How do I make a precision based spellcaster?

[wyvern]

So, a character concept I've had floating around for a while is a spellcaster with low power, high control - someone who's not so good with the blasting, but can still shield (ala Listens-To-Wind's deflect-things-just-enough style) and maneuver effectively via spells.  Thematically, I'm looking at high discipline, low conviction.  But the problem is, blocks and maneuvers are based solely on evocation power - a power 1 block is a power 1 block, and it doesn't matter if the wizard casting it had discipline zero (and took a point of backlash) or discipline 8 (assuming some focus items and a good roll).

Now, one possible way to build this character is to just toss the thematics out the window, put both discipline & conviction at 4 to 5, and give him an aspect that can be compelled to not use straight-up attack spells.  I'll go that route if I have to - but I'd rather have the skill levels that fit the character.

Anyone have any (other) ideas on how to build this character to be effective?  I'm interested in both answers that function under RAW (rules-as-written), as well as any thoughts on spellcasting houserules that might make this character type function (without making magic totally OP for a normal caster with good-or-better in both discipline & conviction).

Maybe a custom power of some sort to let the discipline roll (probably sans focus item bonuses) set effectiveness of blocks / maneuvers?

[Mr. Death]

Personally, I'd go with focus items geared toward defensive power. That way you could keep him rolling at low Weapon values for offense and maneuvers, but keep his defense up.

[Haru]

How is the characters lore skill? I'd think a wizard with low power would probably try to make up for it in knowledge. In that case, you could simply take a stunt (let's call it "Knowledge is Power") that lets you substitute lore for conviction when determining casting stress.

Focus items is a good idea, Mr. Death, hadn't even thought about it.

You could houserule specialisation bonuses to work like focus item slots, splitting the bonuses into offensive and defensive bonuses and doubling the amount of specialisation you get for each refinement. That way you could create a defensive specialisation tower rather than an all purpose one.

[Mr. Death]

Alternatively, building off of Haru's idea, give him a high Lore skill to make potent Enchanted items. If he can't pull up a 5 shift shield on the fly, maybe he can enchant his cloak to throw one up.

[Haru]

Ha, that is a brilliant idea. That's 4 spells for 1 refinement, that's quite a good deal. On the other hand, you kind of become a D&D Wizard, only casting prepared spells, which I wouldn't like too much.

And I just realised, I forgot to say "when casting defensive spells" as the stunts condition, but that was probably implied anyway.

[Sanctaphrax]

How is the characters lore skill? I'd think a wizard with low power would probably try to make up for it in knowledge. In that case, you could simply take a stunt (let's call it "Knowledge is Power") that lets you substitute lore for conviction when determining casting stress.

No.

The fact that you need 3 skills to cast is an important part of Evocation's balance. Don't mess with it.

If Knowledge Is Power was a Scholarship stunt instead of a Lore stunt, then maybe it could work.

[Haru]

Hmm, good point. Well, the basic idea to take another skill for defensive spells still stands. Scholarship is probably a good choice, too.

[UmbraLux]

Anyone have any (other) ideas on how to build this character to be effective?  I'm interested in both answers that function under RAW (rules-as-written), as well as any thoughts on spellcasting houserules that might make this character type function (without making magic totally OP for a normal caster with good-or-better in both discipline & conviction).

Maybe a custom power of some sort to let the discipline roll (probably sans focus item bonuses) set effectiveness of blocks / maneuvers?

One of the...'quirks' of the system is attack spells will always be more powerful than blocks since power and targeting are combined for attacks and not for blocks. 

Staying within the rules, you can set up defensive minded aspects (permanent and temporary) as well as taking refinements in defensive specializations and foci.

Moving into the area of modifying trapping and creating house rules, you can consider creating a set of defensive minded 'elements' instead of the classical Greek model.  Something like Movement, Stillness, Endurance, Matter, and Void perhaps.  Other possibilities include defensive minded Sponsored Magic and repurposing / rewriting Glamours to use for a wider range of blocks.

[Vargo Teras]

One of the...'quirks' of the system is attack spells will always be more powerful than blocks since power and targeting are combined for attacks and not for blocks.

That's not entirely true.  A Conviction 1, Discipline 5 caster could toss a one-shift attack and roll +5 on the roll to hit; those extra shifts still help both to hit and inflict damage, but it doesn't change a Weapon:1 spell to a Weapon:5.

[UmbraLux]

That's not entirely true.  A Conviction 1, Discipline 5 caster could toss a one-shift attack and roll +5 on the roll to hit; those extra shifts still help both to hit and inflict damage, but it doesn't change a Weapon:1 spell to a Weapon:5.

I didn't call it "Weapon:X". 

To paraphrase, I stated the Weapon rating is equal to a skill (Conviction) and increases as the skill does.  No other ability I'm aware of allows you to base Weapon rating on a skill.  To make it worse, you need to add specialties and foci...

[wyvern]

One of the...'quirks' of the system is attack spells will always be more powerful than blocks since power and targeting are combined for attacks and not for blocks. 

As a general thing, I'd actually say that's the other way around - since a block only depends on power (and only needs to beat enemy targeting, not targeting+power), it's fairly easy for a high conviction low discipline character to make some rather effective shields - while the same character would be hard pressed to land an attack.

...Huh.  That's interesting, actually.  Aside from huge chunks of backlash, my notion of a "finesse not power" caster can be implemented via a character who, mechanically, has power but no finesse.  This feels really wrong.

[Becq]

Personally, I'd go with focus items geared toward defensive power. That way you could keep him rolling at low Weapon values for offense and maneuvers, but keep his defense up.

This.  Also, specializations can help boost your low stat, but that's almost the same as equalizing your skills to begin with.

[Becq]

Another option would be to give yourself a more even distribution of Conviction/Discipline, but also an aspect that emphasizes finesse over power.  You'd expect your attempts to attack to suffer somewhat, but could make your defense spells stronger.

[EdgeOfDreams]

Personally, I feel that the difference between precision and big boom in spellcasting just isn't represented well by the mechanics of this game at all.  I think a lot of the problem comes from the use of the word "control" - in DFRPG, Control only means "My ability to cast a spell of size X with minimal chance of hurting myself".  There is no mechanical advantage or disadvantage to describing a laser-thin beam of fire versus a giant plume of flames, so long as they are both a single target attack of Power X.

[Mr. Death]

There is some, though. Say you've got Discipline at 5, a specialization in Control for Fire evocations, and three of your four focus item slots into a blasting rod, you're starting off rolling from 9. Even if your Conviction is only 3, you're just about guaranteed to hit whatever you're aiming at. Against a Good defense roll, you're doing 9 solid shifts of stress.

Whereas someone who's rolling at the equivalent of 6 for Discipline, with an effective Weapon:6 fire attack, is going to miss more often. Even if his hits do equivalent damage to the 9/3 caster, the 9/3 caster is going to be hitting someone quick or otherwise tough to hit 1/2 again as many times.

That's not to mention getting through Blocks, which is based on the attack roll, not the weapon rating. A Weapon:3 laser fired from an effective Discipline of 9 is going to be more likely to get through a high level shield than a huge boom rolled from something lower.