A couple of simple clarifications needed

[xDeacon]

I'm starting a Pathfinder game after being away from 3.X for a long time (some forays into Saga, 4e, WEG D6, and AGE). I'm introducing a new group to this rules set and I'm having some issues in that, while I've Dm'd other games, I never Dm'd with our old 3.X group or played a spellcaster. So I have a couple of rules I could use some clarification on, if you all don't mind.

Q1 - Ranged Touch Attack
Do Ranged Touch Attacks incur the -4 penalty when firing into melee? The section talking about the penalty only names Ranged Weapons specifically, but I remember our old DM giving the penalty to the wizard. Were we doing it wrong?

Q2 - Spellcraft/Concentration
I was just reading in the combat rules when I came across this paragraph under Readied Actions-
Distracting Spellcasters - You can ready an attack against a spellcaster with the trigger "if she starts casting a spell." If you damage the spellcaster, she may loose the spell she was trying to cast (as determined by her Spellcraft check result).

Is this a typo? Shouldn't that be a Concentration check? I don't have my book with me, I read this on the prd.

[Morgen]

For your first question:

Yes, Ranged Touch Attacks incur the -4 penalty for firing into melee. They are also subject to the rules for cover as an aside. Any ranged attack is subject to the same rules as any other ranged attack. That it is a touch attack is what changes it's AC targeting parameters.

So a wizard firing a scorching ray through an ally's square at a foe in melee rolls out to something like -8 effective to hit. -4 to hit on her side, then +4 cover bonus to AC for the foe.

For your second question:

Indeed that is a typo. Likely left over from the Alpha or Beta play test of the game. It should be a concentration check. It is correct in the Magic chapter for injury.

[xDeacon]

Thank you

[Lab_Rat]

Q1: Not all ranged touch attacks incur that penalty. As you have said the firing into melee rules refers to ranged weapons. The only spell effect that is considered a weapon is a Ray (Ex: scorching ray). Other ranged touch attacks with spells do not incur that penalty.

Q2: Typo. Concentration check DC = 10 + Damage dealt + Spell Level.