The default in combat is that each round you use a melee attack, which
consumes your standard action for the round.  Casting a spell or using a 
skill by default will replace your standard action for the round with that 
use. 

   Some skills or spells are designed to be used in addition to your standard
melee attack.  These are called quick actions.  Quick actions can be used in
addition to your standard action for the round.  For example, a warrior can
use a 'Strike' skill in addition to his standard melee attack.  The skill entry
for that skill will indicate what type it consumes like so:

Uses: Quick Action

or 

Uses: Standard Action
such as "spell" or "MUD Basics"
# 418 topics