GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 19: Incantation Magic

[Tinman]

I have a question about stacking spells (P.21-22):

If I have a buff that gives me a +2 to DX and I:
A) Have a buff that gives me +3 to knife skill. Q: Does it give me a +5 or only a +3?
B) Have a Fireball spell with a +3 to hit modifier built in. Q: Does it give me a +5 or only a +3?

Thx

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Tinman

I have a question about stacking spells (P.21-22):

If I have a buff that gives me a +2 to DX and I:
A) Have a buff that gives me +3 to knife skill. Q: Does it give me a +5 or only a +3?
B) Have a Fireball spell with a +3 to hit modifier built in. Q: Does it give me a +5 or only a +3?

Thx

You get the highest bonus - this is clearly said in the section regarding stacking spells:

Originally Posted by GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 19: Incantation Magic, p. 22

2. Similar bonuses, results, etc. from different rituals are
never cumulative with each other, regardless of the spell effect
used. For example, getting +3 to rolls to resist disease from
Strengthen Protection and using Strengthen Transfiguration
to bestow Resistant to Metabolic Hazards (+3) results in +3
against disease, not +6! The GM has the final say on how “similar”
two results are.

These two are obviously similiar (DX and DX-based) so I'd say no.

[nick_coffin]

On page 15 in the Limited Spell box, it talks about trading spell drawbacks for reduced casting time. The specific mechanic is to convert drawbacks into limitations, and then reduce the effective number of effects by 1 per full 40% in limitations. So in effect you are adding the ability to add limitations to IM spells.

Is it implied you can go the other way? Add enhancements to the spell itself for increased casting time? Or would enhancements only apply to spell modifiers?

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by nick_coffin

On page 15 in the Limited Spell box, it talks about trading spell drawbacks for reduced casting time. The specific mechanic is to convert drawbacks into limitations, and then reduce the effective number of effects by 1 per full 40% in limitations. So in effect you are adding the ability to add limitations to IM spells.

Is it implied you can go the other way? Add enhancements to the spell itself for increased casting time? Or would enhancements only apply to spell modifiers?

Yes, but the GM must be careful with this. In particular, allowing enhancements that would be better as spell effects on inherent modifiers. You're probably say with things that change the contest for resisting the spell (e.g., adding Based on DX or HT), adding utility that you otherwise couldn't (e.g., Mobile to a non-damaging area spell), and so on.

[nick_coffin]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

Yes, but the GM must be careful with this. In particular, allowing enhancements that would be better as spell effects on inherent modifiers. You're probably say with things that change the contest for resisting the spell (e.g., adding Based on DX or HT), adding utility that you otherwise couldn't (e.g., Mobile to a non-damaging area spell), and so on.

Would such an enhancement raise the time required for casting by 1 step per +40% rounding up? Again, mirroring a drawback?

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by nick_coffin

Would such an enhancement raise the time required for casting by 1 step per +40% rounding up? Again, mirroring a drawback?

Yes. Absolutely.

[nick_coffin]

Just a note, none of the examples in the grimoire chapter use the "Cross-Time Range," "Informational Range," or "Affliction, Stun" ritual modifiers. Not a big deal unless you are writing a web app to create Incantations and want to test that you can create all the spells listed in the book, and use that to measure completion.

;-)

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by nick_coffin

Just a note, none of the examples in the grimoire chapter use the "Cross-Time Range," "Informational Range," or "Affliction, Stun" ritual modifiers. Not a big deal unless you are writing a web app to create Incantations and want to test that you can create all the spells listed in the book, and use that to measure completion.

;-)

That's fair. But I figured most of those were something gamers could suss out themselves.

[Anders]

Looking through the Grimoire:

Shouldn't Censure use Destroy Protection rather than Control Protection?

Shouldn't Dispelling have a Strengthen Arcanum for the bonus to Dispelling?

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Anders

Shouldn't Censure use Destroy Protection rather than Control Protection?

It could. Control is using it to control the connection momentary and switch it elsewhere.

Originally Posted by Anders

Shouldn't Dispelling have a Strengthen Arcanum for the bonus to Dispelling?

No, Girded doesn't need an effect to be added and Destroy Arcanum is the effect for Bestows a Bonus.