Topic: Spellcasting 101

[RandalThor]

OK, so it has been awhile since I ran or played RM (FRP/SS) and I want to make sure that I have the spellcasting rules down, as they are a very important part of play.

When casting a spell do they:

A) Roll as spellcasting static maneuver, then roll either a BAR or EAR? or,

B) Roll either a spellcasting static maneuver or a BAR or EAR?

[yammahoper]

A SCSM is only needed under certain circumstance.  Assuming success, then an EAR or BAR follow.

If no SCSM is required, just roll the EAR or BAR.

lynn

[RandalThor]

What are these "certain circumstances" you speak of? Like, being injured or casting a spell that is your level or higher?

[dutch206]

I want to know what the "101 spell" is.  Is that Binary? 

[Joshua24601]

101 binary spell is the 5th level spell!!

[Fatman]

I want to know what the "101 spell" is.  Is that Binary? 

Only 10 people understand binary, those who do, and those who don't.

[Ecthelion]

What are these "certain circumstances" you speak of? Like, being injured or casting a spell that is your level or higher?

Casting a spell of higher level than the caster's, not having prepared the spell for the number of rounds required, wearing armor not allowed for the given realm etc., i.e. not fulfilling the requirements for automatic spell casting that are given in the rules for Spell Casting.

[Joshua24601]

I want to know what the "101 spell" is.  Is that Binary? 

Only 10 people understand binary, those who do, and those who don't.

Awesome!!! Laugh point for you!

[RandalThor]

not having prepared the spell for the number of rounds required,

Where does it give the number of rounds needed to cast a spell.

[Arioch]

You can look at pages 46-47 of the RMFRP core manual, chapter 14.0 "Casting Spells", in the box called "Conditions required for automatic spell casting" is explained what you need to cast a spell without doing a SCSM.Table T-4.6 (Spell Casting Modifications Table) shows you what are the modifications to the SCSM if you prepare a spell for a given number of rounds.
As you can see from the table there is not a fixed number of rounds required to cast a spell:modifiers to the casting manuever depend on the caster level and on the level of the spell he wants to cast.

[mocking bird]

A SCSM is only needed under certain circumstance.  Assuming success, then an EAR or BAR follow.

If no SCSM is required, just roll the EAR or BAR.

lynn

Spell casting still requires two rolls.  Even if you are automatically casting you still have to roll so that you don't fumble, i.e. spell casting without the math.  After that you roll the BAR/EAR.  On which you can also get a fumble result but I digress....

The copy with the SCSM chart lists the autocasting requirements.

[vroomfogle]

Do the RMSS rules really state that two rolls are required in that case MB?   

I recall looking it up once but don't remember what it said, I've always played with a single roll...but two different results.  So you roll, add in your bonus to see if the spell cast successfully, then you use the raw roll (with any applicable bonuses) for the BAR.     There's a problem with having two rolls as it greatly increases your chance of a failure which I don't think is very fair.

[mocking bird]

Yes - pretty sure it states two rolls.  It does differentiate between an SCSM and auto-casting however.  We went round aroun about this a while ago as the description in the book is pretty vagure and we had to do a lot of interpreting via the charts.

Do you still use the same roll for directed spells?  While I agree it isn't fairl as you increase the chances of failure, as you can on the BAR & attack tables, aren't you also biasind it towards success as if you sucessfully cast a spell doesn't that imply a high roll translating to higher BAR results?

[vroomfogle]

Yes, we would use the same roll for directed spells as well.

I suppose it does bias it in those cases where you are at a minus on the SCSM roll.    As the penalty gets higher on that roll then so does your BAR.   Actually it's not really biasing it because you still have the same chance of success, it's just that if you do succeed it means the RR mod/attack roll/etc  will also be high.     That doesn't seem like such a terrible thing though.

[Salem]

Hi All,

I'm new to Rolemaster (but not to gaming) and I have a few questions regarding spell casting.

1. When determining if a spell requires a static spell casting maneuver, if any of the listed penalties apply, then a roll is required, even if the total modifiers are positive, correct?

2. When a spell caster uses a direct attack spell, I understand all the modifiers and usage of the combat table for the spell, but I'm a bit muddled over the use of the direct attack skill.  According to the skill explanation, "A character wishing to develop skill with such a spell must be able to cast it without the need of a spell casting static maneuver at least once a day, either intrinsically or from an item or runes." So how exactly does this apply?  Does this mean that a level 1 magician cannot cast the shock bolt spell?  It is level 2 (on the light law list) and he is level 1 (suggesting a penalty).

I'm still reading the rules but there is a lot to got through.  Any light that can be shed on my questions would help a lot!

[Marc R]

I suspect you're playing RMSS or RMFRP from the details? (Version can affect answers)

[Salem]

RMFRP.

[mocking bird]

1. When determining if a spell requires a static spell casting maneuver, if any of the listed penalties apply, then a roll is required, even if the total modifiers are positive, correct?

Yes even if your bonuses counter any penalties.  Similarly we still require a SCSM roll if the transcend armor skill negates any armor penalties - which we also apply to equipment worn penalties which is more of a house rule.

2. When a spell caster uses a direct attack spell, I understand all the modifiers and usage of the combat table for the spell, but I'm a bit muddled over the use of the direct attack skill.  According to the skill explanation, "A character wishing to develop skill with such a spell must be able to cast it without the need of a spell casting static maneuver at least once a day, either intrinsically or from an item or runes." So how exactly does this apply?  Does this mean that a level 1 magician cannot cast the shock bolt spell?  It is level 2 (on the light law list) and he is level 1 (suggesting a penalty).

We read it as a round about way of being same level as the spell as if you prep for two rounds there are no SCSM penalties.  So yes you can't take directed spell for a spell you can't cast yet.

For a follow up answer you can develop it if you had an item that cast a spell but GM's vary as to how you do this and how you many charges you may go through.

[mocking bird]

Mod hat on
Merged with Salem's spell casting question thread as they are about the same things.
Mod hat off

[Salem]

Ok, so reading the above thread has been very helpful.  My understanding of the situation is:

If you can cast the spell automatically, you only need to roll on the Bolt attack table (or whatever attack table is relevant to the spell being used).  If you can't cast the spell automatically, you are required to make a "Spell Casting Static Maneuver" roll first, then (if successful) you roll the result on the Bolt attack table.

Say you can cast the spell automatically, but choose to cast it in a way that would require a SCSM roll... you can still do that, yes?

Using the level 1 Magician trying to cast the Shock Bolt spell from the Light Law base list (level 2 spell), if he only prepared the spell for 1 round, he would have to make a SCSM roll at -60 (and probably have the spell blow up in his face) and be successful before being allowed to actually make an attack roll.