Attack Spell Function

Magic as Attack Function

Purpose: Harm enemies directly

Magic attacks come in two varieties: Targeted attacks that precisely strike specific enemies and Burst attacks that create explosive or widespread effects.

Single Target Attack

• Dice Pool: Attribute + Odd Talent
• Threshold: Target's Defense
• Effect: On success, deal damage = Successes
• Range: Typically Near to Far (varies by spell concept)

Examples:

• Magic Missile (Arcane): Unerring force bolts
• Divine Smite (Faith): Channeled holy strike
• Mind Spike (Psionics): Focused psychic lance

Process:

• Roll Attribute + Odd Talent
• Compare to target's Defense
• If hit: Count successes (5-6s)
• Calculate damage: Attribute + Successes

Example:

• Wizard (Wit 5D + Magic 2D = 7D) targets orc (Defense 4)
• Philosophy: Ruin +2D (using Precision Casting)
• Rolls 7D: 6, 2, 4, 6, 5, 3, 5, 5, 4 = 5 successes
• vs Defense 4 = HIT
• Successes: 5 (three 5s, two 6)
• Damage: 5 (Wit) + 5 (successes) = 10 damage

Targeted Area Attack

Purpose: Strike multiple specific enemies with precision

• Dice Pool: Attribute + Odd Talent
• Threshold: Number of Targets
• Effect: Roll once, compare to each target's Defense individually
• Range: All targets within Near range of primary target
• Damage: Same for all targets hit

This represents effects like chain lightning, multiple magic missiles, or a sweeping blade of force that strikes each target individually.

Process:

1. Declare primary and additional targets (all within Near range)
2. Calculate Threshold: Number of Targets
3. Roll Attribute + Odd Talent (+ Focus)
4. If roll meets Threshold: Compare roll total to each target's Defense
5. Each target whose Defense is beaten takes full damage
6. Calculate damage: Attribute + Successes

Example - Targeted Area:

• Wizard (7D pool, Wit 5D) targets 3 goblins with Chain Lightning
• Threshold: 3
• Rolls 7D vs Threshold 3: 5,1,5,2,6,5,3
• Successes: 4

Applying Damage: Compare 4 to each goblin's Defense

• Goblin A (Defense 2): 4 > 2, HIT, takes 5 + 4 = 9 damage
• Goblin B (Defense 3): 4 > 3, HIT, takes 9 damage
• Goblin C (Defense 5): 4 < 5, MISS, no damage

Why Use Targeted Area:

• Effective against low-Defense swarms
• Defeated enemies don't "waste" the spell
• Can selectively target enemies in mixed groups
• Precision matters (high Defense enemies harder to hit)

Burst Area Attack

• Purpose: Create explosions, blasts, or widespread effects
• Dice Pool: Attribute + Odd Talent
• Threshold: 3 (regardless of number of targets)
• Effect: All creatures, friend or foe, in area roll Speed Save (2 + Power Casting Focus) for half damage
• Range: All targets within Near range of detonation point

This represents effects like fireball, thunderwave, cone of frost, or shockwave—widespread magical effects that are difficult to completely avoid.

Process:

1. Declare detonation point or area of effect
2. Roll Wit + Odd Talent vs Threshold 2
3. If successful: Count successes (5-6s)
4. Calculate base damage: Attribute + Successes
5. All creatures in area roll Speed Save vs Caster's Attribute (Wit) value
6. Save Success: Half damage (round down)
7. Save Failure: Full damage

Example - Burst Area:

• Wizard (Wit 5D + Magic 2D = 7D) casts Fireball at group of Rogues
• Rolls 7D vs Threshold 2: 6, 3, 4, 5, 2, 4, 3
• Successes: 2 (count 5s and 6s)
• Base Damage: 5 (Wit) + 2 (successes) = 7 damage

Targets make their Save: Three rogues in blast radius each roll Speed Save vs Threshold 5 (Caster's Wit)

• Goblin A (Speed 3D + Acrobatics 2D = 5D): rolls 1 success = FAIL, takes 7 damage
• Goblin B (Speed 4D + Acrobatics 2D = 6D): rolls 3 successes = FAIL, takes 7 damage
• Goblin C (Speed 5D + Acrobatics 2D = 7D): rolls 5 successes = SUCCEESS, only takes 3 damage by dodging for cover

Why Use Burst Area:

• Easier to cast successfully (no multi-target penalty)
• Guaranteed to affect entire area (no Defense comparison)
• Agile enemies can reduce damage (rewards Speed investment)
• Creates dramatic "everyone roll saves!" moments
• Better against mixed Defense values (affects all equally)

Choosing Between Targeted and Burst

Use Targeted Area when:

• You want to avoid hitting allies in the area
• Enemies have very low Defense (easier to overcome)
• You need precision (only hit specific targets)
• You want defeated enemies to not "waste" your damage

Use Burst Area when:

• You want reliability (easier to cast successfully)
• Enemies have high Defense but low Speed
• You want to affect everyone in an area
• The spell concept is inherently explosive/widespread

Example Spell Comparisons:

Damage Type: Usually energy (fire, lightning, force, psychic, radiant, necrotic)

Range Clarification:

• Single Target: Typically, Near to Far range
• Targeted Area: Primary target at Near/Far, additional targets must be within Near range of primary
• Burst Area: Choose detonation point at Near/Far range, effect radiates Near range from that point