Touch attacks and flying

[Diirk]

Ok, so while flying you can dive (as per charge except a minimum of 30' forwards and 10' down of movement, can only attack with talon/claws, but you do 2x damage). Now, say you cast shocking grasp and shared it with your familiar. Your familiar dives and uses his claw to make a touch attack... would it double the spell damage ?

Touch spells do double damage on a critical, can sneak attack etc, so I don't see why not.. but its probably somewhat unintended and I'm not entirely sure that it makes sense. Of course, it would be easy to say that the claw/talon attack restriction on dive means you can't perform a touch attack which would solve the problem nicely, but that seems a little silly.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

No, you don't do double damage.

It's the same as a Monk / Wizard using his monk unarmed attacks to deliver touch spells. Any critical hits, bonus damage, etc., applies to the unarmed attack, and not to the spell thereby delivered.

 

[Diirk]

You misunderstood my post; I was querying what would happen if he performed a straight touch attack, rather than making a natural attack (and thus discharging the spell in the process) as you inferred.

Last I checked, you can critical when delivering touch attacks in such a manner (The prior, that is.. I know extra damage dice are never multiplied)

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Ah. Sorry, I misunderstood.

I think the problem you'll have is:

It can make only claw or talon attacks, but these deal double damage.

I believe that this means you may only make an attack with a claw or a talon (as in, the natural weapons typed as claws or talons), and therefore would not apply to touch attacks.

 

[Diirk]

I did in fact mention that very same argument in my initial post, however it seems only common sense that if they can hit someone with their claw in such a way as to make an effective attack, then surely they can just make a touch attack with their claw (ie. bump it up against the enemy) in order to discharge a spell.

Going back to your monk example... you can punch someone to discharge a spell, or you can simply brush your hand against them... you're still using your hand, either way.

 

[azmodean]

It specifically says ONLY with talon/claws, so I'd say the benefit only applies with these natural weapons.