D&D 3E/3.5 What if 3.5 spells were ranged touch attack?

[joela]

I read somewhere that 4e magic works like a standard attack, using the Fort/Will/Refl like AC.

That shouldn't be that difficult to duplicate in 3.5. Fireball, for example, would require a ranged touch attack. You hit, the target takes full damage. You don't and the target takes half.

However, such attacks nullify saving throws (though not spell resistance). That would affect certain class abilities/feats like a rogue's Evasion. And what about those pesky "save or die" spells?

Any way to make such a system work without severely disrupting the rules? Using the above example, I'd rule the rogue either takes quarter or no damage if the arcanist misses with the range touch attack fireball.

 

[Starman]

What would you give the magic-user to balance this out? They need something (unless you're trying to nerf them a bit) because this makes it harder for some of their spells to work.

 

[joela]

balance

What would you give the magic-user to balance this out? They need something (unless you're trying to nerf them a bit) because this makes it harder for some of their spells to work.

Thought about that. Probably give them the cleric's BAB column to hit when casting such range touch attacks.

 

[Nifft]

I read somewhere that 4e magic works like a standard attack, using the Fort/Will/Refl like AC.

That shouldn't be that difficult to duplicate in 3.5. Fireball, for example, would require a ranged touch attack.

"Ranged touch attack"? Why not just convert into attacks against Fort/Ref/Will?

The attack bonus would be casting stat + spell level + d20. The target DC would be the 3.5e F/R/W + 11.

Cheers, -- N

 

[joela]

stat

"Ranged touch attack"? Why not just convert into attacks against Fort/Ref/Will?

The attack bonus would be casting stat + spell level + d20. The target DC would be the 3.5e F/R/W + 11.

Cheers, -- N

LOL. Nifft. You just beat me to it. I was just about to suggest the same thing