View source for Post:The State of Targeted Magic - 03/03/2009 - 00:56

{{Post
|a=DR-WYTHOR
|t=Re: The State of Targeted Magic
|d=3/3/2009 12:56:02 AM
|n=2184
|f=Abilities, Skills and Magic (4) \ Targeted Magic Feedback (36)
|c=m
|p=''>>Are multi-shot {{PRel|magic|spell}}s pulse spells? Are they two different things? Is {{PRel|Chain Lightning|CL}} subject to the pulse-spell problems?''

''>>Pulse spells are TKS, new Shadow Web, Fire Rain, etc. Anything that's instant is a multi-shot spell.''

The 'Pulse Spell System' is a subsystem of magic that is used by spells that either generate effects independent of the {{com|CAST}} verb (such as {{PRel|Dragon's Breath}}, {{PRel|Fire Rain}}, or {{PRel|Crystal Spike}}) or generate multiple identical effects with a single {{tt|CAST}} (such as {{PRel|Frostbite}}, {{PRel|Gar Zeng}}, or Chain Lightning).

The system is used to preserve important values so that each new effect of the spell is treated like a fresh cast and the victim doesn't benefit from the resistance or barriers of others. (Among other things, which I can't reveal.)

Any type of spell (contested, beneficial, or targeted) can use the pulse system, but targeted spells encounter a unique problem: the target time (used to calculate accuracy) isn't preserved. This led to the static penalty workaround that is now causing spells with an instant (and usually multi-shot) effect to become more accurate than spells that don't use the pulse system.

Multi-shot, delayed-effect, and area effect spells all use the pulse system (if they don't, they tend to break the magic system). The only spells that shouldn't use it are single-target, single-effect spells.

Area effect spells can be delayed-effect (Fire Rain) and multi-shot (Chain Lightning). Multi-shot spells can be delayed-effect ({{PRel|Harm Horde}}). They are all considered 'pulse' spells.

Delayed-effect spells that are neither area effect nor multi-shot, because of the delay between effects, will not require additional target time.

Area effect spells, because they have the potential to affect multiple targets, will require additional target time.

Multi-shot spells, because they create multiple strikes, will require additional target time.

- GM [[Wythor]]
}}