Counter Spell

[Ndreare]

So some guy on the old boards came up with this cool maneuver. I am thinking of allowing it in my games. What do you guys think?


http://archive.pegforum.com/viewtopic.p ... 43#p354243

Counterspell:

A character with a AB (Magic or Miracles) can choose to take a Counterspell action, rolling their arcane skill. The caster can then choose to apply the result of that roll as the base TN for any other casting attempt within 2x Smarts inches until the beginning of their next action.

The caster must make this decision before the spell is activated, and then must spend an equivalent number of power points as the spell being used. If the caster does not have enough power points, the Counterspell does not work and they lose their remaining point.

Counterspell counts as a normal use of the arcane skill, which means it cannot be combined with another use of that skill, such as casting a spell of their own.


Then I'd like have a couple of Edges to affect it. Perhaps one that lets the caster cast and counterspell at the normal MAP, and another to remove the penalty for combining the two.

Also this version allows any magic to counter any magic. If you wanted to add a "the caster must have a power with a trapping that could counter the opposing spell," maybe add a +2 to the roll to cover the fact it might not work at all.

Or perhaps keep it so any spell can counter any other, but if the trappings would oppose each other, the spell being activated suffers a -2 to the roll.

[Maximilian]

The Dispel power acts as a counterspell, if I recall correctly. Essentially, this allows an additional power for free. I like the concept in theory, but it also takes some of the utility out of the Dispel power.

[Ndreare]

Dispel works very differently. While related in domain, they are mechanically very, very distinct in function.

This could not affect a per in progress, costs a the same as the spell blocked. Requires stating the maneuver ahead of time, potentially waiting your action.

[Freemage]

This strikes me as worthy of an Edge, rather than just a generally available maneuver. Also, it's unclear--once I declare that I am in Counterspell mode:

1: Can I counterspell any and all spells cast until my next action? Just one, and then the Counterspell is used?

2: Can I choose to 'pass' on a spell that's being cast, either because the answer to the prior question was 'just once', or because I'm trying to conserve Power Points?

3: If I can 'pass', do I get told what Power is being cast before I decide? Or am I responding to a build-up of arcane energy, and must act blind if I want a go at blocking it?

4: Are the dice for the Counterspell TN rolled secretly? If they're on the table (or posted publicly), then that means everyone knows what the new Difficulty is for an enemy spellcaster--which makes this action far more likely to be wasted, since even if I mainly want to cast a spell, I at least have the option of trying to move out of range fo the counterspell zone first. OTOH, secret rolling is pretty tough on this site.

5: Can I counter a spell cast outside the area of effect, if the target of the spell is at least partially within the area of effect?

There's a lot here what needs hammerin' out, is what i'm saying.

Also, I'm still of the mind that differing energy types should be harder to counter. If this were an Edge, then the Improved version might allow universal counterspelling without penalty.

[Venatus Vinco]

Is there a way to build a counter spell edge that functions the same/similar to the Counterattack edge?

VV

[Pender Lumkiss]

Have a villian use it in a play test. Let us know how it goes. I would be interested in seeing it in action.

[High Command]

Is there a way to build a counter spell edge that functions the same/similar to the Counterattack edge?

VV

We kinda already did that for the Psi-Nullifier. I linked to it in the Google+ conversation about this as well.

[Ndreare]

I would not want anything as powerful as that. But I understand Soren's point that it needs more definition