Scatter Guns and Conductive Weapons

[Felix Dritz]

I'm trying to figure out if I were to use a Su/Sp via a conductive weapon if it would affect all my attacks with a scatter gun (such as a blunderbuss or dragon pistol), or if it only affect one of the successful attacks.

The text is says: "When the wielder makes a successful attack of the appropriate type, he may choose to expend two uses of his magical ability to channel it through the weapon to the struck opponent, which suffers the effects of both the weapon attack and the special ability."

And a scatter weapons says: "When a scatter weapon attacks all creatures within a cone, it makes a separate attack roll against each creature within the cone."

This would make me think that since the scatter weapon is technically making attacks against each individual in the cone, and the success of each attack is individualize, then I would only be able to use the conductive ability on one of the targets. However, in other threads I've seen people mention being able to hit everyone, but I can find no thread that debates if this is actually true or not.

Has anyone else encountered this? How would you rule it?

[Snowblind]

Encountered it when homebrewing (issues like these come up alot more when auto-shotguns and AT launchers are available). There isn't a straight answer. However, given the rulings about Sneak Attack (one target of choice only), balance/playability concerns and the general predisposition of the PDT, the answer is almost certainly going to be that one target of the wielder's choice is affected.

[avr]

You can only use a conductive weapon once per round - 'A given character can use this weapon special ability only once per round (even if she has several conductive weapons') - and all the references in the conductive weapon text are to a single opponent. I don't see any reason to assume that multiple targets are possible.

[Create Mr. Pitt]

"A given character can use this weapon special ability only once per round (even if she has several conductive weapons)."

This doesn't really answer the central questions. A scatter gun, when used once, may hit multiple targets. I think the text sets forth when a conductive weapon may work, nothing it it suggests that wouldn't affect multiple targets hitter by a scatter gun.

I agree, RAI you are likely right. Things like this are often limited to one target. But metamagic is not, so I am sure I see a strong precedent here.

Conductive weapons grant a certain ability. That ability, while limited in certain ways, is not limited in it's ability to operate when multiple targets can be hit in a single attack.

[Felix Dritz]

Thanks for the input! I'll rule it as only for one of the attacks.