A little clarification on Spellcasting Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[Andinel]

A spell’s Force limits the number of hits (not net hits) that can be achieved on the Spellcasting Test. So if you cast a Force 3 spell and get 5 hits, only 3 of those hits count. In other words, Force has a limiting effect on spells—the more oomph you put into the spell, the better you can succeed with it. This limitation does not apply to Edge dice that are used to boost a spell.

So... what uses of Edge does this cover? Is it only Edge to add dice to the dice pool? Or does rerolling all dice that didn't get a hit also count for this?

For example, say a character has 3 Edge and 12 Magic + Spellcasting to cast a Force 5 spell.
If the character gets 4 hits and uses Edge to reroll the other 8 dice for another 2 hits, does the spell have 6 hits or 5 hits?
Alternately, if the character spends Edge beforehand to roll 15 dice and gets 5 hits on Magic + Spellcasting and 1 hit on Edge, and gets another 2 hits from Rule of 6, does the spell have 7 hits?

[Dakka Dakka]

Not by my reading of the rule. Only hits from Edge dice may exceed the Force cap. If you announce prior to rolling that you are using Edge to gain extra dice and exploding sixes, the exploding sixes of the original dice pool may be used to get the hits up to the cap, but only the exploding sixes of the edge dice may exceed the cap.

Example:
MAG(5)+Spellcasting(5)+EDG(3) comes up with
1,2,3,4,5,5,6,6 + 1,5,6
As such you get 4 normal hits, two of which may be rerolled, but the rerolls may only generate ONE additional hit (since those dice are subject to the cap). The other 6 in the EDG pool may be rerolled as long as another 6 comes up and any hit will add to the total.

I know it is a stupid and unwieldy rule but that's the way it is. Guess it is that way to make casting Improved Reflexes with 4 hits into a Force 1 Sustaining Focus very difficult and expensive. Even with Edge 8 three hits isn't that easy.

[otakusensei]

Not by my reading of the rule. Only hits from Edge dice may exceed the Force cap. If you announce prior to rolling that you are using Edge to gain extra dice and exploding sixes, the exploding sixes of the original dice pool may be used to get the hits up to the cap, but only the exploding sixes of the edge dice may exceed the cap.

Example:
MAG(5)+Spellcasting(5)+EDG(3) comes up with
1,2,3,4,5,5,6,6 + 1,5,6
As such you get 4 normal hits, two of which may be rerolled, but the rerolls may only generate ONE additional hit (since those dice are subject to the cap). The other 6 in the EDG pool may be rerolled as long as another 6 comes up and any hit will add to the total.

I know it is a stupid and unwieldy rule but that's the way it is. Guess it is that way to make casting Improved Reflexes with 4 hits into a Force 1 Sustaining Focus very difficult and expensive. Even with Edge 8 three hits isn't that easy.

I could see that, but wouldn't Rule of 6 rerolls themselves be considered edge successes as they would not exist without the expenditure of edge? Plus you'd essentially need to roll kosher, keeping the normal dice and the edge dice separate and then the exploded sixes separate for the reroll. I don't know about you, but I like to get the rolling done as quickly and simply as possible so we can get back to the action.

[Dakka Dakka]

I could see that, but wouldn't Rule of 6 rerolls themselves be considered edge successes as they would not exist without the expenditure of edge?

Yes, but the rule doesn't make a distinction between hits generated by normal dice and those generated by Edge but between Edge dice and other dice. Dice you roll again because of Edge are not Edge dice IMHO.

Plus you'd essentially need to roll kosher, keeping the normal dice and the edge dice separate and then the exploded sixes separate for the reroll. I don't know about you, but I like to get the rolling done as quickly and simply as possible so we can get back to the action.

I agree. That's why I said this is an unnecessarily complicated and unwieldy rule, it's RAW nonetheless.