ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

Hitting a Poison Ivy from long distance using Channel Staff results in the character being poisoned by the ivy in response, like it was a melee attack:

Ahah yes !
Staves attacks are melee bu projected to a distance. Let's say it's "magic" ?

Oh I see, so I should imagine my character swinging the staff in the air, having its end "phase door" and hit the mob, rather than pointing the staff to the target and firing a bolt (this would be congruent with the fact that the Channel Staff speed is instantaneous).

Then, it's okay it (almost) always hits, but how can it completely ignore armor?

Because .. hum . it's a magic attack that teleport your blow just behind the armor !

Then I could argue it should not affect natural or magic armors (e.g. stone skin), but ok, got it

True
Well let's just say gameplay wins over realism there