The Dresden Files > DFRPG
Evocation: Control is better than Power
Sir lerks-a-lot:
Here's another consideration: what if the giant troll needs to go down NOW before he hurts the kid.
With a higher conviction you're going to be able to put more power into your spell, and you can absorb the excess over your discipline with psychical stress and consequences, leaving mental stress and consequences to boost the spell even more. With a lucky roll and the use of fate points, you can control the spell.
The discipline guy is gonna be close in power to the conviction guy, but he is gonna be a little lower. He'll be able to keep it up longer, and be more accurate in the long run, but you only have 1 action to stop the monster. He can use his fate points to boost the power, but then he has a harder time controlling that power, since you can't use the same aspect twice on the same action and you only have a limited supply of FPs.
Another bonus to high power low accuracy hit as opposed to multiple low power hits, is that when you do hit, the defense of the target only reduces the power once.
GoldenH:
I notice you put Evocation in the topic. What about for Thaumaturgy? Seems like you'd want Conviction there.
I rather like conviction in the system, since there is so much that you need a good base power for, it's not all about doing damage.
luminos:
--- Quote from: Sir lerks-a-lot on April 20, 2010, 05:06:59 PM ---Here's another consideration: what if the giant troll needs to go down NOW before he hurts the kid.
With a higher conviction you're going to be able to put more power into your spell, and you can absorb the excess over your discipline with psychical stress and consequences, leaving mental stress and consequences to boost the spell even more. With a lucky roll and the use of fate points, you can control the spell.
The discipline guy is gonna be close in power to the conviction guy, but he is gonna be a little lower. He'll be able to keep it up longer, and be more accurate in the long run, but you only have 1 action to stop the monster. He can use his fate points to boost the power, but then he has a harder time controlling that power, since you can't use the same aspect twice on the same action and you only have a limited supply of FPs.
Another bonus to high power low accuracy hit as opposed to multiple low power hits, is that when you do hit, the defense of the target only reduces the power once.
--- End quote ---
If you want to hit someone as hard as you can with a spell, a weapon: 3 spell with a 7 on the discipline roll (using a fate point for control) will do the same damage as a weapon: 5 spell with a 5 on the discipline roll (using a fate point for control), so your example doesn't give a good reason for favoring conviction over discipline.
Deadmanwalking:
--- Quote from: GoldenH on April 20, 2010, 06:39:10 PM ---I notice you put Evocation in the topic. What about for Thaumaturgy? Seems like you'd want Conviction there.
I rather like conviction in the system, since there is so much that you need a good base power for, it's not all about doing damage.
--- End quote ---
Eh. For Thaumaturgy you usually have enough time to channel the necessary power even with low Conviction, though you notably can't get Thaumaturgy Specialties in Power, and in a rushed situation (such as using Thaumarurgy in combat) high Conviction is indeed a must.
--- Quote from: luminos on April 20, 2010, 07:51:11 PM ---If you want to hit someone as hard as you can with a spell, a weapon: 3 spell with a 7 on the discipline roll (using a fate point for control) will do the same damage as a weapon: 5 spell with a 5 on the discipline roll (using a fate point for control), so your example doesn't give a good reason for favoring conviction over discipline.
--- End quote ---
This is precisely right. As I said before: Control is avtually somewhat better than Power on attacks. However, Conviction is the slightly better skill otherwise, and on non-attack evocations, Control in excess of your Power is useless.
Victim:
--- Quote from: Deadmanwalking on April 20, 2010, 07:05:54 AM ---Additionally, Control in excess of your Power is worthless on all non-Attack spells, since they require Power for every shift of effect (a 6 shift block requires 6 power...no matter what you roll on Discipline).
--- End quote ---
Yes. Excellent point.
Fortunately, the game offers a way to vary your power vs control settings differently for attacks versus defenses: Focus items. A caster can still favor control on attack spells by taking a Blasting Rod (or equivalent) loaded with control bonuses (instead of power or an even split), and then bolster his shield with a defensive power focus item. So you can get the benefits of both approaches.
--- Quote ---But, this discussion is one of the reasons my Warden Pup character, who is an evocator, keeps his Discipline and Conviction even at +5. Best of both worlds.
--- End quote ---
Yeah, that does get you the most juice in your spells. But it's also 2 top level skills, which is big chunk of your resources - not all evokers will put that much into it, but they still might want the most bang for the buck. And you can still shift adjust your tradeoff via specializations and focus items even if both skills are at cap.
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