Truestrike and volley spells

[0-hr]

If you cast True Strike then a volley spell (like Flamebolt from R&R or Lesser Acid Orb from T&B), do you get +20 on all of the to hit rolls, or just the first?

 

[kreynolds]

Ooo...good question. I'd have to roll with the "next single attack roll" bit and say just the first.

 

[IceBear]

I agree, just like sneak attack damage would only apply to the first.

IceBear

 

[0-hr]

Ah, but the reason that sneak attack only applies to the first bolt is because the whole volley is considered as a single attack (but a single attack that requires multiple rolls). So I figured if it's one attack, then True Strike applies to the whole thing (like it does for Cleaves). Anyway, the spell description says both things, so it could probably go either way:

The character gains temporary, intuitive insight into the
immediate future during the character's next attack. The
character's next single attack roll (within the duration of the
spell) gains a +20 insight bonus. Additionally, the character is
not affected by the miss chance that applies to attacks against a
concealed target.

 

[IceBear]

Really? I thought it was for the same reason as with shuriken. Even though it's all one attack, only the first can be aimed carefully enough to do sneak attack damage. This implies that while it's considered one attack action, it's really seperate attacks and thus only the first would get the +20 bonus

The way you describe it, it's the entire attack that provides the sneak attack damage, so even if you miss with 2 out of the 3 as long as one hits you do sneak attack damage. That's not the case, if you miss with the first you don't do sneak attack damage at all, even if you hit with the other two.

IceBear

 

[Baron Von StarBlade]

Ah, but the reason that sneak attack only applies to the first bolt is because the whole volley is considered as a single attack (but a single attack that requires multiple rolls). So I figured if it's one attack, then True Strike applies to the whole thing (like it does for Cleaves). Anyway, the spell description says both things, so it could probably go either way:

The last time I checked True Strike didn't count on a cleave attempt.

 

[IceBear]

Yeah, that's true. I thought that was the consenus we came to on here just a little while ago, too. Only the first attack gets the +20, not the cleaves or the subsequent attacks on a whirlwind attack (which is more like volley spells)

IceBear

 

[FlimFlam]

But I thought you added all pluses and minuses for a Cleave? Like if you did a power attack with a -3 to the attack, you have to do a -3 power attack on any cleaves as well? If you do a charge attack and end up killing the target, if you are able to cleave, would you not get the +2 (from charge) on the cleave attempt too?

 

[IceBear]

But power attack is different than true strike. You set your power attack at the beginning of your action. You can't change it between attacks. So, if you are at -3 to attack / +3 to damage when you start the round, all attacks that round (including cleaves) have the same.

True strike only affects your next attack *roll*

IceBear

 

[FlimFlam]

So basically the wording of the spell overrides the wording of the feat? Because cleave says, "The extra attack is with the same weapon and at the same bonus as the attack that dropped the previous creature."