Evocation Focus Item

[greycouncilmember]

I just realized that there are 4 types of things you can do with an evocation spell, but only two types of focus item bonuses.  You can attack, block, maneuver or counterspell.  The bonuses you get from focus items are only defensive or offensive(whether you choose discipline or conviction).  How do they work related to a counterspell or a maneuver or is it context?  could you apply your defensive focus item to the counterspell? 

[luminos]

For me, I figure out how the bonues apply by whether or not there is a target that resists the spell.  For an attack, someone rolls to dodge so its offensive.  For a block against damage, its defensive.  For a block against someone else's movement a la Orbius, its offensive, because they resist the effect.  For a maneuver on yourself, an ally, or the scene its defensive, for a maneuver on a zone or an enemy, its offensive.  For a counterspell, its debatable, but the book describes it as an attack on a spell effect, so it would be offensive.

[CMEast]

I would argue that a spell on the scene can be either offensive or defensive, depending on intent. If you turn a mild mist in to a thick fog to avoid being shot at then it's defensive, if you make it foggy to sneak up on the enemy then it's offensive. If you plan for it to be both offensive and defensive then I'd rule it's offensive because it's still an aggressive action even if you also benefit from it.