[Rq-rules] re: Potency of Disruption Spell

[Nikk Effingham]

I'm surprised to think you believe Disrupt is overpowered. Generally you can
knock off two a round (IIRC 3rd ed rules correctly) for which you cannot move
at more than 50cm per SR and any damage causes a concentration roll. All for a
measly 1d3 points of damage. At low levels you're not amazingly likely to
overcome the target's magic points, even if you started with POW 15, then you
might be able to get off a few castings before reducing your magic points to a
level where overcoming becomes chancy. And if you have a lower POW then not
only does that limit your castings and make overcoming harder, but your very
chance to even get the spell off now stands in question! At low levels I'd be
surprised if you could knock off five or six before it became more or less
futile. If you overcame half the time that'd mean 1d3 damage to three different
loctions, so you're averaging five points of damage (ish) in about three
rounds. Compare this to a competent bowman who is launching arrows at that
rate, if he fires six arrows at 65% chance to hit then about three will hit,
and there's a fair chance one will impale. Maybe if your foe is well armoured
disrupt becomes useful, but that just means it has _a use_, not that it's
overpowered!

At higher levels you may be able to cast more, but overcoming becomes harder and
everyone is wading around with countermagic etc. Disrupt becomes either
redundant or effective only in barrages where you and all your bound spirits
are casting them at someone. But to be honest you're better off getting your
bow skill to 90, wracking up Coordination spells so you're firing three arrows
a round and having your allied spirit cast FIrearrow so you can pepper people
with a barrage of fiery death.

Of course, it does have one use. A POW tick. In that respect, at least, it's
overpowered. Now, Befuddle _there's_ a spell that needs some work.

Nikk Effingham