Spells that affect 1 touched creature / level and touching more than 6 creatures

[Diego Rossi]

I know it is an uncommon scenario, but between followers, animal companions and mounts it is possible that you want to share a spell between more than 6 creatures.
If your level is high enough, it is possible to touch more than 6 creatures while spending multiple rounds doing so?

The simplest example are communal spells, but there are several other spells with a range of touch that can be shared between several creatures.

AFAIK there aren't clear rules saying yes or not.

EDIT: 6, not 8, I was going from memory.

[dragonhunterq]

You can only touch a maximum of 6 willing targets as part of casting the spell.
If a spell allows you to touch targets over more rounds you can keep touching 6/round as a full round action, but the only example of that type of spell I can think of is chill touch.

[Narquelion]

Under "Range"

Quote:

Touch

You must touch a creature or object to affect it. A touch spell that deals damage can score a critical hit just as a weapon can. A touch spell threatens a critical hit on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a successful critical hit. Some touch spells allow you to touch multiple targets. You can touch up to 6 willing targets as part of the casting, but all targets of the spell must be touched in the same round that you finish casting the spell. If the spell allows you to touch targets over multiple rounds, touching 6 creatures is a full-round action.

FAQ:

Quote:

If a spell allows multiple touches, are you considered to be holding the charge until all charges are expended?

Yes.

Some spells like plane shift allows for up to 8 people to join hands instead, but in those cases it's a fixed number.

With teleport you can bring one additional willing Medium or smaller creature (carrying gear or objects up to its maximum load) or its equivalent per 3 caster levels.Since it says

Quote:

All creatures to be transported must be in contact with one another, and at least one of those creatures must be in contact with you.

at 18+ CL you can bring 7+ companions.

[Diego Rossi]

Corrected 8 with 6, thanks dragonhunterq.

Plane shift or teleport aren't a problem, you can use a chain of people.

So, from the cited pieces of text we have a hard limit of 6 target for casting, when a spell has a range of touch. A pity.

So if I need to pass underwater grotto with a 5-6 players party, some animal companion and familiar I need two casting of water breathing, communal, even if I need to be able to breathe underwater only for a few minutes.

[Narquelion]

...or portable extradimensional space(s).

Frankly I houserule that communal spells can be casted over 2+ rounds if you need to touch a bunch of people. The rule is already there you just say it aplies to the communal spells too.

[Diego Rossi]

Narquelion wrote:

...or portable extradimensional space(s).

Already done, but the dwarf infantry in the extra dimensional space is always complaining.

[Baval]

Most people, including the people who write spells, seem to ignore this limit. Its an old limit from 3.0, and makes things like mass necromancy or buffing impossible.