Question about tradition elemental affinities Options

[memotype]

Hello,

I'm new to SR4 and to these forums as well. I searched around but couldn't find an answer to my question. If this is a repeat, just point me to the original.

Anyways, I see that the example traditions in SR4 have things like "Combat: Fire. Detection: Air"... I'm having a hard time understanding what exactly those pertain to...? Under "Magic and Spirits" it says "Each tradition can master five types of spirits." and then goes on some rant about naming conventions. Does that fact that hermetics have fire spirits listed as "combat" mean a summoned fire spirit can only perform combat oriented services? Otherwise I can't tell what the differences would be.

thanks in advance,
Isaac

[Ancient History]

Spirits can perform various services such as Aid Sorcery which are restricted by the category of spell. To use the Hermetics as an example, fire spirits are associated with Combat spells, so they could only Aid Sorcery for spells of the Combat category - not Detection, Health, Illusion, or Manipulation spells.

[memotype]

Spirits can perform various services such as Aid Sorcery which are restricted by the category of spell. To use the Hermetics as an example, fire spirits are associated with Combat spells, so they could only Aid Sorcery for spells of the Combat category - not Detection, Health, Illusion, or Manipulation spells.

I see. I suppose this would also apply to things like spell sustaining and aid study? But, otherwise these distinctions have little impact on non-bound spirits, being as they would just have the regular services? Also, would this apply to using a spirit as a spotter for ritual sorcery (seems it would make sense...)?

[Zaranthan]

I see. I suppose this would also apply to things like spell sustaining and aid study?

Yes.

But, otherwise these distinctions have little impact on non-bound spirits, being as they would just have the regular services?

Yes.

Also, would this apply to using a spirit as a spotter for ritual sorcery (seems it would make sense...)?

No. The spirit doesn't even have to belong to anybody in the ritual. You just need somebody astrally perceiving the target.

Aside from the spellslinging restrictions, the spirit-spell type associations are a nice bit of fluff for how the tradition views the spells and spirits.