touch attacks give extra action?

[S'mon]

In the PHB it says that in a single round a caster can:

Cast a Touch spell
Then move
Then make a touch attack to deliver the spell!

Surely this is a standard action, a move action, and another standard action all in 1 round?

I can see cast, 5' step, attack, but the way it's written, casting a touch spell gives you a free standard action that round. Why? It's not like it's exactly underpowered anyway, given that you can keep trying to touch as long as you like (not like a ranged attack spell) and you don't even provoke AoOs while doing it!

Does anyone else find this strange? Or is there a good rationale I've missed.

 

[Trellian]

I would rule that you could only move 5 ft, but you're right, it's a little weird. My wizard usually moves towards the target, casts the spell and touches him. I think maybe it's included as part of the spell-casting.

 

[Tom Cashel]

Yeah, just a rules "burp" to allow a caster to cast and deliver a spell in one round.

 

[IceBear]

Yes, in the case of touch based spells you can cast, move and touch. I think the actually touch attack is considered part of the somatic component of the spell.

Anyway, yes, this is a special case and is allowed by the rules.

IceBear

 

[Bastoche]

And while we're at it...

What does apply when calculating the bab for melee touch attack ?

Same question for ranged ?

Dex ? Str ? Weapon finesse unarmed ? Weapon focus unarmed ? Other ?

 

[nharwell]

By the PHB, Str applies to touch attacks and Dex to ranged touch attacks. One of my house rules, however, is that Dex applies to touch attacks instead of Str.

 

[Bastoche]

sooooo

A wizard with a str penality has a penality to hit with his touch spell attack ?

 

[CRGreathouse]

Re: sooooo

A wizard with a str penality has a penality to hit with his touch spell attack ?

A Wiz6 with Str 8 and no other bonuses has a +2 on touch attacks.

 

[kreynolds]

By the PHB, Str applies to touch attacks and Dex to ranged touch attacks. One of my house rules, however, is that Dex applies to touch attacks instead of Str.

That's odd. But...ok.

 

[Bastoche]

Damn !!!

With 8 in str I thought "Hey no problem, I'll prepare bull's strength".

But D'oh! I don't have access to transmutation with my poor 8 str wizard !!