Touch attack
From NWNWiki
A touch attack is a special attack that only needs to touch its target to have an effect. (A normal attack needs to hit its target solidly to do damage. A character who swings a sword that glances off an opponent's shield has touched his target, but the swing is considered a miss since it could not inflict damage. In game terms, this attack roll was less than the target's armor class (AC) by virtue of the shield's contribution.)
Touch attacks can be either ranged or melee. One example of a ranged touch attack is an ettercap's web bolt attack. The web bolt merely has to touch the target to attach itself and bind the target to the ground.
A touch attack denies the defender their armor and shield AC (base and bonus), as well as their natural armor bonus to AC. All other armor class modifiers, such as the size modifier, dexterity modifier, and deflection/dodge bonus (if any) apply normally. The attacker's touch attack bonus is as follows.
- Melee:
- BAB + strength modifier + nature sense + epic prowess (unless a ranged weapon is equipped) + effects
- Ranged:
- BAB + dexterity modifier + weapon attack bonus + effects
As usual, a natural roll of 20 (before adding the attack bonus) is automatically a hit, and a natural 1 is automatically a miss. Critical hits are only threatened on a natural 20, and the confirmation roll is always the same as the attack roll (i.e. the confirmation roll is always a natural 20).
[edit] Notes
- For technical reasons — namely the lack of alternatives — all scripted attacks are touch attacks, even those that should not really qualify, such as a hail of arrows.
- Weapon finesse and zen archery do not change the ability score used.
- The consequence for a miss, hit, and critical hit are all subject to scripting.
- Immunity to critical hits does not grant immunity to touch attack critical hits.
- A touch attack can catch a target flat-footed further negating its dodge and dexterity (if unsecured) AC.
- Unlike a normal attack, the attack bonus of touch attack is not further modified by circumstantial bonuses/penalties (e.g. expertise mode, flanking, target prone, bane of enemies), nor is it affected by the size modifier.
