ATTACKING THROUGH A FOCUS
There Is a disadvantage to having an active focus of any kind.
Being a continually powered astral energy, a magical focus creates
a continual, open bridge from astral to mundane space. This Is
dangerous.
A spell cannot normally be cast from astral to mundane space,
or vice versa. These two different realms are separated by an
Interface that can only be crossed under specific circumstances and
criteria. Spellcasting is not one of them. This means that characters
who are In mundane space, and have no connection to astral space,
are safe from any astrally projecting magicians or exclusively astral
spirits or creatures.
A focus, by virtue of Its nature, creates a pathway between the
two realms. Through this channel, an astrally present magician can
cast a spell at the focus' physical component. Because the spell Is
affecting the physical materials of the focus, the spell must be a
physical type.
Though it may seem that only the focus itself can be affected
in this manner, that is not completely true. If the astrally projecting
magician were to cast an area-effect spell centered on the focus, it
would be possible to hit all targets within the spell's effect area. Due
to the nature of how this effect works, manipulation spells cannot
be used In this manner.
Attacking through a focus Is a two-step procedure. First come
the tests to attack and resist the spell. If the defender falls to resist,
the effects of the attack are then resolved.
The attacking magician rolls a number of dice equal to the Force
Rating of the spell against a target number equal to the rating of the
focus. At the same time the defender rolls a number of dice equal
to the rating of the focus against a target number equal to the Force
of the spell. The side that generates more successes defeats the
other. If the spell wins, the spell focus bonding Is broken. This
renders the focus useless, and the spell grounds Into the physical
material of the focus. If the focus wins, the attacking spell does not
ground into it, and dissipates.
Remember that the attacking spell must be a physical spell to
work In this manner. If the spell Is not an area-effect spell, It only
affects the target that Is either In possession of the focus or else
directly connected to It. Resolve the spell effects normally using the
Casting Spells rules, p. 129.
If the spell Is an area-effect spell, the only difference from
resolving It In the normal manner Is that Line-of-sight Is determined
from the spellcaster's position In astral space. The requirement still
holds that the spellcaster must be able to see the target. Remember
also that astral space Is special terrain. See Astral Space, p. 145.