touch spells

[CosmicBard]

So, am I to understand there's no way to cast a spell like Harm in the standard way, which is to say you cast a touch spell as a standard action, move and then apply the touch as a free action so you don't incur AOOs?

Because without the ability to do that, that spell and many others like it are worthless

[Char Aznable]

I'm pretty sure that isn't how the rules work anyways. Casting a touch spell takes a standard action, and so does making a melee attack. So there's no way you could do both in one turn. I just looked at the d20 source guide and it seems you misinterpreted how touch spells work. If opportunity attacks are bothering you, try getting some bracers of countering. They make it so every time someone misses you with an attack you get to counter attack for free. A strong battle cleric with high AC can use this to his advantage by provoking multiple opportunity attacks and getting to attack the enemies for free when they miss. Most opportunity attacks miss my fighter and cleric so I try to provoke them for free attacks.

[CosmicBard]

I absolutely guarantee you that's how touch spells work. The 'make a touch' part of the spell isn't a strictly 'melee attack' as you describe it in that you're required to make a separate melee attack action in order for it to work as the 'make a touch attack' is already part of the action you're taking to cast the spell itself. I think it's great that you went back and looked it up but this isn't my first rodeo, I would put any amount of money on this being true.

Here's an example scenario where the OP mentions using it this way: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-228686.html

See "holding the charge":
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm

"Holding the Charge

If you don’t discharge the spell in the round when you cast the spell, you can hold the discharge of the spell (hold the charge) indefinitely. You can continue to make touch attacks round after round. You can touch one friend as a standard action or up to six friends as a full-round action. If you touch anything or anyone while holding a charge, even unintentionally, the spell discharges. If you cast another spell, the touch spell dissipates. Alternatively, you may make a normal unarmed attack (or an attack with a natural weapon) while holding a charge. In this case, you aren’t considered armed and you provoke attacks of opportunity as normal for the attack. (If your unarmed attack or natural weapon attack doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity, neither does this attack.) 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."

Also, under "touch spells in combat":

"Many spells have a range of touch. To use these spells, you cast the spell and then touch the subject, either in the same round or any time later. In the same round that you cast the spell, you may also touch (or attempt to touch) the target. You may take your move before casting the spell, after touching the target, or between casting the spell and touching the target. You can automatically touch one friend or use the spell on yourself, but to touch an opponent, you must succeed on an attack roll. "