Ok, I had this thought for an NPC to throw at my party but I never use Monks in anything so I was not sure if this thought is actually possible. What I am asking is if a monk can combine touch spells with flurry of blows. The thought is that a Monk / Wizard (or whatever) has Quicken Shocking Grasp and a regular Shocking Grasp available. The monk then casts Shocking Grasp, but does not discharge the spell that round, then on the next round the monk casts the Quickened Shocking Grasp and makes a full round action to attack with Flurry of Blows, thus setting off the two Shocking Grasp spells on the target.
Problem is that I am not sure if this is possible in the RAW or not.
I think it's doable, he discharges the first shocking grasp on his first attack and then as a swift action cast it again and deliver it on the second attack. Not sure if you can interrupt a full attack action with a swift action though, but if you can it'll work.
Two things:
1. The order of casting is very important here. If he casts the normal shocking grasp and then casts the quickened shocking grasp before discharging the first, then the initial charge is lost. This is from page 186 of the Core rulebook. This means of course that you have to break up the castings with at least one attack.
2. From the same paragraph, it explains that an unarmed attack will discharge the spell. In fact, even touching a friend unintentionally will discharge it.
As for whether a swift action can be used as part of a full attack, page 188 of the Core rulebook indicates you can use a swift action whenever you could use a free action, therefore, it is totally above board to cast on turn 1, flurry and discharge with the first attack, and then swift cast and continue the flurry. Have fun decimating your party. I suggest trying a similar trick with touch of fatigue.
Cheers,--Norm
Yes that works.
Thank you so much, all. I shall now create a society of arcane monks that you just do not want to mess with. *Evil grin + rubbing of hands = fun*
There is something to be said about being a Monk (Sensei) / Sorcerer (Empyreal bloodline) and leaveraging your unarmed attack for many delivered touch attacks (holding the charge if you miss), while using wisdom for to hit and spells and AC. Take the Monastic Legacy feat to keep up your unarmed strike damage.
prototype00
Would a Magus be able to do this and then get an extra weapon attack as part of the swift Shocking Grasp? What about a Magus / Monk? Can he use FoB together with Spell Combat? (and then Spellstrike?) (I'm guessing no - they're both their own full round action - right?)
Note: A caster can deliver a touch spell with an unarmed attack or natural weapon, but only while holding a charge.
Holding the Charge: "Alternatively, you may make a normal unarmed attack (or an attack with a natural weapon) while holding a charge."
The free attack you gain from casting the spell cannot be delivered with an unarmed attack or natural weapon, because you cannot hold the charge until after the round in which you cast the spell.
Touch Spells and Holding the Charge: "In most cases, if you don't discharge a touch spell on the round you cast it, you can hold the charge..."
So your arcane monk could cast a spell, hold the charge, then next round deliver that spell with an unarmed strike, then cast another touch spell as a swift action, and deliver that second touch spell as a touch, not with a punch.
Would a Magus be able to do this and then get an extra weapon attack as part of the swift Shocking Grasp?
The monk caster can use unarmed strike to deliver a held charge, almost exactly like a magus with Spellstrike.
A magus can do that, but can also use his weapon to deliver the free attack he gained from casting.
What about a Magus / Monk? Can he use FoB together with Spell Combat?
Flurry of Blows: "...a monk can make a flurry of blows as a full-attack action."
Spell Combat: "As a full-round action..."