selective channel and swarms.

[philipjcormier]

During a recent game we came upon a difficult question: can you use selective channel to leave out a swarm?

In my opinion, since a swarm is considered a single entity when moving and attacking, it should qualify as a single entity for selective channel.

Searching through the forums, I was unable to find anything.

[Hmm]

Interesting question! I flagged this to be moved to the rules forum, Philip. When it’s there, I promise to FAQ it.

Swarms are weird, because they are effectively a horde of individual creatures. If they are tiny or diminutive, regular weapons can’t hit them — you need area effects. Channel is awesome for taking out swarms. It’s an area effect that can take out the hundreds of tiny creatures that comprise the swarm.

However, the Philip is positing a query about deselecting a swarm that’s allied with your party. If I were the GM at your table, I wouldn’t allow it, because there are more creatures in the swarm than you have options to deselect. Although swarms move and attack as a single creature, they cannot be attacked in turn as one, or regular weapon damage would effect them.

I don’t think it’s a valid target for an exclusion from selective channel.

Hmm

[GreyYeti]

Since swarms are immune to all effects that only target a limited amount of creatures, you cannot deselect them with selective channel, which only targets a limited amount of creatures.

[philipjcormier]

ok. I was actually trying to heal the party with the channel but not heal the swarm. I understand the ruling though.

[Cavall]

I'm of the opposite opinion. All you'd have to do is not heal one other person then by that reasoning, as swarms are immune to things that affect targeted numbers.

I would say treat them as a single unit and skip them.

[Jeff Morse]

Swarm damage is weird in that you are killing off individual bugs. So all that are left make up its remaining hit points. So channel burst won't heal a swarm.

[thaX]

For simplicity, the swarm counts as a single creature for effects such as this, and has Swarm traits that denote the immunity to weapons (dependant on creatures within the swarm's size) and vunerability to Area Effects. Channel to harm would do the extra damage, and channel to heal would likely be able to exclude the swarm as a creature.

Not to say that this is a perfect representation, but I don't believe the cleric who has the feat needs to be forced to healing the swarm as he channels to heal the rest of the party.