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In the game I am running I have run into a question, and I'm not sure the best way to rule.
I have a character who uses Scorching Ray a lot, and now we're getting to the point where the PCs are encountering critters with Spell Resistance. The question is what happens when multiple rays are aimed at a single creature with spell resistance. Does the caster have to overcome SR for each ray, or just once?
My player (who is also a DM from time to time) thinks it should be a one shot thing per creature. I don't fully agree, but given the argument that started brewing over it, I caved and let it go figuring sometimes he'd loose all of his rays in a single go.
Rereading the description of SR and how it is likened unto Armor Class, I'm starting to think this is the wrong ruling and every attack should overcome the resistance, but I'd like to get other opinions on this.
One spell, one creature, one spell resist is generally correct. Scorching Ray isn't multiple spells, so you only check SR versus multiple creatures.
This question came up in my game recently. Except instead of scorching ray where the attacks happen all at once, it was a spell that could attack once a round for several rounds. It was from a 3PP book, but Call Lightning would be equivalent. Does a creature get SR once the first time they are targeted by the spell? Does the caster get to try again the next round if the first bolt fails to bypass SR? Does the caster have to make a SR check again the next round if the first one succeeds?
I'm leaning toward the one spell, one check answer. If the first bolt fails, all the following ones fail as well.
Generally, you make the roll against SR the first time you interact with a spell effect. If you pass, the spell works against the target regardless of how many times it interacts with that foe. If not, then it never affects the target. Go with the simple answer of one check per spell.