Improve Attribute, An implied threshold? Options

[Dakka Dakka]

I assume it means 'augmented total at the time of casting', not after casting.

I share that opinion. Conditions for casting are always set and checked before casting, so I see no evidence for having to meet the condition afterwards.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

I share that opinion. Conditions for casting are always set and checked before casting, so I see no evidence for having to meet the condition afterwards.

Indeed... That is the way it has been run at our tables as well... though honestly, it rarely comes up... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[pbangarth]

Sure it can, it simply means that your new augmented stat cannot be higher than the force of the spell. Thus if you have a charisma of 4, and want to raise it to 5, you would need to cast at least force 5, and any hits over the first are wasted, because the force limits the max augmented charisma to five. All it means is that the power of the spell is a factor of both its force and its hits, which isn't very different from a stunbolt

The answer is simple, because you were hoping for a better effect. You cast the improve attribute spell at force 9 because you are hoping that you will get enough hits to get your stat up to 9. You cast levitation at force 5 because you were hoping to get the 5 hits required to lift that 1000kg object.

Both of these interpretations go one level of interpretation beyond the words of the text. The text provides a threshold of Force required to overcome the current state. Hinging the threshold of casting the spell on what you imagine you might like does not apply to this spell, or the spell given in your example. You can cast levitation at whatever Force you want and it will cast, even if it won't lift the object you want to lift. Yes, this is counterproductive, but the spell fires off anyway. The Improved Attribute spell fizzles right at the time of casting if you do not exceed the threshold value, which is the current Attribute value.

The final result of the spell is different from the threshold needed to cast it.

[Irion]

First thing: The drain is calculated according to streetmagic. So yes, increase attribute has a low drain. But well, make it a LOS spell or let it increase two attributes and the drain would be higher.
So the drain can not be an argument here, because he is (according to Streetmagic) completly independent from te force you yould have the spell to cast on.
(It goes by exactly the same calculation as increase Reflexes)

@Karoline
Well it is actually clear, what augmented means. The attribute with any other improvements (magical, technical, biological).
If you stay by the wording, you are checking this condition only ones. The point when your are coosing the force of the spell.

This would lead to the conclusion, that a Charisma 5 augmented by an increase Charisma spell (with Force 5 and 3 hits) stays 8, no matter the backgroundcount etc.

This would be RAW. There is nothing, which would send you back to check this condition. If you once past the line, it no longer effects the ruling of the spell.
So my question was more or less concerning if there is a suggestion about RAI.

[Dakka Dakka]

This would lead to the conclusion, that a Charisma 5 augmented by an increase Charisma spell (with Force 5 and 3 hits) stays 8, no matter the backgroundcount etc.

Not quite true IMHO. If you cast that spell in background count this is true, however if you cast it outside BC and enter an area with BC it will depend if the BC is >2. If the BC is 3 or more, the Force will be reduced to 2 or less and not all of the hits will continue to apply. In BC of 5 or more the Spell fizzles.

[Irion]

@Dakka Dakka
Bad expression on my part. Of course the spell will fizzle if the force reaches zero and of course the hits will be limited to force.
So I totally agree with you.