Do Touch attacks use the normal to hit mechanic?

[KoobTheProud]

I'm trying to figure out how to make a touchy-feely Pale Master and I have bad memories from pnp of whiffing a lot with touch attacks as a Wizard. I'm assuming that mechanic made it into DDO?

[Angelus_dead]

There are no touch attacks in DDO. Effects such as Chill Touch and a Pale Master's Necrotic Touch will automatically hit if you're in range.

However, to ask that question indicates that you are new, which means it would likely be a mistake for you to try Pale Master.

[KoobTheProud]

Actually I've played a fair amount over the last several months, however I've avoided cloth casters like the plague. The idea of being able to create a cloth caster that actually tries to get into melee range instead of avoiding it is what has gotten me interested now.

[LunaCee]

My suggestion is pretty darn simple. DO NOT!

Caster in melee range is caster getting tripped, harried, hamstrung, cleaved in twain by angry mobs.

The only time you should even consider melee range is when something is incapacitated and its time to break out the burst picks for the automatic critical hits.

[richieelias]

My suggestion is pretty darn simple. DO NOT!

Caster in melee range is caster getting tripped, harried, hamstrung, cleaved in twain by angry mobs.

The only time you should even consider melee range is when something is incapacitated and its time to break out the burst picks for the automatic critical hits.

Not true at all.

My low hp (built back when level 10 was the cap, and a DEX sorc was actually viable in regards to AC) Drow sorc is constantly in melee range (except vs cleave spamming mobs). Jump + haste + displacement makes me untouchable.

Then of course you have HP tanking WF sorcs. With quickened reconstruct + haste + displacement they're one of the most durable characters you could possibly have.

Cloth vs Heavy armor is deceptive thinking. With the current end game elite content, anyone not built for max AC is effectively naked no matter what they're wearing. Even then, Every high AC DEX build is wearing a robe. The armor you are wearing is much less relevant than your tactics and style of play.

[Maxelcat]

Actually, if you go F/W (I know hurts the brain) you can totally do it.

I was playing around with a dex built F/W and then using spells for armor/shield then shocking grasp while I was swinging sword and its not that bad...

also, I only played that build for fun to 4th level, no idea how it pans out later.

sometimes you just gotta have fun.

[richieelias]

Yeah, it doesnt pan out very well at all past level 12 without some seriously uber gear (you will need over 50 AC for elite content).

At most you'll have better reflex saves.

In my case I'm ultra squishy running around with 192 hp or so at level 20.....

That said, if I can survive in melee range in shavarath, anyone can. There are some situations where I simply have to accept that I am going to die, and die quickly, but that generally is not due to being in melee range.

[Calebro]

If it's done right, and geared properly, a battlecaster can be quite satisfying. But this takes knowledge, skill, resources, gear, and an understanding of when to leave melee.

Example: In the Orchard last night, I had someone say to me: "Jeez! How many haste clickys do you have? And what kind of monk are you? You play a little differently than most monks I've run with."
My response: "Look at my icon again..."
"Oh wow! I didn't even realize you were a wizard!"

[richieelias]

Multiclass, yes.
Pure class, not so much.

A pure wizard or sorc would have to invest a huge amount into AC to see a noticeable gain beyond plain Displacement + Haste + Jump in both feats and gear. Add to that a lack of evasion and AC just aint worth it for a pure caster anymore.

But really my point was that you do not need AC at all to survive in melee range.

[Calebro]

Pure wizards, if built properly, geared properly, and played properly, can do the same thing.
A battlecaster's Armor Class isn't about AC, it's about damage mitigation. But I do agree that lack of evasion on a squishy toon (and enough Ref to make that evasion worthwhile) makes it difficult to wade into melee and survive. I'm a supporter of multiclassing a battlecaster, but it's not absolutely necessary in the right hands.
Unfortunately a newer player may have problems doing all of these things in conjunction.

[Maxelcat]

it's about damage mitigation.

something that a lot of people forget. DR is awesome if you get the right gear...

my F/W build was almost all self buffs with very little in offensive spells. balancing STR/DEX/CON/INT was a little complicated. I focused on dex and int cause I could self buff the others higher when needed...

now that I have veteran maybe ill do a rebuild for fun.

[richieelias]

Hehe, you're both basically saying the same thing I am. I was responding to the OP's hesitance to try out a "cloth" caster, and the other's response to "stay the heck out of melee range".

Armor simply is not needed.

Also, as an Arcane, you do not need gear to be effective defensively. All of your defense comes from your spells.

Now if you actually want to *hit* something in melee, that is another story entirely. Start stocking up on those divine power clickies.