There is no need for a FAQ. All Reach Spell does is affect the range component of the spell. All other aspects are unchanged.
So, the answer is: Yes, you still can use Frostbite as normal, with an extended range based on how many spell levels you are bumping it. Changing it at all will make it a RANGED touch attack instead of MELEE, so that might make a difference, since you will be changing from STR to DEX.
I refuse to discuss this!
Oh wait, I lied. I will discuss this.
Some spells allow you to make a ranged touch attack as part of the casting of the spell. These attacks are made as part of the spell and do not require a separate action. Ranged touch attacks provoke an attack of opportunity, even if the spell that causes the attacks was cast defensively. Unless otherwise noted, ranged touch attacks cannot be held until a later turn.
If it's turned into a RTA, then it follows the rules of RTAs, which are listed in the section I quoted, found in the Combat chapter.
Next time post the text of the spell! :p
Frostbite and Chill Touch aren't exactly clear with how they interact with other abilities. As far as I'm concerned, it's undefined territory, so if the PDT deals with it, they'll just go one way or the other, like they did with the SLAs (fun tidbit: they said that the rules supported either interpretation, so they just picked one).
In this instance, I'd say that since the RTA version of frostbite would be as good as or better than a level 3 spell (ray of exhaustion), I'm guessing they would say it does not get the multiple attacks over the course of the spell. But that's just a somewhat informed opinion, rather than anything based in fact.
How about using spectral hand?
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Next time post the text of the spell! :p
Your melee touch attack deals 1d6 points of nonlethal cold damage + 1 point per level, and the target is fatigued. The fatigued condition ends when the target recovers from the nonlethal damage. This spell cannot make a creature exhausted even if it is already fatigued. You can use this melee touch attack up to one time per level.
(Bolding mine.)
Frostbite and Chill Touch aren't exactly clear with how they interact with other abilities. As far as I'm concerned, it's undefined territory, so if the PDT deals with it, they'll just go one way or the other, like they did with the SLAs (fun tidbit: they said that the rules supported either interpretation, so they just picked one).
I too could see it going either way, and frankly don't really care - just need to know before advising my wife's new druid she wants to play. :)
In this instance, I'd say that since the RTA version of frostbite would be as good as or better than a level 3 spell (ray of exhaustion), I'm guessing they would say it does not get the multiple attacks over the course of the spell. But that's just a somewhat informed opinion, rather than anything based in fact.
I'd have to contest that equivalency. This spell would make them fatigued, and even has a special exception that it can never make them exhausted, even if they were already fatigued. Ray of exhaustion, however, can "stack" up to exhaustion as normal; and more importantly, on a failed save it can take you straight from fresh-as-a-daisy to exhausted, which is huge.
So as far as balance goes, Reach Spell'd frostbite is still arguably worse than ray of exhaustion, thus putting it squarely into "2nd-level spell that cost some extra resources", just like it should be.
On the other hand, I think it's fine for some spells to be poorer choices than others for any given metamagic feat. So again, either way (IMO).
I misread Ray of Exhaustion. Guess that's what I get for trying to get some posts in during my busy work day. See, I shouldn't have discussed this issue.
Still, frostbite could potentially last for up to 26 hours if they don't get any magical healing (and you keep on poking them when they're asleep so they don't rest), and you also get your level of those attacks. Being able to fatigue that many guys with one second level spell, from range and with no save nonetheless, is very nice.
Extremely curious about this.
As am I. I have a character build that intends to take Reach Spell at a fairly low level and knowing which way this goes will affect her spell selection.
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Jiggy, the following is just my opinion, and how I would handle it at my tables:
Frostbite grants X melee touch attacks at X level.
Reach allows those touch attacks to be ranged touch attacks.
Ranged touch attacks do not let you hold the charge.
Each ranged attack with Frostbite uses up that touch attack, whether it hits or misses.
So, IMO, you would get a free ranged touch attack with a Reach Frostbite on the initial casting, then standard action ranged touch attacks for x-1 attacks, each ranged touch attack, including the first, using up one charge from Frostbite, whether it hits or misses.
That, I think, would fulfill both the benefit of Frostbite, giving multiple touch attacks; and the spirit of Reach metanmagic, changing the range up to the next step; while remaining within the limits of ranged touch spells not being able to hold a charge; which I am interpreting as meaning you only get one attempt to hit with each charge of the spell, instead of that number of successful touches before it is fully discharged.
Yeah, misses count as "using" the spell. You are discharging the spell on your attack, not on a successful attack. I also believe that once you convert it to ranged touch, holding the charge becomes impossible because it becomes overpowered at that point if you can hold ranged touch attacks. I would be shocked if you could hold a charge as a ranged touch attack. Touch attacks are inherently more powerful, since you do indeed have to touch the target, something casters are not prone to do, or get close to your allies, who are probably near the enemy.
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Yeah, misses count as "using" the spell. You are discharging the spell on your attack, not on a successful attack. I also believe that once you convert it to ranged touch, holding the charge becomes impossible because it becomes overpowered at that point if you can hold ranged touch attacks. I would be shocked if you could hold a charge as a ranged touch attack. Touch attacks are inherently more powerful, since you do indeed have to touch the target, something casters are not prone to do, or get close to your allies, who are probably near the enemy.
"Because it becomes overpowered" is not quite a good reasoning for a rules discussion :P. But yes, there are spells where you can hold the charge. Take a look at produce flame, for instance.