Question about gems in combat...

[earwicker7]

This doesn't seem to be in the FAQ, so I'm hoping someone can enlighten me.

I have a level one nature mage who needs to cast a combat spell which is level two AND requires two gems. Here's the question: I know he can boost himself to level two and cast a second level spell, but I'm confused if this would count as three gems (one for the boost, two for the spell) and therefore be more than the rules allow... "A mage can only use as many gems as his current skill level in that path."

[rdonj]

He can only use one gem. You can't use gems to boost your ability to use gems.

[earwicker7]

Originally Posted by rdonj

He can only use one gem. You can't use gems to boost your ability to use gems.

Here's where I'm confused, though... I know he can't raise his level more than once, so two is the highest level he could go, but wouldn't this allow him to use the two gems necessary to cast the spell? I assumed that the casting gems were treated differently than the boosting gems. If not, does that mean you can only cast level two spells if they have no gem requirements?

[thejeff]

Yes. He's only got 1 level, therefore he can only use one gem to cast a spell.
That gem can boost his level or power a spell.

You are correct. He can only cast L2 spells that don't use gems.

[JonBrave]

OK, then let's say he started at level 2 Then 1 to boost leaves 1 to spend. So he can cast L3 spells which use up to 1 gem, right? If he starts on Ln, he can cast L(n+1) spells costing up to L(n-1) gems

[thejeff]

That sounds right.

Do note that all the other ways of boosting path level do let you spend more gems: booster items, booster spells, communions.
For example, a F1 mage could case a F3 1gem spell by first using a gem to cast Phoenix Power, then 2 gems to cast the F3 spell.

[JonBrave]

Does the caster have to be scripted to self-boost? Does that count as a "turn"? Or does it just "happen"? [I meant, for the original method.]

[Kobal2]

It just happens, or rather you give him the order to cast X and he'll burn however many gems he can/wants to cast X. No delay, no special script. Since the path increase only lasts one turn, it would be pretty silly to have it use a full action
If the mage cannot reach a state in which he can cast X (e.g. doesn't have enough gems, or you thought the gem used to increase the path gave him one more gem "slot" when it doesn't) then he'll go off script and cast whichever spell strikes his fancy.

Note that mages also tend to burn gems to reduce the fatigue cost of spells, sometimes in stupid or unnecessary ways so if the boosted spell you want to cast has to happen late in the script for some reason you probably want to give that mage an excess of gems just in case. Better safe than sorry.

[Knai]

Originally Posted by Kobal2

If the mage cannot reach a state in which he can cast X (e.g. doesn't have enough gems, or you thought the gem used to increase the path gave him one more gem "slot" when it doesn't) then he'll go off script and cast whichever spell strikes his fancy.

Remember this. If you don't make sure the mage has the gems needed, it will inevitably manage to pick the single worst spell possible as a replacement.

[Doo]

Originally Posted by Knai

Remember this. If you don't make sure the mage has the gems needed, it will inevitably manage to pick the single worst spell possible as a replacement.

Phantasmal Wolf spam...