I'm having some trouble figuring out how elemental attack spells work. Could someone "check my math" and make sure I'm doing it right? As an example, I have a 2nd-level mage who's firing a scaled-up Elemental Bolt: Air (increase attack size by 1) at a kobold. Her total spell bonus is 62 and the kobold's DB is 60. So, following the steps on p. 83 (combat overview), we have this:
1. Mage makes an attack roll of 53. Subtract the casting penalty for scaling up the spell (an additional 2PP = -10). 53-10=43.
2. 43 is not a fumble, so the spell was successfully cast.*
3. Add the mage's OB to the
original roll (53+62=115).
4. Subtract the kobold's DB (115-60=55).
5. Modify the total attack roll by the size modifier (a small critical); 55-10=45.
6. Look up 45 on the on the proper critical table. For an electricity critical, the outcome would be "Jolt to the heart. Foe takes 16 hits and is stunned 2 rounds."
Is this right?
What I find so confusing is the statement that "The caster's roll to successfully cast the spell and his attack roll are one and the same" (p. 107). It's true you use the same
number twice (53 in this example), but there are two different "rolls" that need to be calculated. If I'm understanding it correctly, the casting penalty is applied only to the first roll (to successfully cast the spell), but not to the attack roll.
* What
is the fumble range for an elemental attack spell? Unlike for weapons, there aren't any fumble ranges listed in the elemental critical tables. The footnote in the maneuver table on p. 66 says that 01-05 is the fumble range "for everything except weapon use." So is the fumble range for elemental attack spells 01-05 as well? (And if so, why is 01-10 listed in the main part of the table?)
Thanks for your help!