Invisibility and Purifying Channel

[meyerwilliam]

I know that first glance, this question seems obvious, but ....

Assume I have the following feats:
Purifying Channel
Selective Channel
and plan to

channel:

Channeling energy causes a burst that affects all creatures of one type (either undead or living) in a 30-foot radius centered on the cleric. The amount of damage dealt or healed is equal to 1d6 points of damage plus 1d6 points of damage for every two cleric levels beyond 1st (2d6 at 3rd, 3d6 at 5th, and so on). Creatures that take damage from channeled energy receive a Will save to halve the damage. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the cleric’s level + the cleric’s Charisma modifier. Creatures healed by channel energy cannot exceed their maximum hit point total—all excess healing is lost. A cleric may channel energy a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier. This is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. A cleric can choose whether or not to include herself in this effect.

while invisible,

Regular channel:
Enemy is included in the area of effect, and effected by the channel -- I have no question that I would turn visible.

Selective Channel:
Enemy is excluded from the area of effect (similar to the example of bless in the invisibility spell) -- I have no question that I would stay invisible.

Purifying Channel:
Here is the confusing part. I have excluded the enemy from the channel, however they still take damage from the effect.
Would I turn visible (enemy is effected by the spell/ability) or would I stay invisible (enemy is selected as being excluded from the channel).

I think it hinged upon whether *I* cause the enemy to be damaged by the purifying channel .... or if the purifying channel does it on it's own (i.e. flaming sphere / summoned monsters).

What do you think?

[SlimGauge]

Is Purifying Channel optional ? That is, if you channel positive energy to heal and use Selective Channel to exclude one creature (perhaps an allied Damphir or something), can you elect not to have it take damage with Purifying Channel ?

If you, using Selective Channel, exclude more than one enemy from your channeling of positive energy to heal (assuming your CHA mod is sufficiently high to do so), who chooses wich of those excluded enemies is damaged by Purifying Channel ?

If it's you, then I think you have attacked them, as you chose them as the target to take damage.
If it's NOT you (the DM chooses or its determined randomly) then you might have a case.

I lean towards it being an attack.

[Serum]

You're choosing who to exclude, and you are choosing who to hit with Purifying Channel. You're attacking that creature.

[meyerwilliam]

Serum wrote:

You're choosing who to exclude, and you are choosing who to hit with Purifying Channel. You're attacking that creature.

I hear what you are saying, but are you actually choosing whom to hit with Purifying Channel? All I have seen is that one of the people you select is damaged ... and since my only available choice is to exclude people, it isn't terribly clear to me that I am the one choosing to hit them.

Like, if I cast a flaming sphere above someone's head. It will immediately damage the person, but my invisibility is still intact.

[edit] If one other person also agrees, then I'll stop responding as it will be a consensus.

[Ascalaphus]

If your Channel Energy is harming an enemy then it's an attack.

Invisibility wrote:

The spell ends if the subject attacks any creature. For purposes of this spell, an attack includes any spell targeting a foe or whose area or effect includes a foe. Exactly who is a foe depends on the invisible character’s perceptions. Actions directed at unattended objects do not break the spell. Causing harm indirectly is not an attack. Thus, an invisible being can open doors, talk, eat, climb stairs, summon monsters and have them attack, cut the ropes holding a rope bridge while enemies are on the bridge, remotely trigger traps, open a portcullis to release attack dogs, and so forth. If the subject attacks directly, however, it immediately becomes visible along with all its gear. Spells such as bless that specifically affect allies but not foes are not attacks for this purpose, even when they include foes in their area.