Ranged Touch Beneficial Spells

[Gina Starr 248]

I have a sorcerer (I don't play spellcasters much) that has a bloodline (celestial) that gives a ranged touch ray heal to good creatures or damage to evil creatures.

My question is healing a character when he's in melee with the ray. If you read precise shot and if you read the text on firing into combat, it only applies to weapons.

So does the -4 penalty if you don't have precise shot apply to healing? To me, a healing ray isn't a weapon.

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

Heavenly Fire (Sp) : Starting at 1st level, you can unleash a ray of heavenly fire as a standard action, targeting any foe within 30 feet as a ranged touch attack. Against evil creatures, this ray deals 1d4 points of damage + 1 for every two sorcerer levels you possess. This damage is divine and not subject to energy resistance or immunity. This ray heals good creatures of 1d4 points of damage + 1 for every two sorcerer levels you possess. A good creature cannot benefit from your heavenly fire more than once per day. Neutral creatures are neither harmed nor healed by this effect. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.

It's a ranged touch attack, that also can be used beneficially. I'd say you get the -4. Welcome to the bane of ranged casters. ;-)

[ShadowcatX]

Rays are considered weapons, and all the good and bad that comes with it. (Ok, mostly bad to be honest.)

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

ShadowcatX wrote:

Rays are considered weapons, and all the good and bad that comes with it. (Ok, mostly bad to be honest.)

Yup. If you're going to cast a lot of rays I highly recommend investing in precise shot.

[ShadowcatX]

Precise shot's value is largely determined by the DM and his campaign structure to. If you're starting at level 1, then its pretty much required because, let's face it, a lv 1 wizard isn't hitting much, even without the -4. If he's enforcing the -4 to hit because your allies are providing cover, then precise shot will be more important again (because a stacked -8 sucks).

However, if you're starting, say lv 20, even as a ray specialist, I don't think it'd be that important. You're at +10 BAB, -8 attack, +dex mod and if you're throwing out a lot of rays dex is probably your second most important stat, so a +10 isn't out of the question. That's hitting most things that would frighten you on a 2 or better. (Or if the creature is large or bigger, just aim for a square that's not being blocked / in melee.) (Of course, if you're level 20 giving up 2 feats to gain precise shot isn't that big of a deal either.)