Thrown Spells with Half MA

[Jack O'All Trades]

Has anyone tried allowing casting thrown spells while moving up to half MA, a la thrown weapons? It would, of course, make wizards more powerful, but it might also make wizard-on-wizard combat a bit more dynamic.

As a variant, one could only allow this for spells that one has sufficient IQ to cast without gesturing or speaking, which could easily be justified in-universe, although the logical end is to allow *any* spell to be cast while moving with sufficient IQ.

[hcobb]

That's not OP enough. Let's give starting wizards a thrown spell like ability that:

• Can be used with a full move, dodge, defend, another attack, etc.
• Only costs one fatigue
• Averages 5.5 points of damage
• Ignores armor
• Strikes two hexes away at +3 rather than -2 DX
• Can be cast directly behind the wizard instead of only to the front
• And can be transformed into a mobile attack platform for 1 fatigue per minute

[TippetsTX]

Or perhaps throwing a weapon should limit the character's movement options same as using a missle weapon or casting a spell?

Either way, I think that throwing or casting 'on the run' should have some kind of DX penalty.

[Skarg]

Jack, the main thing is it opens up a greater risk for people facing someone with potent Thrown spells, if such wizards will be moving second, or if the potential victims are figuring out where to engage foes (since distant enemy wizards will be able to rush up and cast thrown spells one turn faster, so if they're still engaged next turn, they only have one turn rather than two to eliminate all foes engaging them if they want to get out of Thrown range before foes can cast on them at an effective range).

It seems to me like the kind of thing where a rule change may appear ok until you actually run into a situation where someone's taking advantage of the thing it makes much more powerful when used in a certain way. The only thing balancing certain thrown spells in TFT is the range penalty, and allowing 1/2 MA casting would make that less of a factor.

[hcobb]

Anybody got a problem with a witch spending two memory points on a talent that lets her move 30 hexes and cast a thrown spell?
(Asking for one of my two Postcard adventures...)
She will of course be in the same hex as the swordsman she casts this spell on with no DX penalty, but outside of the reach of his two handed sword.

[Shostak]

I'd advise against letting wizards be too mobile while casting spells.

To add some nuance to Thrown spells, I have a house-rule Thrown Spells talent that lets a wizard use thrown spells at +1 to +3 (a-la Missile Weapons), but the bonus can only offset the range penalty; it never actually adds to DX the way Thrown Weapons does.

[Skarg]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Anybody got a problem with a witch spending two memory points on a talent that lets her move 30 hexes and cast a thrown spell?
(Asking for one of my two Postcard adventures...)
She will of course be in the same hex as the swordsman she casts this spell on with no DX penalty, but outside of the reach of his two handed sword.

It you mean riding a flying mount, then no problem from a RAW perspective.

From a "that's going to be effective perspective", it might be a problem for her victims.

[FireHorse]

I think spells should be too hard to cast while moving more than a single hex. However, what if you could cast a spell and hold it? Turn 1, you conjure up a Fireball in the air between your hands (and pose dramatically for the camera); Turn 2, you charge forward (in slow motion) and throw the Fireball in your enemy's face (and cue the explosion SFX).

[hcobb]

Query, is the witch at any penalty at all while casting a spell on a target in her own hex while she is moving 15 hexes and dodging?

Assuming this is a spell she can cast with just her staff-sword hand, should she study Shield Expertise for the additional -1 DX on top of her basically unhitable defensive bonuses?

[Skarg]

Originally Posted by FireHorse

I think spells should be too hard to cast while moving more than a single hex. However, what if you could cast a spell and hold it? Turn 1, you conjure up a Fireball in the air between your hands (and pose dramatically for the camera); Turn 2, you charge forward (in slow motion) and throw the Fireball in your enemy's face (and cue the explosion SFX).

You can do that in GURPS, but you generally really don't want to drop a held missile spell...

I wouldn't be as concerned by Legacy-strength missile spells at 1/2 MA as I would be by various Thrown spells that have no saving throw to resist and that will take your best fighter effectively out of combat if the wizard makes their casting roll. Again, those are all mitigated by the Thrown range penalty and by the 1-hex movement when casting spells, because their foes have some choice about how close to get to wizards.

Originally Posted by hcobb

Query, is the witch at any penalty at all while casting a spell on a target in her own hex while she is moving 15 hexes and dodging?

Dodging involves a "penalty" of not being able to cast spells, since that's a different type of action.

Originally Posted by hcobb

Assuming this is a spell she can cast with just her staff-sword hand, should she study Shield Expertise for the additional -1 DX on top of her basically unhitable defensive bonuses?

You're not providing enough information about WTF you are talking about, but I'm going to go with "no" anyway.