Does Magic Spell get TDM?

[MC Baribandi]

They cast Everyday Spells at skill level 12... Doesn't they gey TDM and they cast their everyday magic in Effective Skill 12?

[SuedodeuS]

For what it's worth, magic spells getting TDM should be something decided by the GM. I suspect the authors' intent was that "routine" TDM's wouldn't be something for spells (nor initially for combat skills, which is why we have special mentions and even special rules for such). However, this thread has given plenty of justifications why routine TDM might be appropriate, as well as why it might not be. In the end, it's ultimately up to the GM what sort of "feel" he wants magic to have in his setting, and whether routine TDM's are available can very much influence this.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by SuedodeuS

For what it's worth, magic spells getting TDM should be something decided by the GM. I suspect the authors' intent was that "routine" TDM's wouldn't be something for spells (nor initially for combat skills, which is why we have special mentions and even special rules for such). However, this thread has given plenty of justifications why routine TDM might be appropriate, as well as why it might not be. In the end, it's ultimately up to the GM what sort of "feel" he wants magic to have in his setting, and whether routine TDM's are available can very much influence this.

Yeah, it definitely seems to be setting specific (as really is everything to do with magic). I don't see any reason why in a common magic setting where people routinely use magic in non-life or death circumstances TDMs wouldn't apply to routine uses of magic. In such a setting you also might want to use an alternate Critical Failure table (possibly even the "Comedy" table on Thaumatology p. 257) for "routine" castings or just assume that most such castings don't require a roll (just as airline pilots don't need to roll for every flight). In settings where magic is significantly more dangerous you probably don't have "Everyday Spells". The Hedge Wizards that the OP is struggling with are probably most appropriate for settings that are closer to the former than the latter.

At any rate, even if positive TDMs apply, it's clear that it doesn't reduce energy costs.

Originally Posted by B236

If your base skill with a spell – modified
only by the -5 for low mana, if
applicable – is 15 or higher, reduce the
cost to cast the spell by 1.