Talk:Vampiric Touch/@comment-2601:602:8480:3343:E860:DF4:BB57:3D06-20191011222605/@comment-50.30.154.250-20191011224358

Vampiric Touch is not the same kind of "touch" spell like the others. You don't create a weapon and have to land melee hit when using Vampiric Touch. Its range is touch, but it is an auto-hit spell (like the healing spells).

As for letting mages get into melee range, there are plenty of opportunities for that. When your mage is not being targeted, you can go in melee then back out quickly if they change target. When an enemy is incapacitated. When your mage has sufficient defense for melee combat. Cleric-Mages can do "battlemage" builds that excel in melee combat. Just play around with Aerie in BG2 and you'll know what I mean. She will beat anything to a pulp with a staff provided she has the necessary buffs.

Generally, these spells are more effective when used by multiclass mages, like fighter-mage or mage-thief, as their kit gives them a better chance at landing melee attacks.