|
I have a player in my game who plays a Magus and wants to use Spellstrike w/ Bouncing Spell. His interpretation is that if he misses with his spell strike he could redirect the attack to another enemy within melee range, and since the description says "has no effect on its intended target (whether due to spell resistance or a successful saving throw)" I voted no.
I want to do right by the player, and since Im new to GMing I would love some help here.
Thanks!
At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack. Instead of the free melee touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell. If the magus makes this attack in concert with spell combat, this melee attack takes all the penalties accrued by spell combat melee attacks. This attack uses the weapon’s critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier.
You can direct a failed spell against a different target.
Benefit: Whenever a bouncing spell targeting a single creature has no effect on its intended target (whether due to spell resistance or a successful saving throw) you may, as a swift action, redirect it to target another eligible creature within range. The redirected spell behaves in all ways as if its new target were the original target for the spell. Spells that affect a target in any way (including a lesser effect from a successful saving throw) may not be redirected in this manner.
Level Increase: +1 (a bouncing spell uses up a spell slot one level higher than the spell’s actual level.)
My vote is the same as yours. Otherwise, a bouncing Scorching Ray could also be re-targeted in case of it missing the first creature altogether... which it cannot.
The part "(whether due to spell resistance or a successful saving throw)" is what I consider the key. No one ever said anything about 'no effect due to not even hitting the target'.
I concur you and Midnight_Angel. Bouncing spell would not come into effect, as he did not fail due to the conditions given in the feat. He failed due to missing the target with an attack.
Touch spells don't travel in the air. They're delivered by touch. However, cant you hold the charge until it hits( theoretically)?
Which, of course, opens up a new question:
Let's assume a bouncing disintegrate spell. I cast my spell, fire off the ray, actually hit my target... and fail to beat the SR.
Would the bounce come into play, the spell effectively arcing to another target (of course, requiring a new attack roll?) Or is the bounce metafeat intended to only supplement spells which pick their single target without the need for an attack roll?
Actually according to Bouncing Spell "whether due to spell resistance or a successful saving throw" if you fail to affect the target you may redirect the spell. Bouncing Spell also states "The redirected spell behaves in all ways as if its new target were the original target for the spell." which I would read as you must make a second attack to connect with a ray or touch spell. This leads me to a follow up statement of that means a Magus can Spellstrike a second time for a swift action per Bouncing Spell.
If the Grasp whiffs due to SR, then by the RAW yes. If it whiffs due to missing, no, but you still have the Grasp on your sword.
I think you're right.
I would think that since only spell is redirected, not the whole spell strike, you don't get a second swing, instead I would think you would treat the spell as if you had normally cast it (say a melee touch with shocking grasp). Again only in the case of a save or sr
I would think that since only spell is redirected, not the whole spell strike, you don't get a second swing, instead I would think you would treat the spell as if you had normally cast it (say a melee touch with shocking grasp). Again only in the case of a save or srIf you're giving them a melee touch, you are literally giving them Spellstrike. That's what Spellstrike does.
Incorrect, spell strike allows you to deliver the spell via a melee attack with your main hand weapon. Since it is the spell that is bouncing and not your attack, you would resolve the bounced spell as if the spell had been cast normally, not with spell strike.