Mixing Foci - Evocation and Sponsored Magic

[Mr. Death]

So, in normal evocation, the rules state that you can't get the same kind of bonus from two different focus items at the same time--if you have a staff and a rod that each have a +1 to offensive wind control, you can't use them both for a +2.

But does this apply the same way with sponsored magics. since you can "overlay" something like Winter Ice or Summer Fire on top of an existing Evocation element? What happens if you have a focus item tuned to boost your control roll +1 for Summer Fire and a blasting rod giving a +2 to control regular fire, and want to overlay Summer Fire on top? Can you use both foci, or do you stick by the aforementioned rule?

[Haru]

I would not let them stack. 1 Focus item for control, 1 for power, no more, no less.

They are different tools for the same job. Just because you've got 3 different sized hammers in your hand doesn't mean you'll get the nail into the wall any better than just taking the best hammer for the job. If the overlap is too frequently, I would see that I switch them out. So in your case, just turn it into +3 summer fire permanently, and everything is fine.

[narphoenix]

So, in normal evocation, the rules state that you can't get the same kind of bonus from two different focus items at the same time--if you have a staff and a rod that each have a +1 to offensive wind control, you can't use them both for a +2.

But does this apply the same way with sponsored magics. since you can "overlay" something like Winter Ice or Summer Fire on top of an existing Evocation element? What happens if you have a focus item tuned to boost your control roll +1 for Summer Fire and a blasting rod giving a +2 to control regular fire, and want to overlay Summer Fire on top? Can you use both foci, or do you stick by the aforementioned rule?

I'd stick by the aforementioned rule. Otherwise, a wizard could get a Discipline+10 to evocation targeting roll for [-2] in Sponsored Magic and [-3] in Refinement (assuming a Lore of Superb, which generally isn't a bad assumption). That could get very broken very quickly.

And what if they had two Sponsored Magics, like Harry? Would you let them stack for a +15 to their targeting roll? This sort of thing could get very ridiculous very quickly.

[Mr. Death]

All very good points. Okay, I'm going to rule that way, then.

[Cadd]

I'd also disallow it, but based on Thaumaturgy.
Say you have foci for +complexity, one for Divination and one for Ectomancy. If you perform a spell to find ghosts in an area, that's both Ectomancy och Divination, but you can still only use one of the +Complexity foci.

[InFerrumVeritas]

I'd also go with a no on this one.

[Locnil]

Since this topic has already been brought up, however, a quick question I'd like clarified - can a refinement or a focus provide a bonus to both evocation and thaumaturgy*? I assume no, but I can't actually find anything that says that.

*As in, a +1 winter magic control refinement, adding a bonus to control rolls for evocation and thaumaturgy that uses winter magic. I'm extending this question to foci for the sake of comprehensiveness, though that one seems more obvious to me.

[vultur]

Since this topic has already been brought up, however, a quick question I'd like clarified - can a refinement or a focus provide a bonus to both evocation and thaumaturgy*? I assume no, but I can't actually find anything that says that.

*As in, a +1 winter magic control refinement, adding a bonus to control rolls for evocation and thaumaturgy that uses winter magic. I'm extending this question to foci for the sake of comprehensiveness, though that one seems more obvious to me.

Refinement, definitely not.

Foci, maybe, if you paid for both... not sure if it's actually allowed RAW or not, but I'd allow it -- but it would certainly cost a focus item slot for each. (IE +1 evocation offensive and defensive control and +1 thaumaturgy control with Unseelie Magic is 3 focus item slots)

EDIT: fixed offensive/defensive control bit

[Sanctaphrax]

As long as you get the normal number of pluses and don't exceed any caps, I don't see why you shouldn't be able to.