Recently in a game that I play in the use of power foci came up in situations that we are not certain apply to them.

Does anyone out there know if a Power foci adds to astral combat at all, and if so how?

Also, does the power foci add to or effect a mages ability to banish a spirit, as it does add to conjuring this might seem so, but we cannot find it stated as such anywhere.

Any and all help would be apreciated.

It's not mentioned in the errata, but if it can help in dispelling tests, it can help in banishing tests. Both are sensible, but neither are clearly stated.

There is no apparent help to standard astral combat, but helps in astral spell-slinging as normal.

Power Foci are supposed to help for any scorcery test. Since astral combat (if you are projecting) if a sorcery test, then it should help out. It can help in dispelling for the same reason, dispelling is a scorcery test. Banishing is Conjuring so the power focus is no help.

As for stuff with spirits, thats what a Spirit Focus is for.

Quote, please? (I don't have my book with me.)

Page 190, SR3

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That hasn't been errata'ed? Is that overlap standard now? It would overturn everything that went before.
(thanks)

A Power Focus can be used for Sorcery, Conjuring, resisting Drain, and Spell Defense. It is extremely versatile, and it has the price and bonding cost to show it. At character generation, for the exact same price that you would pay for a Force: 6 Power Focus, you could get two Force: 6 Specific Spell Foci and a Force: 6 Sustaining Focus instead. You would also have 12 more spell points (bonding cost of 18 instead of 30). Therefore, despite its power and versatility, the Power Focus is still balanced. Keep in mind that foci are like Dice Pools. They give you that many dice to allocate for the entire round, not for each action.

The main reason that I would get a power foci is that they boost your magic attribute to stop you from taking physical drain. Useful if you're a magetype who's taken bio/cyberware. IMHO power foci are worth the cost both in and karma. Compare the cost of a single power focus to that of a bunch of spirit foci/specific spell/spell category foci for the conjuring/spellcasting you think you might want boosted. After comparing; consider the focus addiction rules which really screw you over if you try to have too many foci active at one time. Your mage will probably, eventually, be getting power foci as if they keep racking-up those less useful foci they'll be switching the foci they have active every round or becoming addicted to some of their foci.

Anyway: the less general foci are exactly that; specialized. It's like the full mage versus aspected choice, everybody has their own favorite.

Yea, pretty sure it adds dice to any magical tests taht turn. Conjuring (banishing) is okay, as well as the fact taht it ups magic rating (also used in banishing). Not sure on astral combat, but form the looks of the above posts green light there too. A force 2 (street legal) power focus is a good investment for any spell slinger that doesnt mind the staggering cost in both nuyen and karma, and can deal with a focus.

Better yet, an ally spirit, which can't be taken away, permanently destroyed (except via astral quest of course...), is not illegal (or is it? not sure on the laws about summoning spirits) AND acts as a power focus! So nifty! And it also acts as a spy, a courier, another spellcaster, a fighter... I'm hard pressed to think of a better investment for a mage.