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If I bought my Shadow a +1 ghosttouch gauntlet, would it be able to pick up items, or does the STR of "--" prevent it from even moving the gauntlet, let alone use it for opening doors from the other side, and similar clever uses? (Price of this accessory is 8,302 GP)
Would the +1 required before I could put ghosttouch on it assist in the shadow making touch attacks?
If I bought my shadow a +1 ghosttouch suit of elven chain (21,150 GP), which, as medium armor that isn't a breastplate, comes with gauntlets, would it be able to wear it, or does the STR of "--" prevent it from doing so? If wearing it, could it pick up items, walk through walls and open doors from the other side?
Are there any incorporeal creatures with a STR of other than "--"? I'll note that the description of ghosttouch implies that an incorporeal creature could wear them...
If I cast Mage Armor on a Shadow, would it work at all? While the Mage Armor was up, could the Shadow still walk through walls? (My gut hunch is "no")
I'm basically trying to figure out ways to keep that incorporeal shadow from getting fried by the time the character is 10th or 11th level, and trying to figure out ways to make it useful for going through walls and doing something useful...
First - If your Shadow is wearing anything, it wouldn't be able to go through solid matter because the armor is corporeal and thus can't phase through matter.
Second - Mage armor, being a force effect, interacts with ghost things like they are real things. So you should be able to cast it on the ghost. Likewise, it should not be able to phase through walls while wearing a shell of force since the force would push against the wall. Interesting idea for keeping ghosts from hiding in walls... hmm...
Third - I'm not finding much useful stuff on having a Strength score of -. Zero means too weak to move while - means having no Strength score and no penalties or bonuses to strength based skills. The Shadow doesn't have a zero strength and the rules suggest that a ghost could use a ghost touch weapon, ergo it can be strong enough to hold one.
I'd probably allow it at my table, but the lack of a strength score is somewhat confusing. The rules are clear that having a - is not the same thing as a 0 for any stat (usually in terms of Int and undead). However, if you give a Shadow a ghost-touch greatsword, can it sunder? If so, does it still use its Dex for CMB? This is the sticky part for which I don't see rules.
Ghost Touch : This armor or shield seems almost translucent. Both its enhancement bonus and its armor bonus count against the attacks of corporeal and incorporeal creatures. It can be picked up, moved, and worn by corporeal and incorporeal creatures alike. Incorporeal creatures gain the armor's or shield's enhancement bonus against both corporeal and incorporeal attacks, and they can still pass freely through solid objects.
Strong transmutation ; CL 15th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor , etherealness ; Price +3 bonus.
I think you MIGHT be incorrect at the assertion that it couldn't take a ghost touch weapon through the wall.
A ghost touch weapon deals damage normally against incorporeal creatures, regardless of its bonus. An incorporeal creature's 50% reduction in damage from corporeal sources does not apply to attacks made against it with ghost touch weapons. The weapon can be picked up and moved by an incorporeal creature at any time. A manifesting ghost can wield the weapon against corporeal foes. Essentially, a ghost touch weapon counts as both corporeal or incorporeal.
Meaning that I can make an argument based on the last sentence that it shouldn't keep the weapon from going through the wall when wielded/worn by the incorporeal creature. It looks like it gets to choose.
I'm still trying to see how a Shadow from a Shadowdancer stays alive if you use it as a combat pet...or even works as a scout...since its skills don't seem to increase with the Shadowdancer's level, let alone having it gain additional feats as an Animal Companion.
I think you MIGHT be incorrect at the assertion that it couldn't take a ghost touch weapon through the wall.
A ghost touch weapon deals damage normally against incorporeal creatures, regardless of its bonus. An incorporeal creature's 50% reduction in damage from corporeal sources does not apply to attacks made against it with ghost touch weapons. The weapon can be picked up and moved by an incorporeal creature at any time. A manifesting ghost can wield the weapon against corporeal foes. Essentially, a ghost touch weapon counts as both corporeal or incorporeal.Meaning that I can make an argument based on the last sentence that it shouldn't keep the weapon from going through the wall when wielded/worn by the incorporeal creature. It looks like it gets to choose.
I'm still trying to see how a Shadow from a Shadowdancer stays alive if you use it as a combat pet...or even works as a scout...since its skills don't seem to increase with the Shadowdancer's level, let alone having it gain additional feats as an Animal Companion.
He is wrong about ghost touch things not being able to be carried through walls by incorporeal creatures. Its spelled out in the core book. See post above.
Yeah, but since I can't add feats to the Shadow, I can't give it Armor Proficiency, which means that I can armor the Shadow for 16K plus the cost of the armor, but it's going to have an ACP applied to all attack rolls.
It's also a bit more ambiguous for ghost touch weapons, where it's not stated explicitly that they can be carried by an incorporeal through walls.
I do so wish that ghost touch on armor were a +2 enhancement rather than +3, which prices it to the point of uselessness.
The question of whether or not a Shadow wearing ghost touch gauntlets could pick something up is also of interest, including how much it can or cannot lift with a STR of "--".
I don't think it could carry anything it picked up through a wall - it would go through just fine, the object would be left behind.
As to attacking through a wall with a ghost touch weapon, my guess is "If wielded by an incorporeal creature against another incorporeal creature", yes. But we're in a dimly lit part of the rules corpus here.
While it's a completely redundant ability with Shadow Jump and Disable Device...
What I'm hoping to accomplish is this:
Be able to send my Shadow through a wall or doorway to open a door or passage from the other side, potentially avoiding setting off traps and the like.
Mostly because it's kinda cool...and given the penalties for having your Shadow killed, it's too easy to hit by the time you're 8th level and have it - it's got an AC of 15; even only taking half damage from magical weapons and non-force spell effects, it's only got half your hit points...which means about 24 to 34 HP if you came into it from Fighter or Rogue.
Buying it ghost-touch armor at least lets me pay through the nose to get a competence bonus to Stealth enchanted on the armor, since its stealth skill is +8 with a +/- 4 depending on lighting, and will never increase.
Yeah, but since I can't add feats to the Shadow, I can't give it Armor Proficiency, which means that I can armor the Shadow for 16K plus the cost of the armor, but it's going to have an ACP applied to all attack rolls.
It's also a bit more ambiguous for ghost touch weapons, where it's not stated explicitly that they can be carried by an incorporeal through walls.
I do so wish that ghost touch on armor were a +2 enhancement rather than +3, which prices it to the point of uselessness.
It's not necessarily a good plan, but it is possible.
Does that mean you can attack through a wall with a ghost touch weapon?
I've always thought a brilliant energy weapon would, but reading the text excerpted makes me think a ghost touch weapon should be able to as well.
Yes. Though if you can't also see through the wall you're attacking blind.