Basic magic question, I feel like this should be obvious.... Options

[lorechaser]

1. It appears that I can cast a single spell, and split my dice pool in order to target multiple people. When doing this, does it count as casting the spell twice in terms of drain? I'm assuming not, but wanted to be sure.

2. It's been suggested that I could target the same person twice with the same spell, splitting pool. Is this true? If so, how is that not incredibly cheesy, and what's the justification for allowing it?

[Jaid]

[Butterblume]

1) Yes, you have to resist the drain multiple times, depending on how often you cast the spell. Plus, for each additional spell the drain increases by 1. So, if you cast on three targets simultaneously, you have to resist (drain+2) thrice.

2) I don't remember anything preventing it.

[lorechaser]

Well there ya go.

Double the drain is a more reasonable penalty (it's early, and I only slept 3 hours thanks to my four month old, so I should realized that would be the default).

But it really seems like, even with double resistance, you'll often be better off doublecasting (yeah, yeah, I'm an FF wonk) as long as the drain isn't heinous.

Let's assume casting against will 3.

Magic of 4, spellcasting of 5, 3 points from various sources (spec, foci, etc). That's a good but not great mage.

That's 12 dice to roll. Casting Force 4. So you're looking at about 3 net successes against will 3, so DV 7.

Or roll 6 and 6 - you're looking at 1 net success, or DV 5x2. Since you don't resist, depending on your confidence, that might be a much better option.

When you get to higher power scales, that seems to grow more pronounced.

Magic 6, Spellcasting 6, spec, power foci 2, spellcasting foci 2, mentor spirit. Possibly assisted by a spirit, but that's a bit much. ;)

That's 20 dice. Splitting, 10 dice per pool. If you're overcasting, and think you can handle the drain, even better.

Hmmmm.

Just rambling, really. And creating new character concepts, of course. ;) I wonder if my GM would accept a specialization in "Doublecasting"

[Fortune]

[lorechaser]

Nah - Turn to Goo is manipulation. Gotta push the envelope. ;)

Course, Turn to Goo is a poster child for "spells you don't want to doublecast" so that's not really an issue.

I wonder if I can get someone that can reasonably dual wield mono-filament whips too. Hmmmm.

[krayola red]

Eh, I don't really see a problem. If your dice pool is so much higher than your target's that doublecasting becomes a viable option, he's pretty much toast anyway. You'll start to see your spells fizzling when you employ the same strategy against someone protected by a good counterspeller.

[lorechaser]

Indeed. That's why you also dual wield mono-filament whips. ;)

I've now made a new character named Dwombat (He was going to be Wombat, as in Combat Wombat, but he's a dwarf, so....). He's a two trick pony. His tricks are doublecasting Stunbolt/Manabolt and dual-wielding Monofilament whips.

It amuses me greatly. Against a skilled foe in melee or magic, he has to just use single casts/attacks, and then he's got a dice pool of 14ish. Against people weak against one or the other, he can double up, and make with the hurting.

[hyzmarca]

[Fortune]

[Drtyrm]

Here's a basic question I could use an answer to, concerning Ongoing Effects.

SR4, p. 174
"While sustained spells do offer the opportunity to have an ongoing magical effect, they are also draining on the magician's magical abilities. For each sustained spell the magician maintains, she suffers a -2 dice penalty on all other tests." (emphasis mine)

I read that as -2 on all tests, magical or otherwise. The first sentence tho, sort of suggests magical tests only. Opinions?

[Cold-Dragon]

No, the concentration penalty applies to all things except resistance tests (and possibly dodge tests). It's because you have to keep the mental loop in your brain that says 'and don't let this go'.

So how easy would it be for you to try and look up the password for the door in front of you while sustaining 3 phys barriers with a barrage of bullets slowly eating through it? Not very easy. That's what the -2 per test ultimately means. It's not a big deal to sustain one or two and just auto succeed things you're good at for the story.

Now, as per drain with multi-casting, I think everyone forgot to include the additional +2 to drain per extra spell also involved with drain. I don't recall if you can limit the effects (1st spell has normal drain, 2nd normal +2, 3rd normal +4) or if it stacks on all automatically (each spell is norm +2 or 4 or whatever). I think it's the 2nd one, however.

Fortunately, drain tests DO NOT split dice - so in some cases, you can actually get extra kick in some spells without too much payback, but that is probably in guarantee'd cases more than anything.

[Jaid]

[Fortune]

[Butterblume]

[Grinder]

[Fortune]

[Grinder]

I should have read the rules more carefully, it seems.

[lorechaser]

[Butterblume]

I am pretty sure the boni are added before splitting the pool. Would wreak havoc with balance otherwise, when multicasting 6 spells, for example ...

[lorechaser]

You'd think.

But apparently weapon foci are added on after, as are a few other little benefits....

[Mistwalker]

You might also want to add wreck gun to your spell list if your going to be multi-casting. Could be a nasty surprise for the opponents to find their guns broken and a dual monofilament whip wielding dwarf advancing on them (preferably laughing maniacally).

[Butterblume]

The dwarf needs a cyberarm, that holds his tankard of ale, so he can take sips while slicing the enemy into gyros laughing maniacally.

Well, at least a levitate spell for the tankard, since he is a magician.

[lorechaser]

[Mistwalker]

Wreck gun is the single version of the spell

Demolish gun is the area. One of the mages in my players group has it, and so far, has had to replace something like 4 guns from teammates. :D . Well, that should be teammate, cause it always seems to be the same one, so much so that the gun bunny has now started an inventory of them, just in case.