Holding a touch spell and concentration checks

[trentonjoe]

If:
1)a spell caster casts a touch spell (lets say inflict light wounds)
2)but doesn't use it by the end of his turn
3)and is then hit in combat

does he/she need to make a concentration check to "keep" the charge of the spell?

(I added the colon and numbers because it was a VERY akward sentence.)

Thanks in advance.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

No, you only have to make concentration checks to keep a spell if the attack comes while you are casting the spell.

In the case of a held touch spell, you have already finished casting the spell, and no check is needed.

However, if the attack that dealt damage to you was delivered with a natural weapon, the spell is released into the target.

I'm not sure how it would work with melee weapons, but I would assume the spell is released into the attacker anyway.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

No. He only needs to make a concentration check if he is hit while he is casting. A touch spell, once cast, is an effect of the spell and would require dispel magic or the like to get rid of it.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

whatisitgoodfor wrote:

However, if the attack that dealt damage to you was delivered with a natural weapon, the spell is released into the target.

I'm not sure how it would work with melee weapons, but I would assume the spell is released into the attacker anyway.

This is news to me. Are you sure you are not thinking of a house rule? The only thing even close to this idea is the opposite. The caster may release a touch spell on a successful unarmed strike, but must make a normal melee attack rather than a touch attack.

 

[twjensen]

However, if the attack that dealt damage to you was delivered with a natural weapon, the spell is released into the target.

I'm not sure how it would work with melee weapons, but I would assume the spell is released into the attacker anyway.

That doesn't sound right. That means a cleric could defend himself from attack by casting, say, "harm" and then just standing there. He wouldn't need to go through all that mess of trying to make a successful touch attack.

I'm going to have to ask for chapter & verse before I buy into this!

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

PHB 126 "Holding the Charge"

If you touch anything or anyone while holding a charge, even unintentionally, the spell discharges."

It seems to me that this means that any contact between you and another character will release the spell.

Touch spells only require a touch attack to begin with, therefore they will pass through armor or shields. I don't think letting them pass through weapons is any different.

Again, this is only my interpretation, and its probably wrong. (Just wait till Caliban shows up, he always disagrees with me.)

 

[Dr. Zoom]

To "touch anyone or anything, even unintensionally," is not equal with "any contact between you and another character." Remember that this is still a touch spell, and requires the caster to touch something in order for the spell effect to discharge. Your opponent hitting you with a sword or an unarmed strike, is not a touch and will not cause a discharge.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

A touch spell may be delivered with an unarmed strike.

An unarmed strike may come from basically any part of the body.

Therefore, delivery of a touch spell may be with almost any part of the body.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Agreed, but the caster still must do the "touching." If someone touches him, that is not good enough.