Wizard BAB isn't great and Strength for wizards is typically a dump stat, how to successfully and consistently use spells requiring melee touch attacks? I have been avoiding them for the most part.
Are there ways to boost BAB? Are there ways to sub Strength with another ability score for melee touch attacks?
Thanks for your help!
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Touch AC is already very low. Just don't touch dextrous things and it won't matter. That +9 AC Heavy Armor will just make it incredibly easy for you to touch them.
One idea is to keep a spectral hand spell around (or make a custom limited uses per day spectral hand item that you pop at the start of a battle). This will keep you at ranged, let you deliver your touch spells (though it's still a melee touch even though it's ranged) and give you a +2 to deliver them.
Weapon Finesse?
I know this likely isn't what you are looking for but in the games that I play in and DM we always allow touch spells to go off Dex rather than Str. The logic is that it doesn't matter how "hard" you touch them, just whether you hit or not. That seems like a function of Dex rather than Str to us. So basically, we allow casters a free Weapon Finesse only for touch spells.
It isn't a perfect solution and it definitely isn't RAW but it works for us.
Weapon Finesse?
Weapon Finesse works.
Wear boots of the battle herald for +4 to all your attacks (and saves and skills) for pretty much the entire adventuring day.
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Are actually having problems making touch attacks?
I am, but it mainly has to do with some profane enchantment called a "Restraining Order".
Weapon Finesse?Weapon Finesse works.
Does it? I used to think so, but I'm having a hard time finding RAW references for this.
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Not exactly by the rules, but you could ask GM to grant you privilege of taking Weapon Focus feat for the purpose of melee touch attacks.
Tactical situations in combat such as flank or higher ground can grant you bonuses and other classes like bard using inspire courage might be quite enough to boost your melee touch attacks up to decent levels.
If you focused your character on Dex primarily though, I would simply avoid melee touch attacks all together. Focus on Ray and ranged touch spells instead.
Adam
You can finesse unarmed strike
Touch attacks can be delivered via unarmed strike
When you melee spell touch someone it's with you unarmed limb.
No, this is not explicitly spelled out. It doesn't have to be.
You can finesse unarmed strike
Touch attacks can be delivered via unarmed strike
When you melee spell touch someone it's with you unarmed limb.
No, this is not explicitly spelled out. It doesn't have to be.
Unarmed attacks provoke AoOs without Improved Unarmed Strike and you have to make a regualar melee attack roll.
However a spellcaster delivering a touch attack spell is specifically pointed out as being considered armed.
I thought it used to work with being considered a natural weapon and thusly a light weapon, but unarmed strikes do not count as natural weapons.
You can finesse unarmed strike
Touch attacks can be delivered via unarmed strike
When you melee spell touch someone it's with you unarmed limb.
No, this is not explicitly spelled out. It doesn't have to be.
You can finesse unarmed strikes, correct. Touch attacks aren't normal melee attacks however, they are attacks made with a held charge against a touch AC.
Held charges can be delivered via unarmed strikes, but you aren't making a touch attack at that point, you are making an unarmed strike vs full AC. Two different things.
It is apples and oranges, so yes it should be explicitly called out if it works that way.
Hang out with a bard. Inspire courage is very helpful.
If your wizard is a Diviner, use Diviner's Fortune on yourself.
Shocking Grasp is a touch spell that gives +3 to hit versus opponents in metal armor.
Ioun Stone (Pale Green Prism)
Have someone in your party hit your opponent with a tanglefoot bag, net, or other dexterity-reducing device or spell. Casting Adhesive Spittle on your familiar works too. They can spit from your shoulder or from above if they can fly.
And if you absolutely have to hit, there is always Truestrike. The wand is cheap.
Become an Eldritch Knight?
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use a familiar to deliver them for you?
in low levels. try getting the target down.(greese and other tripping stuff). prone target are +4 to hit (do notice that they also get harder to range hit).
flanking is also nice. attacking from higher ground is another +1.
invisability is great since most will also be flatfooted\no dex.
and if you miss remmeber that beside the 1st graet power of touch attacks - to bypass armor. it has also the 2nd great rule - holding the charge. untill you hit \ cast a new spell -if you missed that shoking grasp this turn. you most likely to hit next time(unless your dead by then).
+1 for familiar delivering touch spells
Wear boots of the battle herald for +4 to all your attacks (and saves and skills) for pretty much the entire adventuring day.
Oh wow.
The will-o-wisp attacks with touch. It has weapon finesse. This bonus is applied to its touch attack, not its strength modifier.
I am sorry if this isn't enough for people to grasp. Paizo should not have to come to the rescue and clarify every single nuance of the game. Weapon finesse has always applied to melee touch dating back to 3.0 days. The wording hasn't changed and neither has the intent.
Also, those boots of the battle herald are brutal. Swift to activate? Greater heroism? That's 11 temporary hit points that you can reset each round as a swift. Major villains rejoice!
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A Wizard Hook might be nice, since it gives a bonus to both the Melee Touch Attack and DC to the spell.
I'll add my vote to allowing weapon finesse to touch attacks. Even if you don't buy the legacy thing, I think it's common sense.
How do you get lighter with a weapon then a touch attack?
Wear boots of the battle herald for +4 to all your attacks (and saves and skills) for pretty much the entire adventuring day.
yo WHAT
Huh? I didn't realize that greater heroism gave temporary hit points too. Whoa.
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A Wizard Hook might be nice, since it gives a bonus to both the Melee Touch Attack and DC to the spell.
Too bad it costs a hand.