| 1 person marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Quoting the FAQ on the magus and spellstrike:
Other than deploying the spell with a melee weapon attack instead of a melee touch attack, the magus spellstrike ability doesn’t change the normal rules for using touch spells in combat (Core Rulebook 185).
On a related topic, the magus touching his held weapon doesn’t count as “touching anything or anyone” when determining if he discharges the spell. A magus could even use the spellstrike ability, miss with his melee attack to deliver the spell, be disarmed by an opponent (or drop the weapon voluntarily, for whatever reason), and still be holding the charge in his hand, just like a normal spellcaster. Furthermore, the weaponless magus could pick up a weapon (even that same weapon) with that hand without automatically discharging the spell, and then attempt to use the weapon to deliver the spell. However, if the magus touches anything other than a weapon with that hand (such as retrieving a potion), that discharges the spell as normal.
He does say that touching will discharge the spell, and that his weapon doesnt count as touching anything or anyone.
If the magus decides to NOT use spellstrike when casting a touch spell, could he hold the charge and still make weapon attacks against enemies without discharing it?
That also raises a few questions.
When the wizard casts a touch spell and holds the charge. What happens to stuff he is already touching with his other hand, like his staff?
What if he changes hands holding the staff, does the spell gets discharged against his staff (and destroys it if it's a damaging spell)?
What happens if another person touches your body? Like something crawling up your leg? Does it discharge the spell? Or only touches with the HAND (or similar body part that you choose to hold the spell) holding the charge will discharge it?
Yes the Magus can make a weapon attack without discharging a spell. Essentially the Magus can do anything a Wizard could do, but can also do a few extra things. If a Wizard could use their weapon without discharging the spell then so could the magus.
Also _Ozy_ is correct, someone touching you does not discharge the spell.
There's a rule (or FAQ?) somewhere that says a touch spell is held in one appendage. So if you cast a spell and hold the charge in your right hand, you can still use your left hand to hold your staff or whatever. That means a Wizard holding his staff would not instantly discharge the spell as long as he doesn't touch the staff with his "Spell-hand". If an enemy (or friend?) tries to touch your "spell-hand" to discharge your spell against your will you're in total house-rules territory. As far as I know there's nothing in the rules that would let someone use this offensive action. It would be fine to house-rule something like that in, but you'd really want to talk about it first or someone's gonna get pissed. As the rules stand that can't be done.
Quoting the FAQ on the magus and spellstrike:
Other than deploying the spell with a melee weapon attack instead of a melee touch attack, the magus spellstrike ability doesn’t change the normal rules for using touch spells in combat (Core Rulebook 185).
On a related topic, the magus touching his held weapon doesn’t count as “touching anything or anyone” when determining if he discharges the spell. A magus could even use the spellstrike ability, miss with his melee attack to deliver the spell, be disarmed by an opponent (or drop the weapon voluntarily, for whatever reason), and still be holding the charge in his hand, just like a normal spellcaster. Furthermore, the weaponless magus could pick up a weapon (even that same weapon) with that hand without automatically discharging the spell, and then attempt to use the weapon to deliver the spell. However, if the magus touches anything other than a weapon with that hand (such as retrieving a potion), that discharges the spell as normal.
He does say that touching will discharge the spell, and that his weapon doesnt count as touching anything or anyone.
If the magus decides to NOT use spellstrike when casting a touch spell, could he hold the charge and still make weapon attacks against enemies without discharing it?
No, but why would you cast a touch spell and NOT use it? That's the whole point of being a magus with the power of spellstrike. Remember, that held charge dissipates if another spell is cast. and if you don't use the free attack you get when you cast the spell, you don't get it in the next round.