Spellslinger Advantage for Standard Magic System

[Carlos]

Greetings,

Pyramid #3/66: The Laws of Magic (p. 14) brings a new advantage called Spellslinger. Like Heroic Archer, it's based on Gunslinger advantage. Thus, It does for spellcasters what Gunslinger advantage does for gunners. The advantage was designed for Ritual Path Magic system. However, it says that it can be adapted to others magic systems. That said, I think the only small modification worth mentioning is for Blocking Spells: You have the effect of Blocking Spell Mastery perk to all of your blocking spells.

However, as presented in the original advantage, it says you can roll at -6
to both the final casting roll and the attack roll to attack with offensive spells at the same turn the caster finished the casting, effectively allowing casters to attack every turn.

My question is: Does this -6 penalty to cast spells affects the skill for purporse of energy reduction and ritual?

[Nereidalbel]

Energy reduction is on base skill, not effective skill. Yes, this means that any sort of bonus to casting does not push you to the next breakpoint.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Carlos

Greetings,

Pyramid #3/66: The Laws of Magic (p. 14) brings a new advantage called Spellslinger. Like Heroic Archer, it's based on Gunslinger advantage. Thus, It does for spellcasters what Gunslinger advantage does for gunners. The advantage was designed for Ritual Path Magic system. However, it says that it can be adapted to others magic systems. That said, I think the only small modification worth mentioning is for Blocking Spells: You have the effect of Blocking Spell Mastery perk to all of your blocking spells.

However, as presented in the original advantage, it says you can roll at -6
to both the final casting roll and the attack roll to attack with offensive spells at the same turn the caster finished the casting, effectively allowing casters to attack every turn.

My question is: Does this -6 penalty to cast spells affects the skill for purporse of energy reduction and ritual?

I intentionally made it as generic as I could while keeping it useful - yes it appears in a RPM article, but I made it for ALL systems. As to whether it reduces the skill as the author, I'd say "no." Magic is pretty specific about high base skill and what it gives. See below:

Originally Posted by GURPS Magic p. 8

In all cases, “skill”
refers to base skill, not effective skill.
The only modifier that matters here is
the -5 for low mana, if applicable.

Now a lot of folks use effective skill to determine what your skill level grants, but that's a house rule. Do keep in mind that it's redundant with Mighty Spell. For standard magic I'd also include Melee and Area Spell Mastery for all known spells as well.

[Carlos]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

For standard magic I'd also include Melee and Area Spell Mastery for all known spells as well.

I just forgot to ask you this: What about Missile Spell Mastery? Shouldn't it be included (or instead of one of the perks that you mentioned?) in Spellslinger?

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Carlos

I just forgot to ask you this: What about Missile Spell Mastery? Shouldn't it be included (or instead of one of the perks that you mentioned?) in Spellslinger?

You could, yeah. It wouldn't break anything. RPM doesn't have some of the problems basic magic does with missile spells.

[Carlos]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

You could, yeah. It wouldn't break anything. RPM doesn't have some of the problems basic magic does with missile spells.

As the author of this excellent idea¹, would you mind to summarize how would be the Spellslinger advantage for the standard GURPS Magic system? I'm pretty sure it could be used for future reference.

Thanks in advance.



1 - A quick search at the forum shows me that many players wished such advantage long ago.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Carlos

As the author of this excellent idea¹, would you mind to summarize how would be the Spellslinger advantage for the standard GURPS Magic system? I'm pretty sure it could be used for future reference.

Thanks in advance.



1 - A quick search at the forum shows me that many players wished such advantage long ago.

That would make getting the magazine pretty moot. :-/ Basically, use those rules, add in Missile Spell Mastery for all missile spells if you want. That should be plenty.