[Rq-rules] Re: Question about multicast

[Tom Cantine]

Fred, my take on Multicast is that it DOES create a single complex 
spell, rather than simple casting several independent spells at the 
same time. In the case of multicasted versions of the same spell, as 
with sight project, this may not be obvious, but consider other common 
uses of multicast.  For example, combining Form/Set <stone> with 
Animate <stone> essentially allows one to make and control stone golems 
in a way that would be impossible with just Animate or Form/Set alone. 
The interpretation that they remain two distinct spells, each requiring 
concentration, would defeat the purpose of Multispell, or at least 
severely limit it.

Or even more importantly, consider multispelled Phantom <sense> to 
create a lifelike illusion affecting multiple senses. Using Multispell 
ought to include some advantage over simply casting Phantom <sight>, 
then casting Phantom <hearing>, then casting Phantom <touch> and 
juggling the concentration on all three of them. The ultimate effect of 
the multispell is a new complex spell which expands and enhances the 
flexibility of the limited number of basic spells. Without that, it's 
just the ability to make several spells all take effect on the same 
strike rank, which is really no big deal.

I would suggest that to deal with the problem you have with multiple 
Sight Projections, you might consider saying that Multispell only works 
on DIFFERENT spells, not multiple castings of the SAME spell. But even 
then, I'm not convinced that's desirable. Yes, for a novice mage, 
having five Projected sights in different places would be outrageously 
difficult, and would certainly give one a headache at the very least, 
but Multispell is an advanced manipulation that must be studied in some 
detail before it becomes useful, ON TOP of all the study that must go 
into its subject spells. So while a novice mage might be able, with 
difficulty, to put up a couple of extra Project <sight> spells, and 
even maintain them for a while, the magus who has mastered his 
Multispell will have found a better way to accomplish the same effect 
with but one spell.


On 13-Jan-06, at 6:49 PM, Fred Vogel wrote:

>
>
> Replies inline below.  I apologize in advance for the length!
> Fred
> ----------------------------------------
>
>> From: Simon Phipp <soltakss at yahoo.com>
>
>> As to the Multicast question, I always played Multispell as creating 
>> one
>> entirely new spell containing the spells multicast within it.
>
> Yes I agree.  This discussion has made me focus real hard on what 
> multicast really is.  It is a manipulation skill just like intensity, 
> range, and, duration.  I am not completly convinced that when you cast 
> this you are casting one spell.  In the case of active spells you are 
> concentrating on maintaining the spell and not on using it.