Paradigm Concepts :: View topic - Ritualistic Casting

Arcanum is a catchall term for the art of manipulating magic. Like the Knowledge and Artisan skills, Arcanum is actually a collection of 5 Arcanum Traditions; each is a different skill with its own Primary Attribute. When you gain this skill, you must pick one of these Traditions. If you wish to learn another Arcanum Tradition, you must learn each one as an individual skill.

Specializations are restricted to specific races. Cants (Theurgy), Sorcery (Eldritch), and Shamanism (Primal) are available to most races, while Meditation (Psionics) is limited to val Heroes and Thaumaturgy (Elder) is limited to elorii Heroes.

You can share a Tradition (the knowledge) without sharing a Source (ability to cast spells) to learn . Access to a Source is severely restricted, due to jealousy amongst the gods.

Requiring the ability to also cast spells of that Source prevents Martials and (non-casting) Experts from having a reason to broaden their skills.
Attacking a heavily armoured foe with a dagger is a good time to instead provide assists (melee or Ritual Casting).

The way the word "Tradition" is used in the Arcanum skill description is quite clearly not the same meaning of the word Tradition in the other magic rules of the book, but the skill description uses the word "Tradition" to convey what other parts of the rules mean by "Source." Compare ARPG pages 141 with 322-42.

It is not clear based on the wording of the skill use whether it intends to allow those without the ability to cast spells to be able to assist in casting spells. I can see it argued either way, though I personally feel that only spell casters should be able to assist in casting. A definitive answer would be appreciated.

If you take any damage while assisting before the spell is
successfully cast, your attempt to assist automatically fails.

Author:	Southernskies [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 5:51 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Ritualistic Casting
This issue is already covered in the skill description. Quote: Arcanum is a catchall term for the art of manipulating magic. Like the Knowledge and Artisan skills, Arcanum is actually a collection of 5 Arcanum Traditions; each is a different skill with its own Primary Attribute. When you gain this skill, you must pick one of these Traditions. If you wish to learn another Arcanum Tradition, you must learn each one as an individual skill. Specializations are restricted to specific races. Cants (Theurgy), Sorcery (Eldritch), and Shamanism (Primal) are available to most races, while Meditation (Psionics) is limited to val Heroes and Thaumaturgy (Elder) is limited to elorii Heroes. You can share a Tradition (the knowledge) without sharing a Source (ability to cast spells) to learn . Access to a Source is severely restricted, due to jealousy amongst the gods. Requiring the ability to also cast spells of that Source prevents Martials and (non-casting) Experts from having a reason to broaden their skills. Attacking a heavily armoured foe with a dagger is a good time to instead provide assists (melee or Ritual Casting).

Author:	wilcoxon [ Sun Nov 15, 2015 6:40 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Ritualistic Casting
That's what I get for not going back and reading the entries. Given that, I don't think changes are really necessary. What's seems to be required is the correct Arcanum skill (no casting ability required).

Author:	Dante [ Mon Nov 16, 2015 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Ritualistic Casting
Quote: Arcanum is a catchall term for the art of manipulating magic. Like the Knowledge and Artisan skills, Arcanum is actually a collection of 5 Arcanum Traditions; each is a different skill with its own Primary Attribute. When you gain this skill, you must pick one of these Traditions. If you wish to learn another Arcanum Tradition, you must learn each one as an individual skill. Specializations are restricted to specific races. Cants (Theurgy), Sorcery (Eldritch), and Shamanism (Primal) are available to most races, while Meditation (Psionics) is limited to val Heroes and Thaumaturgy (Elder) is limited to elorii Heroes. Southernskies wrote: You can share a Tradition (the knowledge) without sharing a Source (ability to cast spells) to learn . Access to a Source is severely restricted, due to jealousy amongst the gods. Requiring the ability to also cast spells of that Source prevents Martials and (non-casting) Experts from having a reason to broaden their skills. Attacking a heavily armoured foe with a dagger is a good time to instead provide assists (melee or Ritual Casting). The way the word "Tradition" is used in the Arcanum skill description is quite clearly not the same meaning of the word Tradition in the other magic rules of the book, but the skill description uses the word "Tradition" to convey what other parts of the rules mean by "Source." Compare ARPG pages 141 with 322-42. It is not clear based on the wording of the skill use whether it intends to allow those without the ability to cast spells to be able to assist in casting spells. I can see it argued either way, though I personally feel that only spell casters should be able to assist in casting. A definitive answer would be appreciated.

Author:	wilcoxon [ Mon Nov 16, 2015 6:32 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Ritualistic Casting
Dante wrote: The way the word "Tradition" is used in the Arcanum skill description is quite clearly not the same meaning of the word Tradition in the other magic rules of the book, but the skill description uses the word "Tradition" to convey what other parts of the rules mean by "Source." Compare ARPG pages 141 with 322-42. It is not clear based on the wording of the skill use whether it intends to allow those without the ability to cast spells to be able to assist in casting spells. I can see it argued either way, though I personally feel that only spell casters should be able to assist in casting. A definitive answer would be appreciated. I agree that the Arcanum skill entry uses Tradition where the rest of the rulebook uses Source. However, beyond that, I think it is clear what the rules say because the Arcanum skill writeup is consistent within itself - you merely need to have at least 1 rank in the matching Arcanum skill in order to assist in casting (you don't need to be a caster yourself).

Author:	Dante [ Tue Nov 17, 2015 5:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Ritualistic Casting
Below is an alternative interpretation and clarification of the ritualistic casting rule. The one I posted previously is my own preferred interpretation of the rule, but this is how I think some others are suggesting it be interpreted (and made explicit on the vague parts to dot i's and cross t's). Ritualistic Casting Assist, Special: Characters who share understanding of an Arcanum Source may assist each other on Arcanum Skill Actions in a ritualistic form of spell casting. The +2 bonus from assistance applies to any Skill Roll to successfully cast the spell as well as any Skill Roll to resolve the spell's effects. Sustained spells receive the bonus only for the initial effects unless the assistant continues to assist, in which case the assistance bonus applies as long as the assistance persists at a sustenance tick. The assisting character must have at least one rank in the same Arcanum sub-skill that the primary caster is using to invoke the spell. The assisting character does not need to have any spell casting ability himself. This ritualistic skill assistance is similar to assisting on any other skill roll (see Cooperation, p.136) but may also be used in combat. When used in combat, the assistant(s) must start their assist action at the same tick or 1 tick before the primary spell caster begins casting the spell. The character who is providing the assist must perform a Demanding (7 ticks) Skill Action to assist. If the assistant takes any damage while assisting before the spell has been successfully cast, the attempt to assist automatically fails. [Wearing my GM hat and trying to thwart players who want to misread rules. It's a wordy description, but I've read too many discussion boards wherein RPG players disagree about rule intentions when things aren't explicit.]

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Author:	wilcoxon [ Tue Nov 17, 2015 7:02 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Ritualistic Casting
I'm not sure if I personally prefer the assistant to have spell casting of the source or not. However, I think the rules say you don't need to have spell casting. One thing I'm curious on is where did the auto-fail if you take damage come from? I don't remember seeing it under ritualistic casting or elsewhere. I would have expected it to work the same as casting an interruptible spell (you have to make a roll to continue the action).

Author:	Southernskies [ Tue Nov 17, 2015 9:20 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Ritualistic Casting
This is specific to Arcanum: Ritualistic Casting, pg.141 Quote: If you take any damage while assisting before the spell is successfully cast, your attempt to assist automatically fails. You don't get to make the Mettle roll that any other Interruptible action can try. (pg.303)

Author:	wilcoxon [ Tue Nov 17, 2015 10:48 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Ritualistic Casting
Ah. Yep. I missed the last line. Odd that only ritualistic casting of all the interruptable actions does not get a roll to continue.

Author:	Dante [ Wed Dec 02, 2015 1:26 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Ritualistic Casting
On further thought, if the assistant needs only ranks and does not need to be able to cast spells, then it can violate the spirit of Henry's firm rule of no mixing of divine and arcane magic in a single character. In Arcanis, it's an inviolate rule that no person can cast both cants and arcane (primal, elder, or eldritch) magic spells. Assisting in a ritual is not casting a spell per se, but it feels like it goes against the spirit of the rule. With the second rule proposal and interpretation of the ARPG rule that only skill training is required, a divine caster could assist with casting an eldritch spell or vice versa. On the other hand, if it is required that the assistant has the ability to cast spells himself, there is no issue with helping someone cast a different type of spell.

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