Spell Turning: Something I am missing?

[Celtavian]

I recently used the Spell Turning spell. I read the spell description. In the previous discussin in the following thread:

Spell Turning: Did it get the shaft?

This thread seems to indicate that ranged touch attacks are unaffected by Spell Turning. I don't think the spell description in the 3.5 PHB indicates this.

It says touch ranged spells are unaffected by Spell Turning. I interpret this as meaning that spells with a range of touch are unaffected. As in spells that have the following in their spell table:

Range: Touch

Spells like Inflict Light Light Wounds or Slay Living. Spells requiring a ranged touch attack are affected by Spell Turning according to the description. They do not have a range of touch, they merely use the touch attack mechanic to resolve the attack.

Was there some kind of sage advice indicating that any spell requiring a ranged touch attack was not affected by Spell Turning or was this just a bad interpretation by a DM?

 

[kaigrass]

The discussion in that thread refers to the next sentence: Effect and area spells are not affected.

All the ray spells have the Effect: Ray descriptor, and thus are not affected by spell turning.

 

[Celtavian]

re

I see now.

I don't know that I like that rule. Spell Turning seems like an ideal spell for turning ray spells. I think I will write up a house rule to affect spells with the effect: Ray.

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't even notice that certain spells had the effect: ray description in the spell table.

 

[Antoine]

I think I will write up a house rule to affect spells with the effect: Ray.

You're not through !
What attack roll are you going to use if the spell is turned ? The original one, not even directed at the caster. If the target rolls for a new attack roll against the original caster, then à fighter with a ring of spell turning will have a better chance to hit than a rogue with the same at same level. Then neither is acting during a spell turning attempt… And so on…

Just one of the many reasons you don't want spells with touch or range touch attacks to be turned.

 

[Celtavian]

You're not through !
What attack roll are you going to use if the spell is turned ? The original one, not even directed at the caster. If the target rolls for a new attack roll against the original caster, then à fighter with a ring of spell turning will have a better chance to hit than a rogue with the same at same level. Then neither is acting during a spell turning attempt… And so on…

Just one of the many reasons you don't want spells with touch or range touch attacks to be turned.

We're going to use the original casters attack roll.

What other reasons can you think of to not want ray spells to be turned? Seems easy enough to me. I have already spoken with my fellow players, and we agreed to do it. Looks like no problem at the moment. Just gives Spell Turning a little more punch. We made it so that only spells with the Effect: Ray of some type can be turned, not any other type of effect spell. It doesn't seem like a bit of trouble.