Casting Earthquake with an Ancestor Smith

[Starbelly Geek]

Originally Posted by Immaculate

I don't understand that mechanic. Can you explain?

Earthquake requires E4 to cast.
Earthquake also requires the use of 3 earth gems to cast.
A spellcaster can only use a number of gems equal to their level in that path, so an E3 caster can only use 3 gems total.
It is possible to use one gem to boost your effective level in a path for one casting, so an E3 caster could use one gem to boost to an E4 for one spell.
However, an E3 caster can't both use 3 gems to cast Earthquake AND use one gem to boost effective level in the same turn, because that would require the use of 4 total gems in one casting, and an E3 caster can only use 3 gems total in a single casting.

Have an E3 caster cast Summon Earthpower first, then blow 4 gems on Earthquake (one to boost effective level to 5, and 3 to cast the spell, net 150 fatigue unless I'm calculating wrong).

Of course, if the opponent isn't strong enough, the AI might decide not to cast Earthquake anyway, but at least it's able to cast the thing.