Does Magic Spell get TDM?

[MC Baribandi]

(TDM means Task Difficulty Modifier)

For example, "In nonadventuring situations when you have lots of time to prepare and face minimal risk, the GM may give you +4 or more to skill." in B171.

I couldn't find any sentences whether Magic Spell does recieve this modifier or not... Is it applied as an 'basic-set-referred of-course thing', or Magic Skill DOESN'T get this modifier?

I think that Magic Skill should be applied this modifier too, because in GURPS Fantasy there is Hedge Wizard template who has magic spell in skill level 12 and works as a Magic-Caster in everyday situation. In GURPS System, 12-skill-levelled worker gets a '+4 skill bonus for mundane tasks' and roll a 3d in the roll number 16 in everyday situation.

[David Johnston2]

No. That would screw up ceremonial magic no end.

[kirbwarrior]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

No. That would screw up ceremonial magic no end.

Well, in that situation, it seems assumed you already have to be in that state. But for your stay-at-home cleric/hedgemage, casting heal on one person a day could get that nice +4.

[MC Baribandi]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

No. That would screw up ceremonial magic no end.

What about this? In Cating of the spell the Hedge Wizard gets +4 modifier, but the Power of his magic spell gets no modifier...

[Gold & Appel Inc]

I'd say that it ultimately depends on how routine magic is in the setting, but it sort of stretches the imagination a bit to picture a scenario in which you have a chance of being devoured by an accidentally-summoned demon as being "minimal risk." Professionals can get away with rolling 12- when they are literally the only guy in the village with Magery 0+. If it doesn't work, they'll just have to get the same guy to try again. Don't like it, ride to town and pay more.

[kirbwarrior]

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

...you have a chance of being devoured by an accidentally-summoned demon as being "minimal risk."

Kinda forgot about that. Many times mages in my campaigns won't cast a spell because of the 0.5% chance of crit failure.

[MC Baribandi]

Originally Posted by kirbwarrior

Kinda forgot about that. Many times mages in my campaigns won't cast a spell because of the 0.5% chance of crit failure.

Isn't Devil Summoning the odds of (0.5*0.5)%?

[SuedodeuS]

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

I'd say that it ultimately depends on how routine magic is in the setting, but it sort of stretches the imagination a bit to picture a scenario in which you have a chance of being devoured by an accidentally-summoned demon as being "minimal risk." Professionals can get away with rolling 12- when they are literally the only guy in the village with Magery 0+. If it doesn't work, they'll just have to get the same guy to try again. Don't like it, ride to town and pay more.

Airplane pilots get a TDM despite the chance of a fiery crash killing all aboard. Automobile drivers get a TDM despite the chance of horrible mutilation and burning alive. Zookeepers get a TDM despite the chance of falling in the alligator habitat during feeding time. Thus, casters should get a TDM despite the chance of summoning a demon and being devoured.

This assumes, of course, that there isn't something special about magic that makes it not otherwise qualify for a TDM. If each casting is slightly different, due to needing to manipulate the ley lines of power a bit differently depending on location, lunar cycle, and the time since the subject last sneezed (or was sneezed upon, for an object), then no casting is truly "routine" and thus they never get a TDM.

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by MC Baribandi

I couldn't find any sentences whether Magic Spell does recieve this modifier or not... Is it applied as an 'basic-set-referred of-course thing', or Magic Skill DOESN'T get this modifier?

No. The absence of such a reference related to magic use should be taken as an indication that it doesn't apply. That does not mean that it wouldn't work as a house rule, of course. I would think that negative TDMs should be much more common than beneficial ones, perhaps to the point of not allowing positive mods. JMO

[vitruvian]

Originally Posted by Not another shrubbery

No. The absence of such a reference related to magic use should be taken as an indication that it doesn't apply. That does not mean that it wouldn't work as a house rule, of course. I would think that negative TDMs should be much more common than beneficial ones, perhaps to the point of not allowing positive mods. JMO

That seems backwards. Spells are skills, TDM applies to skill use, so unless there's a statement to the effect that TDM doesn't apply to these particular skills, I'd think the presumption would be that it does.

Now, on the other hand, magic has all kinds of special rules relating to casting time, from reduced time for high skill to going ceremonial, so I certainly wouldn't apply TDMs for more or less time on task, since they would be in conflict with the specific rules for magic. I don't know that other situational modifiers should necessarily be excluded, though.