Secret Spells and using Ward

[RGTraynor]

Originally Posted by Expy

Wizards have to point their staves or wands at their targets in order to benefit from their Staff enchantments, you don't need fancy reflexed identify magic to know what their target is when your eyes will do!

Beyond Witchking's comments -- I can think of only one GURPS combat I've run in thirty-eight years that has gone over 60 rounds, and that took two whole game sessions to play out -- it would seem that the wizards in action you're used to seeing are far dumber than the ones I've seen.

For instance, what benefit using the Staff enchantment in melee gains is blown out of the water by the drawback of letting the target know that a spell is coming his way, and giving him the chance to take such evasive maneuvers as may be practical.

(Granted, this could be a tactic all on its own. Hey, my utility mage doesn't have any offensive spells to speak of, but I can sure get me a fancily carved long stick, stand behind the battleline and point it at an enemy, bark out impressive sounding nonsense syllables in a battlefield voice while I grin ferally -- with at least one party member prepped to glance at me and shout in horror, "No! You promised never to cast that again!!!" -- and laugh as the poor bastard screams and dives for cover.)