From page 164 in the Big Book.

With out raising your initiate grade your maximum magic is 6.

Bluntly (and assuming your essence is 6) your maximum magic is your 6+initiate grade.


It is simply saying force is measured like metahuman attributes.

You can cast spells greater than your magic attribute, but the drain is physical.

You could over cast a spell at force 12, but the drain could be lethal.

WMS

I think it just means that force ratings 1 through 6 are the normal parameters for most subjects with a Force attribute. Unless there are special circumstances involved, you're not likely to find people throwing force 10 spells or spirits at you, foci over rating 6 sitting on store shelves, etc. Or perhaps it's meant to establish that Force ratings are measured on the same metric, whether the subject is an Awakened metahuman, spell, spirit, or whatever. Force 1 always represents the most rudimentary level of magical power, force 3 is about average, and force 6 is something relatively extraordinary, but not *too* out there.

This is what I felt it meant. However you can see how the confusion can be caused since it compares force to attributes, and attributes are limited 1-6 except for metahuman adjustment, and there is no metahuman adjustment for the force of spells, foci, wards and spirits.