Eldritch archer and spell range

[Zaister]

One of my players wants to play an eldritch archer in an upcoming campaign. We are unsure, however, if it is possible for the eldritch archer to use eldritch shot with touch range spells, such as shocking grasp. I can see nothing in the description of the ability that has any interaction with the spell's range.

So, can the eldritch archer shoot a touch range spell at a target 30 ft. away? Can they shoot a spell with a range of 30 ft. at a target 60 ft. away?

For the magus's spellstrike, which is similar to eldritch shot, Secrets of Magic states explicitly that the spell uses the weapon's reach. For the sparkling targe hybrid study, the book states explicitly to use the weapon range increment even if the spell's range is shorter. The eldritch archer has no such text, so it stands to reason that the spell range cannot be overcome by the ranged weapon.

What do you think?

[Blave]

Anyting with a spell attack roll is possible. There are no range limits mentioned anywhere in the ability, so it has none (beyond those of the bow, of course).

[Zaister]

Blave wrote:

Anyting with a spell attack roll is possible. There are no range limits mentioned anywhere in the ability, so it has none (beyond those of the bow, of course).

But there is nothing mentioned in the ability either that would actually override the spell's range.

[Castilliano]

Zaister wrote:

Blave wrote:

Anyting with a spell attack roll is possible. There are no range limits mentioned anywhere in the ability, so it has none (beyond those of the bow, of course).

But there is nothing mentioned in the ability either that would actually override the spell's range.

Yes,there is:

"The effects of the spell do not occur immediately but are imbued into the bow you're wielding.", "Your spell flies with the ammunition,..."
If there was a point where the spell no longer flew with the ammunition (i.e. at the spell's max range or after the bow's first range increment, etc.), then Eldritch Shot would have to point that out. As is, the ability doesn't even require the spell to have a range, only a Spell Attack roll.

Also note the use of "effects of the spell" rather than just "the spell" itself. The spell and arrow aren't traveling side-by-side; the spell isn't occurring, its effects are in the arrow which does the carrying.

And it'd have been a major oversight by Paizo not to include such limiting language if that had been their intent, since most Spell Attack spells have much less range than an arrow.

[_benno]

Castilliano wrote:

Zaister wrote:

Blave wrote:

Anyting with a spell attack roll is possible. There are no range limits mentioned anywhere in the ability, so it has none (beyond those of the bow, of course).

But there is nothing mentioned in the ability either that would actually override the spell's range.

Yes,there is:

"The effects of the spell do not occur immediately but are imbued into the bow you're wielding.", "Your spell flies with the ammunition,..."
If there was a point where the spell no longer flew with the ammunition (i.e. at the spell's max range or after the bow's first range increment, etc.), then Eldritch Shot would have to point that out. As is, the ability doesn't even require the spell to have a range, only a Spell Attack roll.

Also note the use of "effects of the spell" rather than just "the spell" itself. The spell and arrow aren't traveling side-by-side; the spell isn't occurring, its effects are in the arrow which does the carrying.

And it'd have been a major oversight by Paizo not to include such limiting language if that had been their intent, since most Spell Attack spells have much less range than an arrow.

I wish they had written it more clearly though. Sometimes it’s not clear if something is just flavor text or not.(as is the case here)

[Zaister]

I think that is good enough for me to allow it, thank you. To be honest, I would never even have thought about that had the player himself not asked about this issue.

[Gisher]

Here are a few things I put together for myself that your player might find useful.

• Spells for Eldritch Shot or Spellstrike

• Eldritch Archer Spellcasting Progression

• Magic Arrow Feat Options

[Zaister]

Thanks a lot, I'll pass it on.