The Dresden Files > DFRPG
At Evocation speeds and methods
KOFFEYKID:
--- Quote from: Victim on April 27, 2010, 05:41:12 PM ---It's not really Evocation methods if you're dodging the mental stress that's part of the evocation method. It would just be at evocation speed.
Yeah, they don't have to be unbeatable. They just have to be lots better than a normal block. Since they don't spend shifts for duration - pretty essential IMO if you want to do anything besides maintain the shield - a 5 power Ward is more equivalent to 7 power block that gets 2 extra exchanges. Plus it comes with the reflecting bonus. And it shouldn't take stress to do it?
--- End quote ---
If you look on the sidebar that explains what exactly "with evocations methods and speed" you'll see exactly what methods are applied to a thaumaturgy spell. The Mental Stress issue isn't even mentioned in the text there. So it stands to reason that part is not different from when you cast a thaumaturgy spell normally.
Deadmanwalking:
--- Quote from: Victim on April 27, 2010, 05:41:12 PM ---It's not really Evocation methods if you're dodging the mental stress that's part of the evocation method. It would just be at evocation speed.
--- End quote ---
Hmm. Possibly true. Maybe we need to get an official word on this part.
--- Quote from: Victim on April 27, 2010, 05:41:12 PM ---Yeah, they don't have to be unbeatable. They just have to be lots better than a normal block. Since they don't spend shifts for duration - pretty essential IMO if you want to do anything besides maintain the shield - a 5 power Ward is more equivalent to 7 power block that gets 2 extra exchanges. Plus it comes with the reflecting bonus. And it shouldn't take stress to do it?
--- End quote ---
It's not as unbalancing as you're suggesting. To even do a 5 shift Ward you need Superb Conviction, and an effective Superb Lore for Warding. You also need an effective Superb Discipline to do it at all reliably, and can't make it a Rote, but items can grant the second two, I suppose. And you need Sponsored Magic of a type that doesn't even exist (none give Warding except, maybe, Soulfire).
Those requirements are probably more stringent than getting 7 shift blocks (Superb in Conviction, Great in Discipline, Evocation and Refinement in a chosen element, 2 item slots), and a 7 shift block is alot more flexible in what it does. It's a bit more expensive, sure, but not to an unwieldy degree. For example, you should bear in mind that Wards are stationary, and cast on a location, not a person, and that restricts them significantly.
It's powerful, sure, but it's not like Sponsored Magic doesn't already grant you the ability to not pay the Mental stress under some circumstances.
KOFFEYKID:
Also Its not like you can attack through your own wards. Im pretty sure you aren't allowed to do that unless you are willing to pay extra shifts to allow maybe bullets to pass through or certain types of magic. For the most part you are going to be stationary while the ward is up, its merely a way to get some breathing room IF you have all of the above as deadmawalking mentioned.
luminos:
--- Quote from: Deadmanwalking on April 27, 2010, 06:08:36 PM ---It's powerful, sure, but it's not like Sponsored Magic doesn't already grant you the ability to not pay the Mental stress under some circumstances.
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Which circumstances are these?
Victim:
--- Quote from: KOFFEYKID on April 27, 2010, 06:03:13 PM ---If you look on the sidebar that explains what exactly "with evocations methods and speed" you'll see exactly what methods are applied to a thaumaturgy spell. The Mental Stress issue isn't even mentioned in the text there. So it stands to reason that part is not different from when you cast a thaumaturgy spell normally.
--- End quote ---
It might be redundant with "The spell is cast like an evocation:" Taking stress is part of the gathering power step of evocation, which is referenced in the sidebar, as opposed to being its own step.
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Nothing explicitly references wards. However, if you can evoke a shield made of summer fire, why not a longer ward? Or create lasting plant growth (with super thorns) to do it? The domains of sponsored magic are more thematic than strictly mechanical categories.
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