What spells can be made Persistant?

[TheEvil]

I have been looking at the Persistent Spell feat and it seems to me a bit vague. Is there any guidence on what exactly constitutes a fixed range? I would assume anything that wasn't Range: Close, Medium or Long would qualify provided they weren't instantaneous or discharged.

 

[Pyrex]

Well, there's Detect Magic (60' Emanation), and Divine Favor (Personal).

The list is pretty short. The list of worthwhile spells is pretty much: Divine Favor.

 

[Mistwell]

Well, there's Detect Magic (60' Emanation), and Divine Favor (Personal).

The list is pretty short. The list of worthwhile spells is pretty much: Divine Favor.

The list is fairly large actually. And you can see it for yourself here:

Arcane List of Persistable Spells:

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=477252

Divine List Persistable Spells:

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=407298

 

[Sejs]

Is there any guidence on what exactly constitutes a fixed range? I would assume anything that wasn't Range: Close, Medium or Long would qualify provided they weren't instantaneous or discharged.

Fixed range is anything that has a range that is expressed in a set, non-variable number of feet. Touch range is not fixed because whom you touch is variable. For the most part fixed range spells tend to be eminations centered on the caster, such as Detect Magic and the like.

 

[Mistwell]

Technically there is a "cheat" that can drastically increase the number of spells that would qualify for persistant spell. It combines two feats: Ranged Spell (turns a touch spell into a ray), and Occular Spell (turns a ray into a fixed range).

I'd never allow that combo to qualify for persistant spell in my game. But, I figured I would mention it as some folks would.

 

[Sejs]

Technically there is a "cheat" that can drastically increase the number of spells that would qualify for persistant spell. It combines two feats: Ranged Spell (turns a touch spell into a ray), and Occular Spell (turns a ray into a fixed range).

I'd never allow that combo to qualify for persistant spell in my game. But, I figured I would mention it as some folks would.

Memory serving, there was something similar that involved the Divine Reach ability from the Heirophant PrC. The one that let you turn a touch spell into a ranged touch with a fixed range of 30'. Something like that. But like you said, I wouldn't let that fly either. As far as end-runs go, it's pretty blatant. Not allowing them simply because there's some semilegal mechanical loophole is part of what makes live DMs so much better than those robot DMs I keep hearing about.

 

[TheEvil]

Thanks for the links Mistwell!
Quite the debate on the subject over there, mixed with a few actually useful comments that actually include citations. I am so spoiled by ENWorld.

 

[TheEvil]

Follow-up question:
Is there any 3.5 source that says that touch spells aren't valid? With the bump up to +6, I don't see why the restriction is needed.

 

[Krafen]

I believe the current FAQ disallows Touch range spells.

 

[TheEvil]

Nope, the only place Persistent spell comes up is asking if it can be applied to Mass Lessor Vigor, which it can.