Is touch spell discharged if you miss your attack? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Is touch spell discharged if you miss your attack? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
thom99
07-30-07, 04:13 PM OK this just came up in my game last night. The wizard cast a shocking grasp, moved into combat and missed with his touch attack roll. So...what happens next? Can he keep trying or is the spell gone? The SRD states:

Holding the Charge: If you don’t discharge the spell in the round when you cast the spell, you can hold the discharge of the spell (hold the charge) indefinitely. You can continue to make touch attacks round after round...You can touch one friend as a standard action or up to six friends as a full-round action. If you touch anything or anyone while holding a charge, even unintentionally, the spell discharges. If you cast another spell, the touch spell dissipates...

Sooo...does this mean since the wizazd missed, he can keep on trying to hit an enemy until he succeeds or casts another spell? Seems that way to me--although it could/should have been written more clearly to show that. But I'm open to either interpretation. What do you fellow DMs think?:confused:

In the same vein, the cleric wants to know if he tries to use his wand of cure light wounds against a skeleton and misses, does he use up a charge?

Thanks for any help!:)
Ebonarc
07-30-07, 04:47 PM From the d20 SRD, at the end of the paragraph you posted:

"If the attack misses, you are still holding the charge."

So, the wizard can continue to make touch attacks to try and discharge the spell into an opponent, provided he doesn't touch anyone/thing, which would discharge the spell.

As for the cleric, yes, he uses up a charge from the wand. He wouldn't had the spell been cast from his list of prepared spells, though.
Nom
07-30-07, 06:18 PM In the same vein, the cleric wants to know if he tries to use his wand of cure light wounds against a skeleton and misses, does he use up a charge?You've got the steps missed up. First he triggers cure light wounds from the wand. Next (typically part of the same standard action) he makes a touch attack to deliver it to the skeleton. If the touch attack misses, the spell is still triggered and its still there waiting for him to deliver it with a successful touch attack (or discard it, if he prefers).

Most DMs allow a character to use the wand to deliver the touch attack. This has no significant mechanical effect except that the character doesn't need to free up another hand.

Also note that touch spells contain an explicit exception to the normal action rules: you are explicitly allowed to cast / trigger a touch spell (standard action), move (move action), and then make a touch attack (finishing the cast spell / use item standard action). Normally, you can't overlap your move and standard action.
Phrennzy
07-30-07, 07:25 PM Even when cast from a wand, a missed touch attack does not discharge, and can be used the next round.
thom99
07-30-07, 10:49 PM Hmmm...looks like it's 2 to 1 on the wand discharging there ebonarc. ;)

Thanks for the answers guys, it'll make it easier to present to the group the next time we play!
Talon Stormwarden
07-30-07, 10:58 PM Hmmm...looks like it's 2 to 1 on the wand discharging there ebonarc. ;)

Thanks for the answers guys, it'll make it easier to present to the group the next time we play!

Well, the thing is the charge on the wand is used no matter what, it's the spell charge on the caster's hand that isn't used. I'm not sure if you understood that distinction.

As for the cleric, yes, he uses up a charge from the wand. He wouldn't had the spell been cast from his list of prepared spells, though.

The first sentence is correct as far as it goes. The wand's number of charges is reduced by one, it's just that the 'charge' of the spell that's already been cast is still there to be used in subsequent rounds until the caster successfully touches someone or casts another spell. I'm not certain what he means by the second sentence.
Ebonarc
07-31-07, 11:32 AM Well, the thing is the charge on the wand is used no matter what, it's the spell charge on the caster's hand that isn't used. I'm not sure if you understood that distinction.Thank you for pointing that out.

The first sentence is correct as far as it goes. The wand's number of charges is reduced by one, it's just that the 'charge' of the spell that's already been cast is still there to be used in subsequent rounds until the caster successfully touches someone or casts another spell. I'm not certain what he means by the second sentence.

I'm not certain either. I think I might delete that sentence.

At any rate, 1 charge from the wand has been used up. It is still available to be used in a touch attack, but the wand is still permanently down 1 of its 50 charges.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
thom99 07-30-07, 04:13 PM	OK this just came up in my game last night. The wizard cast a shocking grasp, moved into combat and missed with his touch attack roll. So...what happens next? Can he keep trying or is the spell gone? The SRD states: Holding the Charge: If you don’t discharge the spell in the round when you cast the spell, you can hold the discharge of the spell (hold the charge) indefinitely. You can continue to make touch attacks round after round...You can touch one friend as a standard action or up to six friends as a full-round action. If you touch anything or anyone while holding a charge, even unintentionally, the spell discharges. If you cast another spell, the touch spell dissipates... Sooo...does this mean since the wizazd missed, he can keep on trying to hit an enemy until he succeeds or casts another spell? Seems that way to me--although it could/should have been written more clearly to show that. But I'm open to either interpretation. What do you fellow DMs think?:confused: In the same vein, the cleric wants to know if he tries to use his wand of cure light wounds against a skeleton and misses, does he use up a charge? Thanks for any help!:)
Ebonarc 07-30-07, 04:47 PM	From the d20 SRD, at the end of the paragraph you posted: "If the attack misses, you are still holding the charge." So, the wizard can continue to make touch attacks to try and discharge the spell into an opponent, provided he doesn't touch anyone/thing, which would discharge the spell. As for the cleric, yes, he uses up a charge from the wand. He wouldn't had the spell been cast from his list of prepared spells, though.
Nom 07-30-07, 06:18 PM	In the same vein, the cleric wants to know if he tries to use his wand of cure light wounds against a skeleton and misses, does he use up a charge?You've got the steps missed up. First he triggers cure light wounds from the wand. Next (typically part of the same standard action) he makes a touch attack to deliver it to the skeleton. If the touch attack misses, the spell is still triggered and its still there waiting for him to deliver it with a successful touch attack (or discard it, if he prefers). Most DMs allow a character to use the wand to deliver the touch attack. This has no significant mechanical effect except that the character doesn't need to free up another hand. Also note that touch spells contain an explicit exception to the normal action rules: you are explicitly allowed to cast / trigger a touch spell (standard action), move (move action), and then make a touch attack (finishing the cast spell / use item standard action). Normally, you can't overlap your move and standard action.
Phrennzy 07-30-07, 07:25 PM	Even when cast from a wand, a missed touch attack does not discharge, and can be used the next round.
thom99 07-30-07, 10:49 PM	Hmmm...looks like it's 2 to 1 on the wand discharging there ebonarc. ;) Thanks for the answers guys, it'll make it easier to present to the group the next time we play!
Talon Stormwarden 07-30-07, 10:58 PM	Hmmm...looks like it's 2 to 1 on the wand discharging there ebonarc. ;) Thanks for the answers guys, it'll make it easier to present to the group the next time we play! Well, the thing is the charge on the wand is used no matter what, it's the spell charge on the caster's hand that isn't used. I'm not sure if you understood that distinction. As for the cleric, yes, he uses up a charge from the wand. He wouldn't had the spell been cast from his list of prepared spells, though. The first sentence is correct as far as it goes. The wand's number of charges is reduced by one, it's just that the 'charge' of the spell that's already been cast is still there to be used in subsequent rounds until the caster successfully touches someone or casts another spell. I'm not certain what he means by the second sentence.
Ebonarc 07-31-07, 11:32 AM	Well, the thing is the charge on the wand is used no matter what, it's the spell charge on the caster's hand that isn't used. I'm not sure if you understood that distinction.Thank you for pointing that out. The first sentence is correct as far as it goes. The wand's number of charges is reduced by one, it's just that the 'charge' of the spell that's already been cast is still there to be used in subsequent rounds until the caster successfully touches someone or casts another spell. I'm not certain what he means by the second sentence. I'm not certain either. I think I might delete that sentence. At any rate, 1 charge from the wand has been used up. It is still available to be used in a touch attack, but the wand is still permanently down 1 of its 50 charges.