[Torg] How precise is focusing?

[Kansas Jim]

Dominick Riesland wrote:

> I am fully cognizant of the ability of the gamemaster to adjust these
> as needed for the campaign. I was wondering, though, if anyone can
> show the intent of the magic designers with regard to how specific
> focusing a spell is for purposes of the Principle of Definition. A few
> examples:

Always tricky trying to guess what WEG was thinking when they wrote up
a spell, particularly when some of them didn't pay attention to the
rules....

> 1) A knight with Enchant Armor (alteration/inanimate forces) is struck
> by Lightning (also alteration/inanimate forces). Does the enchantment
> force a check on the Principle of Definition?

My guess at the intent would be no, the Principle of Definition does
not kick in as possible protection against the Lightning spell.
Technically the Lightning is being aimed at the knight who is not
being affected by another Inanimate Forces spell, it's something he's
wearing which is being affected by an IF spell. Unless the Lightning is
targeted specifically at his armor the Principle wouldn't come into
play.

> 2) This time, the magician has the Enchant Armor on her own armor and
> casts Lightning. Lightning has a duration of 40 seconds, during which
> time, the spell is nominally still on the caster. Does the enchantment
> force a check on the Principle of Definition?

I'd say no, the spell effect of Lightning is not being placed upon the
character who casts it but onto the target(s), so active spells on the
caster will not interfere with the Lightning spell.

> 3) A magician attempts to cast the Major Eraser on a character
> carrying a bow with Enchant Bow on it. Does the Major Eraser attack
> the bow?

No. The spell specifically states that it can only be cast on humans
under the effects of an IF spell. Enchant Bow is cast upon the bow,
not the person holding it.

It's odd that the spell would be limited in such a fashion, you'd think
erasing IF effects on objects (like, say, unenchanting an enemy's bow!)
would be a much more commonly desired spell effect than IF effects on
people. Even odder that it's excluded down to just humans.

> 4) Ten daggers with Keen Blade (alteration/metal) on them are placed
> in the same enchanted metal pouch. Does this cause any problems?

It depends on what the enchantment on the metal pouch does, if it
exerts some kind of effect on items placed inside it then the
Principle certainly could come into play.

-- 
Kansas Jim, Torg guru (ksjim (at) sdc (dot) org)
Torg website: http://www.sdc.org/~ksjim/index.html