[gurps] Regular vs Melee type spells question.

[Captain Joy]

I just sent an e-mail to my GM, but I thought I'd send it to this list  
as well.

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 From M11 on Regular spell types:

"If you cannot touch the subject, apply
a skill penalty equal to your distance in
yards from the subject; e.g., -5 at five
yards. Figure distance at the moment you
roll the dice for the spell."

I've been playing this as Doolish casts
at no penalty if he's next to the subject.
Now I'm wondering if there should be a -1
to skill if I'm not touching the subject.

If we do decide to go this way, then I
have a question about what I need to do
to touch a subject that doesn't want to
be touched?  I initially thought it would
require a roll to hit; but that would
make it no different than a Melee type
spell.  from M11:

"Melee spells “charge” your hand or
magic staff (see box) with harmful ener-
gies that affect the first target you
strike. These spells require two skill
rolls: a roll against spell skill to cast the
spell, and a normal melee attack roll to
hit the target with your hand or staff."

So, I can see it one of two ways.
A. It requires a normal melee attack roll
to touch someone who doesn't want to be
touched.  A successful melee attack roll
is required to successfully cast a Melee
type spell.  A successful melee attack roll
is not required to successfully cast a
Regular type spell, but there will be a -1
distance penalty to the effective skill of
the spell.

B. Casting a spell *and* attacking on
the same round is what Melee type spells
allow you to do.  Simply touching someone
you're close to, for the purposes of a
Regular type spell, is a free action that
does no damage in and of itself.  The hit
location will be of the "whatever target
presents itself" (aka randomly selected)
nature.  In general, you can't cast a
Regular type spell and do damage with a
melee attack in the same round.
--
"All signs fail in dry weather." -- my dad
captainjoy at mac.com