| Dragonboxer |
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I disagree with the argument that spiritual weapon is not a weapon.
The spell states clearly in the first sentence that it summons a weapon of force. So just because a weapon STRIKES as a spell, does not mean it ceases to BE a weapon. Those are two different things.
As for the wording of the spell, and its interaction with other things, such as spells, abilities, items, etc...it gets more complicated.
The faq certainly indicates that spiritual weapon IS on pathfinder's official weaponlike spell list. Normally feats would apply to the weapon and its damage.
However the spell's wording specifically refutes that. So Weapon Focus, Improved Critical...none of these apply.
Feats that modify the spell itself would most likely still apply, such as Toppling spell, Empower Spell, etc.
The faq 'seems' to indicate that Inspire Courage works on the weapon damage from that spell as though you were the wielder of the spell, despite the spell's wording stating that IT attacks instead of you. This is a direct conflict.
There are 2 possible obvious conclusions:
1) The faq is worded poorly, and while Inspire Courage may affect most weapon-like spells, spiritual weapon is an exception (due to the fact that it attacks by itself without you wielding it)
or
2) The spell itself is worded poorly, and the faq clears up that mistake (as faqs often due). Perhaps the designer's intention was for the spell to say that "YOU attack with that spiritual weapon, using your BAB...."
If Interpretation #1 is correct, I would say there isn't much that affects the spiritual weapon, aside from spells and Non-feat abilities that affect weapons directly (such as your Magic Weapon, Instrument of Agony, etc)
If Interpretation #2 is correct, All spells/effects/non-feat abilities that affect the Caster would also work.
Potentially, spells cast on the spiritual weapon might be deemed "combat actions" and might not work as well.
The one thing I can tell you for certain is that the size of the caster herself does NOT affect the spell.