How to adjudicate...

[Vigwyn the Unruly]

...touch-range spells from a wand. My paladin wants to use his wand of cure light wounds to inflict damage to undead. The DMG says little more than point in general direction and activate. Do I have to actually touch the undead with a touch attack? If not, how far away can I be? Any other advice or words of wisdom?

 

[Mistwell]

...touch-range spells from a wand. My paladin wants to use his wand of cure light wounds to inflict damage to undead. The DMG says little more than point in general direction and activate. Do I have to actually touch the undead with a touch attack? If not, how far away can I be? Any other advice or words of wisdom?

I believe you have to make a touch attack, just like you would have to do if you cast inflict light wounds without the wand on a living opponant.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

As Mistwell said, instead of touching with your hand, you touch with the tip of the wand, which is, IIRC, 12"-18" long, so you have a 5' reach.

AR