Hi all,
I know, there are multiple threads about this and people struggle in finding the reference that says "RAW" that non-ray ranged attack spells do suffer the -4 penalty for attacking into melee but precise shot (and other ranged attack feats) also applies to them. Also I did not find one in the PF ruleset (however, actually I don't know much of it and our group is quite new to PF).
The main question here seems to be if non-ray ranged attack spells count as weapons.
I found something in the 3.5 ruleset that I just wanted to share because I thought it would be useful for others that struggle with the same issue:
3.5: Complete Arcane p. 85
WEAPONLIKE SPELLS
Any spell that requires an attack roll and deals damage functions as a weapon in certain respects, whether the spell deals normal hit point damage, nonlethal damage, ability damage, or energy drain. Such spells can threaten critical hits, can be used in sneak attacks, and can be used with favored enemy damage bonuses. You can even use a number of combat-enhancing feats from the Player's Handbook to improve the effectiveness of weaponlike spells, as noted in Chapter 3 of this book.
All such spells deal damage as spells, not weapons, so Strength modifiers to damage and magical effects that increase weapon damage (such as the bard's inspire courage ability and the prayer spell) don't increase damage from a weaponlike spell. Likewise, a weaponlike spell that deals normal damage can't be used to deal nonlethal damage or vice versa...
For me this sums it up quite well and I think my group will adapt it like this. :)
