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Our group has been discussing this one and I'm curious what others have come up with.
Touch spells, and the special spell-like touch abilities of a lot of clerics/wizards/sorcerers suffer from requiring a concentration check if you're in close. What kinds of solutions have you come across for dealing with this issue?
The most obvious I can think of is the use of spectral hand but we were wondering about other options. You can obviously cast, move forward 5-feet and touch the next round but are there other, faster options? What about the spell-like abilities granted for your school, bloodline, etc.?
We're running out of ideas and the whole touch spell thing is really pissing off our wizard who would love to be a bad-touch specialist. So I'm curious, what have you come up with?
Our group has been discussing this one and I'm curious what others have come up with.
Touch spells, and the special spell-like touch abilities of a lot of clerics/wizards/sorcerers suffer from requiring a concentration check if you're in close. What kinds of solutions have you come across for dealing with this issue?
The most obvious I can think of is the use of spectral hand but we were wondering about other options. You can obviously cast, move forward 5-feet and touch the next round but are there other, faster options? What about the spell-like abilities granted for your school, bloodline, etc.?
We're running out of ideas and the whole touch spell thing is really pissing off our wizard who would love to be a bad-touch specialist. So I'm curious, what have you come up with?
Melee touch spells are powerful, so I'm glad they have that issue.
IMO melee touch spells are better for fighter/wizards and clerics, but it is just me.Tactics:
*You can cast the spell, move, and touch as a free action without AoO (and no Concentration check required). RAW: page 185. The problem is that after that the enemy will full attack you, so you better have high AC, mirror image, etc..
*Quickened spells, no AoO. But uses higher level slots.
Edit: I'm supossing that the spell takes a standard action
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Well, the most obvious thing is to have a familiar that delivers your touch spells for you.
Other than that, if you're holding the charge of a touch attack spell, it can be delivered by a standard unarmed or natural attack. Abyssal and Draconic Sorcerer bloodlines get claws you could use for this.
If you're using 3.5 sources, the Enlightened Fist prestige class (Complete Arcane) is a merger of Monk and Sorcerer. With the Ascetic Mage feat (Complete Adventurer), it can be pretty reasonable.
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Do people really have their familiars deliver their touch spells? I would think sending in the low AC, low HP buddy would be a worse choice than putting yourself in the fray.
I like the claw idea. I suppose taking improved unarmed strike would also work (but would be a pretty crappy use of a feat). Would brass knuckles work?
The reach spell metamagic feat might come in handy.
Or cast a dazing elemental aura or that new 6th level sleep aura on yourself as an added layer of defence.
If you are proficient in melee weapons, 2 spiked gauntlets of spell storing can be used to store a vampiric touch each. Or an intensified shocking grasp.
Or use Calcific Touch. As long as you hold the charge, you can keep touching for 1d4 dex damage per round with the potential to slow (with the added bonus of your attacks being progressively easier to hit with since reducing his dex also reduces his AC). Although you'll probably also want some means of doing extra damage whilst you're at it to justify being on the front lines (i.e. recommended for specialised characters only).
You could cast the spell in the first round and use Spring Attack in the next round to deliver it without the risk of being stuck in melee!
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No, I don't know any casters with Spring Attack, either. But it WOULD work.
Tactics:
*You can cast the spell, move, and touch as a free action without AoO (and no Concentration check required). RAW: page 185.
This is what I would normally do if I wanted to use a touch attack.
Note that the APG has the metamagic feat Reach Spell that turns a touch attack spell into a ranged touch spell for +1 to the spell level. A lesser metamagic rod of Reach spell is only 3,000 gp.
Also, don't forget about Weapon Finesse (touch attacks are light weapons).
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Melee touch spells are powerful, so I'm glad they have that issue.
IMO melee touch spells are better for fighter/wizards and clerics, but it is just me.
The Spring Attack, melee touch spell combo can be very effective!
FYI - the new Vanguard class from Super Genius Games is an arcane warrior hybrid class that uses melee touch spells much in the way you are referring to.
If you want to be a touch specialist you will need a few things
- wpn focus touch spell
- Wpn finess
- Toughness
- good con score
- good dex score
- Mage Armor
- Shield
- Deflection bonus to AC
- Natural armor bonus to AC
- Invisibility
- Blurr
- Dodge
- Mobility
- Spring attack
- etc. etc. etc.
You get the point its a lot of work to be able to melee as a wizard.
multi-class is the best bet to pull this off. 3 or 4 monk levels will do wonders for a touch specialist.
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Why do you need either Improved Unarmed Strike or Brass Knuckles?
If you have a touch spell active you do not face an attack of opportunity when you attack.
The point I was making is you can make unarmed or natural attacks vs normal AC and deal that damage in addition to the touch spell's damage.
It's mainly only useful for caster/monk combos or casters that already have some sort of natural attack.
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Do people really have their familiars deliver their touch spells? I would think sending in the low AC, low HP buddy would be a worse choice than putting yourself in the fray.
Since you can get a new one fairly easily in comparison to 3.5, it's not that bad.
I'd recommend getting Improved Familiar if you're doing that often. Small familiars don't have to enter an opponent's square to deliver a touch spell, so won't be provoking opportunity attacks every time.