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AlexanderHowl · 03-26-2020, 10:39 PM

Path Adept only reduces the time for Energy Accumulation for the first gathering roll only (Thaumatology, p. 135). When it comes to damage, RPM deal 3d burning damage for +0 energy, while Path/Book Magic requires either -8 skill or +8 energy for the same level of damage (12d burning damage is +12 energy for RPM while it is -44 skill or +44 energy for Path/Book Magic). Path/Book Magic is also sharply limited to a maximum energy of skill+5 (or a maximum bonus of +15), while RPM has no limits beyond good sense. Finally, RPM grants conditional spells, which provides a massive bonus over Path/Book Magic.

For example, a Ritual Adept with Magery 4 and Thaumatology-16 could maintain 20 conditional spells. Beyond that, they can have as many ongoing spells attached to them as they wish, allowing a properly prepared RPM magician to have a few dozen spells assisting them. Path/Book Magic is much less flexible, as it does not have conditional spells, just ongoing effects.

03-26-2020, 10:39 PM	#36
AlexanderHowl Join Date: Feb 2016	Re: GURPS Shadowgun [Brainstorm] Path Adept only reduces the time for Energy Accumulation for the first gathering roll only (Thaumatology, p. 135). When it comes to damage, RPM deal 3d burning damage for +0 energy, while Path/Book Magic requires either -8 skill or +8 energy for the same level of damage (12d burning damage is +12 energy for RPM while it is -44 skill or +44 energy for Path/Book Magic). Path/Book Magic is also sharply limited to a maximum energy of skill+5 (or a maximum bonus of +15), while RPM has no limits beyond good sense. Finally, RPM grants conditional spells, which provides a massive bonus over Path/Book Magic. For example, a Ritual Adept with Magery 4 and Thaumatology-16 could maintain 20 conditional spells. Beyond that, they can have as many ongoing spells attached to them as they wish, allowing a properly prepared RPM magician to have a few dozen spells assisting them. Path/Book Magic is much less flexible, as it does not have conditional spells, just ongoing effects.