Spellcasting Specialisation question Options

[_Pax._]

My group's mage - actually, a Pixie Mystic Adept with a pyromaniac bent - asked me why she couldn't specialise her Spellcasting in "Fire" ... and I'm not personally opposed to the idea of it.

I'm wary of possible flaws in balance that might arise from that, though. So ... what do the folks here think of the idea? What problems can be forseen, if I allow spell-chuckers to specialise in an Element, rather than a category of spell?

[Tanegar]

I've always taken the position that the Specializations listed in the book are examples rather than an exhaustive catalog. I really don't think Spellcasting (Fire) poses any balance problems at all. It's actually narrower than Spellcasting (Combat). Fireball, Shape Fire, Fire Wall... there aren't that many fire spells.

[_Pax._]

That is definitely my general feeling too - I just want to see of the other fine folks hereabouts can see any potential pitfalls in it.

[Xenefungus]

It's fine. Plus, it's only 2 dice after all.

[UmaroVI]

It's definitely weaker than a school specialization; I don't see any problems with allowing it.

[Glyph]

That is definitely my general feeling too - I just want to see of the other fine folks hereabouts can see any potential pitfalls in it.

It's not that unbalancing with the current list of spells - a few combat and manipulation spells, basically. It would only become unbalancing if the player tried to come up with a bunch of custom "fire"-themed spells for everything - fire scrying, flames of healing, a fire illusion that works similarly to chaotic world, etc. So if your player isn't a munchkin, it should be all right.

[Neraph]

/agree

[Critias]

Yup, it certainly sounds like fair game to me.

[Makki]

Just make sure, beforehand, what kind of spells of his will fall under this category.
The aforementioned are obvious. But what about
Ignite? I say of course.
Hot Potatoe? nah
A custom designed version of Bugs/Swarm that makes you feel like burning? Yes!
...

[Lantzer]

A custom designed version of Bugs/Swarm that makes you feel like burning? Yes!

I'd disagree with this last one. It's not fire. It's just an illusion. Nothing wrong with the spell, it just doesn't fit the specialization.

I'd expect Spellcasting (Fire) to deal with spells that involve actual fire.

[Jeremiah Kraye]

Also kind of makes it worth while to create or modify existing spells towards that bent.

Beware the swarm of fire-ants.

[Makki]

Wait! So what about Napalm? It's only half fire.

[Yerameyahu]

That counts. It's not half-fire, it's one whole fire, plus one whole water (water, right?). Does anyone else think 'Firewater' spell should be about alcohol?

[Jeremiah Kraye]

Bloodboil, cook your victim from the inside out?

Melt, turn his cyberware into slag.

[Yerameyahu]

You can't target sub-parts of a living whole (and if you could, you'd still need LOS; bloody them first, like that Marvel character?).

But those are heat, not 'Fire'?

[Jeremiah Kraye]

You can't target sub-parts of a living whole (and if you could, you'd still need LOS; bloody them first, like that Marvel character?).

But those are heat, not 'Fire'?

I suppose, didn't realize heat was seperated from fire.

As for seperation, it's all fun and games till someone rips someone elses cyberarm off and beats them to death with it.

[Yerameyahu]

It's magic, so all the categorical distinctions are arbitrary. So 'Fire' might well be separated from heat… or not. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) But you did choose clear examples where there's no 'fire' (flame) at all.

Aha, but that's hard: you attack them and inflict 7+ boxes of damage (I'd require physical), they fail Edge (1), *and* the GM chooses Limb Loss from the Severe Wounds optional rules… and then there's no reason to beat them to death, as the rules stipulate they're bleeding to death already. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Jeremiah Kraye]

True, suppose it all depends on how you want to think about it. Heat is a component of fire, if you think of fire as a domain of magic does heat fall into it? Maybe, just as fear is a sub-component of illusion or emotion.

[Yerameyahu]

Exactly: it depends. Which is perfect, because that's how Specializations work.

[_Pax._]

I would say that heat is part of Fire. For one thing, the spell Ignite. For another thing, a "light touch" with fire magic could be used to, say, warm a room. Or defrost a steak, for that matter.

I'm willing to let almost any "do it with fire" slide, if it makes logical sense to me.

The bit earlier about "fire scrying", for example; staring into a fire (typically a candle-flame) is a real-world divination practise. So, I'd allow it without hesitation - and to make it even better, she could get a particular candle-holder as her Fetish. Pop a candle in, light it, and whoosh, Scrying! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

...

Healing, OTOH, not likely. Oh, I could see her developing a spell called "cauterise" ... do 1 more box of damage, but then stabilise the target (if it's still alive). Threshold equal to 1, plus their number of pre-spell Overflow damage boxes, say. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Maybe something that gives a bonus to resisting diseases (but does as many boxes of Stun as it gives bonus dice), representing a magically-induced "fever". A bit of creativity, and accepting drawbacks, I would be happy to let fly.

But full-on, regular healing? Nope. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Yerameyahu]

It's all just opinion at that point, though. Literally anything can 'make logical sense'. So the point is, you have to fully discuss novel specializations with the player beforehand.

[VykosDarkSoul]

and then there's no reason to beat them to death, as the rules stipulate they're bleeding to death already. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

but there is a reason!!!!

Because you can!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[gargaMONK]

The only potential issue I see is if all of his spells are fire spells. In theory, you could take Aspected Magic: Fire, a specialization in Fire, and only spells considered "Fire" type, have 2 extra dice for 2BP (or karma after char creation), and 5BP of neg qualities to boot, and you'd ALWAYS get the specialization bonus, and NEVER suffer the aspected penalty.

Barring that, elements seem like a cool way to specialize "outside of the box."

[Halinn]

You suffer the aspected penalty just by not using the whole toolbox normally available to you.

[Neraph]

True, suppose it all depends on how you want to think about it. Heat is a component of fire, if you think of fire as a domain of magic does heat fall into it? Maybe, just as fear is a sub-component of illusion or emotion.

Remember your pyramid.