From:	"Bruce H. Nagel" <NAGELBH@******.ACS.MUOHIO.EDU>
Subject:	Re: Centering vs Penalties (was Re: [SR3] Spell Rituals)
Date:	Sun, 13 Jul 1997 01:11:24 -0500

You wrote:
> This is the case for grounding a spell from the astral plane, yes. However,
> it is not the case for casting an area of effect spell at targets on the
> plane that the caster is currently in.
Yes. :)

> I'm a little confused by this. If an area of effect spell is being cast at
> a group of people, then it affects each on individualy. The affect (or lack
> thereof) of the spell on one person does not change the affect of the spell
> on another. As for the requirement to see all the targets of a spell, it
> has to do with the "synchonising araus" thing - you can't affect a target
> that you cannot synchronise with (exception: DM spells).
An area effect spell is indeed cast on an area, all valid targets in that area
that the caster can see. The center merely tells where the sphere is centered,
that's all.

> Although the caster does need to see the targets of a spell to affect them,
> you bring up a good point. Since the spell caster does a quick switch to
> astral perception to synchronise auras with the target of the spell, it
> would seem logical that many of the situation modifiers (lighting in
> particular) would be irrelevent. Modifiers due to smoke, mist, or rain
> would still apply, as these distort and block vision on the astral plane the
> same as they do on the physical, however. The only real reason I can think
> of right now for still including the vision lightin modifiers in spell
> casting is that the quick action of astral perception that the spell caster
> undertakes to synchronise auras is only quick enough to synchronise auras,
> not significant enough to allow readjustment of targetting. If the
> targetting is poor, perhaps due to being unable to see that target clearly,
> then the synchronisation will also be poor.
And the fact that you must see the target *with*mundane*senses* on the physical
plane, if the target is not astral, in order to cast a spell at them. Period.
Seeing them by assensing, even though there's always light to see by in Astral,
doesn't count. Your physical eyes must see the target to form the momentary
bridge from astral to physical (completing the circuit, as it were).

> As for the requirement to "centre" spells on a target, I always used to run
> it that spells other than DMs had such a requirement. However, upon
> looking, I cannot find where I obtained this ruling from (perhaps 1st Ed?).
A tiny example on Quickening spells in Grim1 (that I think carried over to
Grim2) which mentions Rikki Ratboy Quickening a spell on a bar patron to
Quicken it to the site; a Stink spell, it was). This may be in the example not
because of something about area spells but rather a requirement for Quickening.

> Also, I cannot really see any reason that a comabt spell requires that the
> centre of its affect be a specific target of the spell. After all, its is
> just pumping energy into the auras of all targets within its area of affect
> - why should it need one at the centre?
*nod*

losthalo