Sustaining spells and "other tests", What "other tests", esp. what is not included. Options

[Surukai]

Sustaining a spell adds a stacking -2 penalty to "all other tests" in spellcasting on SR4A p. 182.

Drain resistance is a named exception for this.

But, damage resistance is a test too, right? and "Other tests" does that mean spellcasting is not included? I.e. it debuffs things like shooting and hacking and speaking to people but not spellcasting?

How about defending against attacks in combat?

I didn't really think much about it before and just assumed it was everything but damage/drain resistance since I thought mages were powerful enough anyway but it makes a LOT of spells obsolete unless you can max out them at ludicrous force (Who want +3 reaction when you only net 1 defense severely debuffs everything else)

I guess that is why most mages in my game have just spammed stunbolt/ball and maybe a heal but completely ignored everything you can't put in a sustaining focus... or?

[Yerameyahu]

As they should, because that's what makes sense for anything like this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Like I said: if the rule is that sustaining affects Damage Resistance, etc., then the very first thing you do is houserule that.

[HaxDBeheader]

As they should, because that's what makes sense for anything like this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Like I said: if the rule is that sustaining affects Damage Resistance, etc., then the very first thing you do is houserule that.

I agree. If a test is not effected by being unconscious then it shouldn't be effected by focusing yourself on something (ie damage resistance).