Range Touch Attacks

[Oni]

Ranged touch attacks are lumped together with melee touch attacks as simply touch attacks. It says that touch attacks can be held until discharged. Can ranged touch attacks be held or do they have to be used as soon as the spell is cast? I assume that firing a ranged touch attacks and missing still constitutes as discharging the spell (must contact something, I suppose). However I can't find where it specifically outlines ranged touch attacks in the book, so if anyone has the exact nature of the rules concerning this I'd be appreciative.

Thanks,

 

[Crothian]

Ranged Touch attack: A touch attack made at range, as opposed to melee touch attack. See Touch attack

That's from the glossary of the PHB. So, besides the terrible definition of defining a phrase be rewrding the phrase (bugs me when proffesionals have errors covered in basic level high school courses) it will behave exactly like a touch attack. So, even if you miss it is used up (it does strike something), and you should be able to wait a while before using.

 

[kreynolds]

I'm not currently aware of any rules that state that you cannot hold the charge of a ranged touch attack spell, though my instincts tell me you can't, so I don't support it in my games.

 

[Oni]

Of course if one were able to hold a ranged touch attack until it contacts something begs another question. Do you have to discharge it as a ray, or could you use it as a melee touch attack, keeping it if you missed because you've not contacted anything nor discharged it by shooting it off and hitting something.

 

[Crothian]

I think a ranged has to be a ranged. Maybe you should have to make concentration checks to hold the spell if you don't use it right away?

 

[StealthyMark]

"Ranged touch spells" produce some effects, which use the rules for ranged touch attacks. For example, Disintegrate produces a "green ray". No way to hold a charge. Same for Melf's Acid Arrow, Enervation and many others.