Half-Orc Sorcerer question: Fire Damage

[GoldEdition42]

So the favored class option allows half-orcs to get a bonus to fire damage spells as 1/2 levels. For most spells, easy enough.

But say a scorching ray with two rays. Is this bonus damage applied to each ray, or just one of them? Seems to me it would be the latter, but I'm hoping I am wrong.

If so I will just stick with my gnome sorcerer for a backup PC.

Thanks!

[Eridan]

The best RAW i can find is from the FAQ for Sneak Attacks and Scorching Ray.

FAQ CRB wrote:

Sneak Attack: Can I add sneak attack damage to simultaneous attacks from a spell?

No. For example, scorching ray fires simultaneous rays at one or more targets, and the extra damage is only added once to one ray, chosen by the caster when the spell is cast.
Spell-based attacks which are not simultaneous, such as multiple attacks per round by a 8th-level druid using flame blade, may apply sneak attack damage to each attack so long as each attack qualifies for sneak attack (the target is denied its Dex bonus or the caster is flanking the target).

I would treat the extra fire damage in the same way as sneak attack damage.

[Azten]

It's not sneak attack dice though, but extra dame for each die rolled.. In this case, each Ray would deal 4d6+4.

[Eridan]

Azten wrote:

It's not sneak attack dice though, but extra dame for each die rolled.. In this case, each Ray would deal 4d6+4.

Can you give us more RAWs to support this opinion ?

Halforc Favorite Class wrote:

Sorcerer: Add +1/2 point of fire damage to spells that deal fire damage cast by the sorcerer.

RAW says extra damage per spell and the spell is 'Scorching Ray'.

On the other hand other buffs with extra damage should work for every spell.

Discuss this with your GM. RAW is not clear.

[Azten]

Oh, my apologies, I was confusing it with certain bloodline arcanas. That's what I get for posting before breakfast.

[MurphysParadox]

"Add +1/2 point of fire damage to spells that deal fire damage cast by the sorcerer."

Is scorching ray doing fire damage? Is it cast by the sorcerer? Each ray gets extra fire damage.

[Hendelbolaf]

With the wording of the favored class option "add +1/2 point of fire damage to spells that deal fire damage cast by the sorcerer" I would have to say that it gets applied once per spell.

[MurphysParadox]

Would a maximized scorching ray only maximize one ray's worth of the spell?

[My2Copper]

I would apply it only once as with the havoc of the society trait that is only added to the spell once, too.

[Hendelbolaf]

MurphysParadox wrote:

Would a maximized scorching ray only maximize one ray's worth of the spell?

No it would maximize the spell. So the total amount of damage done by the spell would be maximized.

In the same way this favored class bonus would be applied to the whole spell. If the caster decides to break that up into separate targets, then that is his prerogative.

The fact that Scorching Ray is broken up into separate rays does not mean it is more than one spell or should get special treatment. Both Maximize and the favored class option affect it the same. They get applied once per spell.

[Plexico]

This question has raised some debate with my gaming group. As far a scorching ray goes, since all the rays require a separate attack roll, we agreed that the + fire damage applies to each ray. Produce flame similarly would get the bonus every time it dealt damage, as each attack occurs on a separate attack roll and round.

As far as other spells and effects go, some are trickier than others.

The spell flame arrow seems to indicate that + fire damage would work on every arrow affected by it. If you are in Form of the Dragon, the breath weapon would benefit from the + fire damage.

I had wanted the Claws ability from the draconic bloodline of the sorcerer to count, but supernatural abilities are explicitly not spells. Darn.

If you multi-classed into paladin the Divine bond class feature is spell-like and I propose that making a weapon flaming from that ability gets the bonus as well.