Post by Jon on Apr 3, 2013 4:30:48 GMT -5
We had some touch casting situations come up in the game last event, and while most people seemed to be ok with the idea of touch casting in combat, a few scenarios made me question the safety and propriety of the practice.
First, I will point to the rulebook. On page 36 of the players handbook, the following rules on touch casting are outlined:
The rules clearly state that spells should not be delivered via touch during melee combat.
In the first occasion where a ruling on touch casting needed to be made, the players in attendance were asked if they were ok with being touch-casted upon in combat. There was an almost unanimous response that the players were comfortable with the practice. I am concerned that situations like this could cause peer pressure to coerce a player who would normally wish to avoid touch casting to feel as though if they did not go with the crowd, they would be seen as difficult or seeking special treatment. In cases like this, as head of plot I must respect the desires of those who would normally not voice their concerns, and not put them into a position where they may be unfairly pressured by other players.
Secondly, there was an occasion where a player was touch-casting by laying hands on a target's shield, which I consider an unsafe practice, as it is essentially touch casting by touching a player's weapon. There was also an attempt to offensive touch-cast by touching a person's chest, and the implications of this approach if attempted on a female player are obvious. Having separate rules for female and male players would be unfair as well.
So, in the future, touch casting may only be done in combat for the purposes of healing or buffing, not offensively. Touch casting in these cases should only be done by touching a player's back, shoulder or arm, and only if that player has given prior permission to be touched.
Out of combat, a player may touch cast offensively as a surprise attack only if that player has given prior permission to be touched.
First, I will point to the rulebook. On page 36 of the players handbook, the following rules on touch casting are outlined:
Some spells such as buffs and heals allow the caster to designate the target via touch. Not all players want to be touched by other people, so unless you have permission to physically touch the player, you may deliver a touch spell by hovering your hand no more than four inches from the target. In certain scenarios offensive spells may be delivered via touch. To do so, hold a spell packet in the touching hand, and touch the target with the spell packet. Never deliver an offensive touch spell with your hand, and never deliver an offensive touch spell during melee combat. Whenever possible, use the least invasive method to deliver a spell until you know that the target is comfortable with actual person to person contact.
The rules clearly state that spells should not be delivered via touch during melee combat.
In the first occasion where a ruling on touch casting needed to be made, the players in attendance were asked if they were ok with being touch-casted upon in combat. There was an almost unanimous response that the players were comfortable with the practice. I am concerned that situations like this could cause peer pressure to coerce a player who would normally wish to avoid touch casting to feel as though if they did not go with the crowd, they would be seen as difficult or seeking special treatment. In cases like this, as head of plot I must respect the desires of those who would normally not voice their concerns, and not put them into a position where they may be unfairly pressured by other players.
Secondly, there was an occasion where a player was touch-casting by laying hands on a target's shield, which I consider an unsafe practice, as it is essentially touch casting by touching a player's weapon. There was also an attempt to offensive touch-cast by touching a person's chest, and the implications of this approach if attempted on a female player are obvious. Having separate rules for female and male players would be unfair as well.
So, in the future, touch casting may only be done in combat for the purposes of healing or buffing, not offensively. Touch casting in these cases should only be done by touching a player's back, shoulder or arm, and only if that player has given prior permission to be touched.
Out of combat, a player may touch cast offensively as a surprise attack only if that player has given prior permission to be touched.