Touch Spells and missed attacks

[Felix]

You cast Shocking Grasp and hold the charge.

An enemy comes up and attacks.

Your turn; you make a touch attack to affect him with Shocking Grasp. You miss.

Is your spell gone, or are you still holding it?

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I know that with ranged touch attacks, you're out of luck: you miss, the spell is gone. Is the same true for touch attacks?

 

[bestone]

you hold the charge untill you discharge it or cast another spell i believe

 

[RigaMortus2]

Miss with a touch spell!?!?! Don't let the Wraithstrike debaters hear about that!

 

[Felix]

you hold the charge untill you discharge it or cast another spell i believe

I think this might be the case, but I couldn't find a ruling after looking for 5 minutes through the SRD. This is me being lazy.

Miss with a touch spell!?!?! Don't let the Wraithstrike debaters hear about that!

Shhhhhhhh! ...You'll wake them...

 

[Sithobi1]

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm#touchSpellsinCombat

 

[Felix]

Holding the Charge

... If the attack hits, you deal normal damage for your unarmed attack or natural weapon and the spell discharges. If the attack misses, you are still holding the charge.

Ok, that answers my original question.

Now:

Standing next to an enemy. You cast Shocking Grasp, and you attempt to touch him in the same action. You miss. Do you now hold the charge?

 

[Goblyn]

Ok, that answers my original question.

Now:

Standing next to an enemy. You cast Shocking Grasp, and you attempt to touch him in the same action. You miss. Do you now hold the charge?

Yes. Holding the charge doesn't take an action; it's the 'consequence' of missing with that attack. Just don't touch any allies before Shocking that guy next round(or casting another spell and thus dissipating it).

 

[pallandrome]

Fun trick! Cast a touch attack before the encounter, then strike a deal to work for the bad guy. Seal the deal with a shake of the hands.

 

[frankthedm]

Miss with a touch spell!?!?! Don't let the Wraithstrike debaters hear about that!

They don't miss often enough to be the equivalent of a reflex save, which they seem to be used as.

Fun trick! Cast a touch attack before the encounter, then strike a deal to work for the bad guy. Seal the deal with a shake of the hands.

Tharr be a D'bate if that sparkin' 5d6 be noticable.

DMG p34
Magic is flashy. When characters cast spells or use magic items you should describe what the spell looks, sounds, smells or feels like as well as its game effects.

A magic missile could be a dagger shaped burst of energy that flies through the air. It could also be a fistlike creation of force that bashes into its target or the sudden appearance of a demonic head that spits a blast of energy... < snip >