Does sense vitals (the spell) work with spells?

[Deathjester]

I know it allows you to do sneak attacks on enemies, and it works on bows and melee weapons, but does it work on spells? And if so, what spells? Finger of death, scorching ray, magic missile? Is there something that's common with the spells that it works with?

[steventirey]

It should. If it requires an attack roll to hit, it can crit. Things that don't require an attack roll (area effects like a fireball or automatic hits like a magic missile spell) can't crit normally.

[Uzkin]

Sense Vitals works with spells that are eligible for sneak attacks. Normally this means only spells that require an attack roll, such as scorching ray, whereas spells such as finger of death and magic missile are excluded (since they don't require an attack roll).

However, the Arcane Trickster ability "Surprise Spells" allows you to deliver sneak attacks even with the latter spells, in which case Sense Vitals works as well.

[steventirey]

I just realized I was talking about crits, not sneak attacks. The same still applies. Anything that deals damage and requires an attack roll can sneak attack.

[THAC0]

Originally posted by Deathjester:

I know it allows you to do sneak attacks on enemies, and it works on bows and melee weapons, but does it work on spells? And if so, what spells? Finger of death, scorching ray, magic missile? Is there something that's common with the spells that it works with?

It depends on the spell
Range Touch attack spells it would work other spells not so much

Originally posted by Uzkin:

Sense Vitals works with spells that are eligible for sneak attacks. Normally this means only spells that require an attack roll, such as scorching ray, whereas spells such as finger of death and magic missile are excluded (since they don't require an attack roll).

However, the Arcane Trickster ability "Surprise Spells" allows you to deliver sneak attacks even with the latter spells, in which case Sense Vitals works as well.

[Deathjester]

Originally posted by THAC0:

Originally posted by Deathjester:

I know it allows you to do sneak attacks on enemies, and it works on bows and melee weapons, but does it work on spells? And if so, what spells? Finger of death, scorching ray, magic missile? Is there something that's common with the spells that it works with?

It depends on the spell
Range Touch attack spells it would work other spells not so much

Originally posted by Uzkin:

Sense Vitals works with spells that are eligible for sneak attacks. Normally this means only spells that require an attack roll, such as scorching ray, whereas spells such as finger of death and magic missile are excluded (since they don't require an attack roll).

However, the Arcane Trickster ability "Surprise Spells" allows you to deliver sneak attacks even with the latter spells, in which case Sense Vitals works as well.

So corrosive touch, vampire touch, scrorching ray, spells that are "ranged attacks" or "touch attacks" you know, spells that can "miss"? Did i get it right?