Detecting a Held Charge Touch Attack

[Axoren]

Touch spells have the ability to Hold the Charge. Meaning that they can be cast ahead of time and then held onto for use whenever after without the need to speak the verbal components again or make the somatic gestures in a risky location.

This lends itself to underhanded dealings, such as assassinations (Poison, Shocking Grasp, etc) and kidnappings (Touch of Idiocy, Ghoul Touch, etc). So, this is fairly dangerous; someone can just reach over and shake your hand. BOOM you're a goner. Or are you?

Are their visual indicators that a spell's charge is being held?

If not, will it be detectable by Detect Magic? (It is neither a functioning spell or a magic item)

If not, how can you tell that someone is holding the charge on a touch spell?

[The Guy With A Face]

I imagine most melee touch spells cause your hand to glow. Chill Touch, for example, states:

Quote:

A touch from your hand, which glows with blue energy, disrupts the life force of living creatures.

This is only one spell though. I don't think there are any written rules that state whether your hand glows while holding a charge or not. I think it would technically be a GM call.

[dragonhunterq]

It is a functioning spell effect until discharged, so detect magic absolutely will pick it up.

Rules are mostly silent about whether touch spells have a visible effect outside of specific mentions such as the aforementioned chill touch.

Know:arcana allows you to Identify a spell effect in place.

This could also a good opportunity to break out unorthodox opposed skill checks like spellcraft vs perception or sense motive - depending on the specific circumstances.

[Claxon]

While not strictly mentioned, I imagine that any held spell has visible manifestations that make it obvious. If you have spellcraft/know(arcana) you can identify the particular spell being held.