Are attack Rotes worth it?

[Deadmanwalking]

Can't argue with better attack numbers; but you only get that if you accept the same disarming drawback as the item. To eliminate the disarming problem you have to accept the same attack numbers as the item. But the item also has the advantage of at least 1 stress free use.

There are trade-offs to each approach; it comes down to personal preference.

Exactly!   

That's precisely my point. Items can, in the hands of a specialist, be equal to Evocation...but not flat-out better, which is what you said worried you. They're a more-or-less equal and separate option...exactly as they should be.

[Biff Dyskolos]

That's precisely my point. Items can, in the hands of a specialist, be equal to Evocation...

I wasn't trying to make that strong a statement. I think Items may be superior to rotes for Weapon:X effects.

[Deadmanwalking]

I wasn't trying to make that strong a statement. I think Items may be superior to rotes for Weapon:X effects.

Okay, I'm missing something. Everything I've said about Evocation applies to Rotes...didn't you just say there are tradeoffs to each and it comes down to personal preference?

[Victim]

One thing to consider is that Control is used as your attack roll anyway on Weapon spells anyway.  If you would flub the discipline check, you could be missing anyway and achieving nothing even with a rote.  And Weapon attacks already reward Control more than power.

[Deadmanwalking]

One thing to consider is that Control is used as your attack roll anyway on Weapon spells anyway.  If you would flub the discipline check, you could be missing anyway and achieving nothing even with a rote. 

Depends. A Good (+3) attack roll isn't enough to control most spells, but it'll still hit a variety of things. An Epic Roll (+7) will hit almost anything, but'll still fail to control an 8 shift spell.

And Weapon attacks already reward Control more than power.

True enough. But you need to consider your character as a whole before deciding Rotes. Yeah, if your Offensive Control vastly exceeds your Offensive Power offensive rotes may not be necessary, but you'll also suck at Maneuvers. There are tradeoffs to everything.

[Victim]

True enough. But you need to consider your character as a whole before deciding Rotes. Yeah, if your Offensive Control vastly exceeds your Offensive Power offensive rotes may not be necessary, but you'll also suck at Maneuvers. There are tradeoffs to everything.

A few things there.  First of all, having more control than power means that you can use your higher stress boxes to fuel overchannels above your normal power rating without running into control trouble. 

In combat, you can create attacks with phenomenal accuracy and damage.  It's going to be a rare case that you'll need to tag a few maneuvers to land a telling blow.  Even if you're better at maneuvers than other characters when you have high power, there's still a little matter of comparative advantage. 

Finally, a wizard is probably running short on FP to compel any aspects he creates or invoke them after using the free tag - and he can already invoke high concept on pretty much any magic thing.  So his ability to actually make the aspects he inflicts come up can be somewhat limited.

[arentol]

That one rule there makes an enchanted item superior to a rote. You get the guaranteed control of the rote and power equal to Lore + Strength and a minimum of 1 free use per session.

True, but your stress gets reset per scene unless you have to take a consequence, whereas your enchanted item is useless for the rest of the session.

Also you can prolong attack spells if needed, which might not be that great for a direct attack but could be really useful on a zone-wide attack (Like windstorm or earthquake type attack that also puts an aspect on the scene making it hard for the enemy to leave the zone). Although with any form of attack it might also be possible to do something like this:

Turn 1: Cast Water attack to try to damage some wierd dude that is running towards you looking very angry.
Turn 2: Prolong attack for 4 exchanges because it seems like it might be working.
Turn 3: Realize the enemy is a Master BCV, redirect spell into a stream of running water between you and him.
Turns 4 and 5: Run like a little girl.

[Biff Dyskolos]

True, but your stress gets reset per scene unless you have to take a consequence, whereas your enchanted item is useless for the rest of the session.

Not true. Read the Enchanted item patch. After all the items uses are used up you can still fire it off for the cost of 1 stress.