Snowball+Close Range

[Altus Lucrim]

I'm told this is just the most awesome Magus Combination ever. Here's my problem:
Close Range (Ex)
Benefit: The magus can deliver ray spells that feature a ranged touch attack as melee touch spells. He can use a ranged touch attack spell that targets more than one creature (such as scorching ray), but he makes only one melee touch attack to deliver one of these ranged touch effects; additional ranged touch attacks from that spell are wasted and have no effect. These spells can be used with the spellstrike class feature.

Snowball
School conjuration (creation) [cold, water]; Level druid 1, magus 1, sorcerer/wizard 1, summoner 1, witch 1

CASTING

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S

EFFECT

Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect one ball of ice and snow
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Fortitude partial (see text); Spell Resistance no

DESCRIPTION

You conjure a ball of packed ice and snow that you can throw at a single target as a ranged touch attack. The snowball deals 1d6 points of cold damage per caster level (maximum 5d6) on a successful hit, and the target must make a successful Fortitude saving throw or be staggered for 1 round.

Tell me how snowball is a ray that features a ranged touch attack?

[Grick]

Altus Lucrim wrote:

Tell me how snowball is a ray that features a ranged touch attack?

It isn't.

[Wind Chime]

Grick wrote:

Altus Lucrim wrote:

Tell me how snowball is a ray that features a ranged touch attack?

It isn't.

Admittedly you can still shoot it in your enemies face with spell combat.

[Nefreet]

If the spell was "Snow Ray" instead of "Snowball" it would work.

[Altus Lucrim]

Good as long as there is a consensus, This combination should not work assuming Rules as Written.

[Jeraa]

Polar Ray

Quote:

Effect ray

Scorching Ray

Quote:

Effect one or more rays

Ray of Frost

Quote:

Effect ray

All rays specifically state that they are rays. Snowball doesn't say its a ray anywhere, so it isn't a ray.

[Altus Lucrim]

Right so the next cheese monkey magus who sits at a PFS table with me as a GM, is going to have some trouble doing his favorite combination.

[Nefreet]

It does work with Spell Combat, though, with the normal rules for casting a ranged spell adjacent to a foe (though my Magus is usually large sized with reach to avoid any AoOs).

[Tormad]

I am just not a fan of this spell as a whole. It is overall better than shocking grasp in every way. Same damage, at a range, no spell resistance, and has a save or be staggered.

I saw this spell yesterday with devastating effect by a cross blooded sorcerer.

It puts me at ease to see it can't be used with spellstrike though. =D.

[ZanThrax]

The spell makes sense for a staff magus, or any other archetype that's using a weapon without an expanded crit range. Spellstrike's not nearly as important if you're not getting an increased crit range. For a Magus that doesn't intend to spellstrike with it, it may be worth Magical Lineage + Intensify (and/or Rime).

Makes even more sense for a Myrmidarch; it's going to outperform any other 1st level damaging spell.