Focus Items

[Nightbreed DOA]

Do all rods have to be the same rectangular cylindrical shape as i have read in the novels? I created (in progress as i still try to understand the game) a character is a cowboy sorcerer who has a rod carved in a revolver shape so that he can use it to draw as if to use it in a shootout. I used the slots (Lore is at Great) like this: +1 offensive control, +1 Spirit, +2 offensive power. Hopefully did this right.

[Ghsdkgb]

Elaine used rings and tattoos.

Focus items can be whatever shape you want.

[Nightbreed DOA]

I know, but i have never read or seen rods shaped differently, that's why i asked. 

[JDK002]

The only real restriction to what focus items look like is the more powerful it is, the bigger it is.  IIRC once you go past a +3 bonus, they start to lose practicality.  I think the book says it would be like lugging around a basket ball sized object.

[Mr. Death]

My concern is if you're allocating the slots right. You say it's Offensive Control+1, Spirit+1, and Offensive Power +2. For each slot, it has to be tied to one of offense or defense and a particular element.

So it would be Spirit Offensive Control+1, for example.

[Orladdin]

It also has to have the same bonus value across all the things it enhances:
If it enhances Spirit Offensive Power and Spirit Defensive Control (for example) it can't have SOP at +1 and SDC at +3-- they both have to be +1 or both +3.

I'm fairly certain they made this rule to make stronger foci actually stronger and not just a grab-bag of effects.

[Mr. Death]

Actually, I think that's across different elements--like, you couldn't have Spirit Offense Power +1 and Water Defense Control +1, you'd need it to be Offensive Power or Defense Control +1 for both. I don't think that restriction applies to different types of bonuses within one element.

[JDK002]

Actually, I think that's across different elements--like, you couldn't have Spirit Offense Power +1 and Water Defense Control +1, you'd need it to be Offensive Power or Defense Control +1 for both. I don't think that restriction applies to different types of bonuses within one element.

Correct sir.  I'm paraphrasing, but YS page 278 you can split up points along the power/control offense/defense axis any way you want, but all elements attached to the focus item must all have the same bonus.

[Sanctaphrax]

"All bonuses of an item always apply to all of the types on the item" could be interpreted multiple ways, I suppose. The fact that the very next page suggests a +2 offensive wind power +1 offensive wind control item does lend credence to Mr. Death's take.

But honestly it's a pretty dumb limitation either way so I prefer to ignore it.

Concentrating your bonuses into one item is already discouraged by the game, I see no need to make it a worse idea.

[Orladdin]

"All bonuses of an item always apply to all of the types on the item" could be interpreted multiple ways, I suppose. The fact that the very next page suggests a +2 offensive wind power +1 offensive wind control item does lend credence to Mr. Death's take.

But honestly it's a pretty dumb limitation either way so I prefer to ignore it.

Concentrating your bonuses into one item is already discouraged by the game, I see no need to make it a worse idea.

Yeah, that's the phrase I was going on-- but I went and looked it up after Mr. Death pointed that out, and he's right.  It's just ambiguously written. 

[Lavecki121]

I think its more to limit the amount of elements that a single focus item can use. Making it so that you have to use multiple items for the different elements (much in the way that Dresden does with his rod, staff, and bracelet). This would limit the power you could pump into them because you have to use other slots for other items instead of having one item that can do everything.

Personally I preffer to make a bunch of enchanted item, the downside to those being that they have a limited number of uses.

[Sanctaphrax]

This would limit the power you could pump into them because you have to use other slots for other items instead of having one item that can do everything.

Having multiple items increases the amount of power you can pump in, actually.

[Mr. Death]

Having multiple items increases the amount of power you can pump in, actually.

I thought you couldn't stack bonuses from multiple foci on a given spell.

[GryMor]

I thought you couldn't stack bonuses from multiple foci on a given spell.

You can't, but having a Glove of Offensive Fire Control and a Bracer of Offensive Fire Power isn't stacking.

[Mrmdubois]

Yep, someone around here had a pair of gloves that did that, looked pretty cool when he's swinging around +4 to Offensive Fire Power and Offensive Fire Control.