Can Ectoplasmic Barrage cause one target to be attacked twice?

[Jrsooner]

http://www.aonsrd.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Ectoplasmic%20Barrage& Family=None

In reading of the spell, the target is "Up to two creatures," and combined with the description saying "each projectile" as in multiple projectiles, it confuses me. Am I allowed to cast this spell on a single target for two different attack rolls for potentially two hits? Or can I only target 1 creature per projectile?

In reading of the spell magic missile, it makes me think its similar to it, which allows you to have a single target for all missiles. However, I wanted to get a clarification on this to be safe.

I see on someone's PbP on these forums that someone did use the spell to target both projectiles on a single creature, but figured this could be erroneous.

[Xenocrat]

Hmmmmmm. It never occurred to me that you could double up, but I agree that it's not worded so as to foreclose either side.

Let's compare potential single target max damage (not counting EB crits) for this vs Mind Thrust.

1: 14 v 11
2: 28 v 22
3: 49 v 38.5
4: 70 v 55
5: 91 (entangled 1 round) v 82.5 (exhausted)
6: 105 (entangled 1d4 rounds) v 93.5 (exhausted/stunned)

Mind Thrust pros: keys off key attribute; half damage on save, so can always get half damage even against a tough foe; no DR/ER

Mind Thrust cons: no option to split between two enemies, no effect on immune to mind affecting

Ectoplasmic Barrage pros: can choose to divide damage between two enemies, can fully effect incorporeal, two chances to deal damage means higher expected damage against relatively low AC foes

Ectoplasmic Barrage cons: attacks off secondary attribute, targets KAC which means decent chance to miss twice and do no damage against tough foes, DR is common and will reduce damage

Comparing these I honestly feel like they're reasonably well balanced against each other and I've been converted from "no way" to "I'd allow it."

Of course the author is often around here and might offer her opinion on what she intended.

[Jrsooner]

How did you get those max damage values? Mind Thrust is 2d10 LV1 , max damage of 20 instead of 11. Ectoplasmic Barrage LV1 is 2d6 per hit, so either 12 or 24 depending on how it would be ruled.

EDIT: Looking at the math I believe you did average damage of EB vs MT if both strikes hit the same target?

[Xenocrat]

Right, average damage. My mind threw in "max" erroneously because I was assuming both EBs hit the same target.

[Hawk Kriegsman]

The only yes, but I would throw in here is that Magic Missile specifically states you can target a single creature or multiple creatures while Ectoplasmic Barrage is lacking this text.

[The Ragi]

I doubt it, this would give the witchwarper a decent damage spell.

[Xenocrat]

The Ragi wrote:

I doubt it, this would give the witchwarper a decent damage spell.

They have most of the good Technomancer ones already. EB 6 is no threat to Disintegrate.

[Jrsooner]

You said the original creator of the AP/spell visits here. Do you know who that is so I could try to PM them to get their original intent?

[Xenocrat]

Jrsooner wrote:

You said the original creator of the AP/spell visits here. Do you know who that is so I could try to PM them to get their original intent?

I'm pretty sure credit for the psychic magic article was to Hillary Moon Murphy.

Now note that the author of a rule's intent isn't really what the rule "is" from an official Paizo perspective - the developer who takes that turn-in and edits/develops it may have had a different perspective and without a FAQ we can't really know an official answer. But I'd certainly be interested to know how she thought it was supposed to work.

[Jrsooner]

I PM'd her, I'll let you know if she responds outside the forum. Thank you.

[DougSample]

Our table ruled that it was allowed just because the spell description does spell out the capability of producing 2 separate blasts. I think we're prolly leaning heavy into RAI for that understanding. But, it's hard out there for a mystic trying to stay relevant.

[Duskblade]

I hope this question gets answered. Very curious about it as well.