When does Rule of 16 kick in when calculating Magic Resistance?

[SolemnGolem]

I was working my way through a thought exercise when I realized I am confused about when MR gets factored in.

Say a Lich from Dungeon Fantasy Monsters 1 is casting a spell at an Angelic Emissary from DF9 Summoners. The Lich has IQ 15, Magery 6, and thus most of its spells are at Spell-20 or Spell-19. The Angel has Magic Resistance 4 and a Will of 15/HT of 15.

I'm not entirely sure what this means.

Does it mean that the lich's effective spell level is no higher than 16 (because of the Rule of 16), and then the lich applies a -4 penalty to cast the spell? And then the Angelic Emissary rolls at 19 (because of Will/HT 15 +4 MR) to resist?

Or do I factor in the MR at the Rule of 16 stage? So Lich casts at 19 or 20 first, and then we apply MR, and then if it's higher than 16 we reduce it to 16?

Sorry for the basic elementary question!

[starslayer]

Magic resistance is calculated in first.

IE: Will 10 MR 6 victim vs skill 20 caster:

Caster rolls against 16, victim rolls against 16.

Will 16 MR 6 victim vs skill 20 caster

Caster rolls against 20, victim rolls against 22

Will 16 MR 4 victim vs skill 20 caster

Caster rolls against 20, victim rolls against 20.

[SolemnGolem]

Doesn't the Magic Resistance count as a penalty to the caster's skill as well?

So a Magic Resistance of 4 would mean the Lich is also casting at -4, while the Angel gets to resist at +4.

I'm having trouble figuring out where the -4 to the Lich's casting factors in. Whether it comes before the Rule of 16 or after.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by SolemnGolem

I'm having trouble figuring out where the -4 to the Lich's casting factors in. Whether it comes before the Rule of 16 or after.

Rule of 16 should be the last thing. It is really just to prevent overwhelming supernatural attacks from being over-powered.

[corwyn]

Originally Posted by SolemnGolem

Doesn't the Magic Resistance count as a penalty to the caster's skill as well?

So a Magic Resistance of 4 would mean the Lich is also casting at -4, while the Angel gets to resist at +4.

I'm having trouble figuring out where the -4 to the Lich's casting factors in. Whether it comes before the Rule of 16 or after.

Rule of 16 is a cap on the caster's effective skill against the target's resistance so my interpretation is it goes last.

So, your lich against:

Will 14, MR 4 Lich-16 vs target-18

Will 14, MR 2 Lich 18 vs target -16, so Lich rolls against 16

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by SolemnGolem

Doesn't the Magic Resistance count as a penalty to the caster's skill as well?

So a Magic Resistance of 4 would mean the Lich is also casting at -4, while the Angel gets to resist at +4.

Yes, exactly.

The other guys apparently just forgot to apply it.

And as sir_pudding said, Rule of 16 is last.

Thoerectical Lich with Spell-30, Angel with MR 6 and Will 15.

The Angel's resistance is a 21. The Lich's Spell skill is 26 (30-4)*, but is further reduced to 21 due to the rule of 16.


* But it still counts as Spell 30 for FP reductions, Casting Time reductions, etc.