sight.

That is, merely ducking around a corner does not prevent a spiritual weapon from attacking you - you must be far enough that the weapon would need to fly out of caster's sight to reach you.

V W
OO
OO
OO
OO
OO C


V = victim
W = weapon
C = caster

 

[frankthedm]

Does everyone run spiritual weapon that way? IMC one has to have LoS to target it, but after targeting one does not, provided that the weapon itself is still in the caster's sight.

The Spell does not specify the space the weapon occupies, only the direction the attack comes from.[in 3.0 this mattered for Shield spells and the Sage Advice Tower sheild] It does specify the weapon is Tiny. Because of that IMG the weapon is in it's victim's square like a murderous office assitant.

A spiritual weapon’s AC against touch attacks is 12 (10 + size bonus for Tiny object).

 

[irdeggman]

Does everyone run spiritual weapon that way? IMC one has to have LoS to target it, but after targeting one does not, provided that the weapon itself is still in the caster's sight.

That is, merely ducking around a corner does not prevent a spiritual weapon from attacking you - you must be far enough that the weapon would need to fly out of caster's sight to reach you.

V W
OO
OO
OO
OO
OO C


V = victim
W = weapon
C = caster

But since the weapon always strikes from your direction this picture won't work since from the caster's direction places the wall between the caster and the target.

The weapon always strikes from your direction. It does not get a flanking bonus or help a combatant get one.

 

[moritheil]

But since the weapon always strikes from your direction this picture won't work since from the caster's direction places the wall between the caster and the target.

It's still conceptually possible, though perhaps a bit odd.

Frank caught something that I hadn't, though. Thanks!

IMG the weapon is in it's victim's square like a murderous office assitant.