Author Topic: Counter-spelling and foci  (Read 2357 times)

Offline Taran

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 9863
    • View Profile
    • Chip
Counter-spelling and foci
« on: December 11, 2013, 02:30:10 PM »
Can you use your foci to counter-spell?

Is counter-spelling an offensive or defensive action?

Offline Mr. Death

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 7965
  • Not all those who wander are lost
    • View Profile
    • The C-Team Podcast
Re: Counter-spelling and foci
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2013, 03:13:49 PM »
If you're counter-spelling someone's defenses, I'd say it's offense. If you're counterspelling someone's attack or maneuver, it's defense. I'd allow using the foci.
Compels solve everything!

http://blur.by/1KgqJg6 My first book: "Brothers of the Curled Isles"

Quote from: Cozarkian
Not every word JB rights is a conspiracy. Sometimes, he's just telling a story.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_T_mld7Acnm-0FVUiaKDPA The C-Team Podcast

Offline Haru

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 5520
  • Mentally unstable like a fox.
    • View Profile
Re: Counter-spelling and foci
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2013, 03:33:49 PM »
I would say yes on the foci, if they fit the spell you are countering.

Then it depends. A counterspell could be seen as an attack against the spell, and I would handle it like that if the caster wanted to break a thaumaturgy spell. On the other hand, especially when it comes to countering evocation maneuvers or blocks, I would match them. If someone puts up a defensive maneuver, countering it would be an offensive counterspell and vice versa.

Damn, Ninja'd  :D
“Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?”
― Terry Pratchett, Going Postal

Offline InFerrumVeritas

  • Conversationalist
  • **
  • Posts: 813
    • View Profile
Re: Counter-spelling and foci
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2013, 03:09:07 PM »
I'd let foci counterspell as long as thematically appropriate.  Counterspelling comes up so little, I'm totally good with allowing it to be done with either offensive for defensive foci.

Offline Sanctaphrax

  • White Council
  • Seriously?
  • ****
  • Posts: 12405
    • View Profile
Re: Counter-spelling and foci
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2013, 10:25:31 PM »
Which element do y'all use for counterspelling?

Offline Haru

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 5520
  • Mentally unstable like a fox.
    • View Profile
Re: Counter-spelling and foci
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2013, 10:41:28 PM »
The one that fits the spell that's supposed to be countered.
Spirit could work as a catch all, but I'm sort of against that. If you mainly use spirit for force effects, you can counter a force spell, surely. But a light spell? Sound? That's just not in your wheelhouse, and you should probably try a ritual if you want to counter a spell like that.
“Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?”
― Terry Pratchett, Going Postal

Offline narphoenix

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 2686
    • View Profile
Re: Counter-spelling and foci
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2013, 10:59:46 PM »
Which element do y'all use for counterspelling?

It depends on how you're counterspelling. I've had a Wizard use Water to Counterspell a Fire evocation. I could also see using Earth, for example, to Counterspell a lightning spell by changing the magnetic field in the area to make the lightning go in a circle.
« Last Edit: December 12, 2013, 11:28:05 PM by narphoenix »
GMing:

Paranet 2250

Avatar from Scarfgirl and TheOtherChosenOne of Deviantart

Offline Taran

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 9863
    • View Profile
    • Chip
Re: Counter-spelling and foci
« Reply #7 on: December 12, 2013, 11:20:44 PM »
I can see all kinds of combinations: 
Similar elements cancelling each other
Opposite elements
Water is the entropy element, so I'd allow water to counter-spell anything.