From:	Mark Steedman <M.J.Steedman@***.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject:	Re: Spellcasting
Date:	Wed, 21 May 1997 13:34:10 GMT

Chris Maxfield writes
>
> Very dangerous - for both the targets and the magician. If your spell is of
> a high enough force to make the target number penalty statistically
> worthwhile, then stacking two or even three spells can be a great
> one-shot-and-run offensive action.
Yes, or shoot and collapse :)

> Throw all your magic pool and all your
> centering into the spell casting, achieve devastating results then trust
> your chummers to get you away to recover after the drain hits. Works well
> in physical reality as well as through foci from the astral plane. My mage,
> occasionally, double-layers Force 8 manabolts against physical targets and,
> once, he triple-layered Force 8 powerballs through a spell lock. He woke up
> in hospital but the targets in the meeting room were in a much worse
> condition.
>
Ouch!!! that would be 3 9S physical drains. I see your use from
astral attack if they don't have shielding or any trolls they are
fried! never mind your +4 TN.

On the physical plane i tend to think you are better off designing a
custom damaging manipulation spell and learning it at VERY high
force. The fixed TN of 4 makes staging up the damage much easier :)
and i don't care if you have impact armour off this 11S area effect
with 12 success at half armour HURTS! and with fetishes can be done
for reasonalbe drain, even straight that would be 8D, not friendly
but an M drain is reasonably possible with karma. (area + elemental +
physial on S = ((f/2)+3)D, f), really go for it and well :)

I tend in practice to use split targetting myself more than stacking
because if you use a base D damage spell you only need that one
success to flatten them and it has decidely less detrimental effects
on the drain code :), but then i like research spells.
You want to do what, ok better design a spells for that then......
Note that you are stongly advised to go read all the kit books first
and see if there is a technical solution, often works better and
never causes drain :)

Mark