[gurps] Regular vs Melee type spells question

[Captain Joy]

On Oct 8, 2008, at 6:03 PM, Eric Funk wrote:

>> ...for a Regular type spell, I don't
>> think you can have have your spell go off *and* attack in the same
>> round.  Am I wrong about that?
>
> incorrect. yes, I'm afraid that you are mistaken.
>
> Regular are the most common, with effects activating /immedately/  
> after casting is complete. (see "Casting Spells" paragraph 4  p.  
> B235) This also applies to Area, Information, and Enchantment spells.

B235 "Casting Spells" first paragraph: "...take the Concentrate  
maneuvers for the requisite number or turns....  At the end of the  
last second of concentration, make a success roll for the spell....  
Its effects take place immediately."

 From this I read that if I want to cast a Regular spell that takes 1  
second to cast, then my action for that combat round is to take the  
Concentrate maneuver.  I can not take a Concentrate maneuver *and* a  
Step and Attack maneuver in the same round can I?

> A Melee or Missile spell is special in that its effect is created in  
> hand, possibly enlarged, and then released at an unspecified  
> subsequent turn.

Exactly.  First one or more Concentrate maneuvers for the Melee or  
Missile spell.  Then, on the next or later rounds, you make a separate  
attack roll, and if successful, the spell energy hits its mark (and  
adds its damage to whatever damage the attack itself does).

I think I see my confusion.  Neither Regular nor Melee type spells  
allow you to Concentrate and Step & Attack in the same round.  When I  
originally asked "can have have your spell go off *and* attack in the  
same round", I meant "attack" to mean an actual melee attack maneuver-- 
not simply the attack-like nature of the spell going off.

In my case, I have a druid with the Dehydrate spell.  It's a Regular  
spell, so I can't cast it and store it so that it's goes off during  
the next round when I strike somebody.  I.e. I can't get the damage  
for the Dehydrate spell and punch damage in the same round.

But this brings me back to my first question.  If I want to touch  
someone as my Dehydrate spell goes off, and they don't want to be  
touched, how does that work?  Since my action that round was to  
Concentrate, do they automatically resist my attempt to touch them  
since I can't make a melee attack that same round?
--
"All signs fail in dry weather." -- my dad
captainjoy at mac.com