[JackVII]

(counterspelling, however, is basically for disenchanting and interrupting sustained spells)

I think you meant dispelling? Disenchanting is for disenchanting...

[Shrazkil]

Oh K, i reread the counterspelling section, the wording on the focus, and the wording in the examples didn't really clear things up much, but i see now how they meant it to be.

[Xenon]

(counterspelling, however, is basically for disenchanting and interrupting sustained spells)

I think you meant dispelling? Disenchanting is for disenchanting...

doh
was away from book
I stand corrected


mm..
This make the counterspelling focus text a bit confusing to say the least.

SR5 p. 319 Spell Focus
Each spell focus is attuned to one of the five category of spells or rituals (Combat, Detection, Illusion, Healing, and Manipulation) when it is created and cannot be changed.

SR5 p. 320 Counterspelling
Counterspelling foci add dice equal to their Force to any Counterspelling attempt, as long as the countered spell is in the same category as the focus. It also adds its Force to your spell defense pool.

"Counterspelling" is two parts. "Spell Defense" and "Dispelling".
Replacing "Counterspelling" with "Spell Defense and Dispelling" gives:
Spell Defense and Dispelling foci add dice equal to their Force to any Spell Defense and Dispelling attempt, as long as the countered spell is in the same category (Combat, Detection, Illusion, Healing or Manipulation) as the focus. It also adds its Force to your spell defense pool.

If you have a spell defense pool of 7 dice and have a Force 4 Counterspelling focus you would get +4 dice on any spell defense attempt and you would get +4 dice on any dispelling attempt. And in addition to this your spell defense pool would increase by 4 dice (from 7 to 11 dice).
- If you assign one of your 11 dice on spell defense you would roll 5 extra dice (but only as long as it is in the correct category - Combat, Detection, Illusion, Healing, or Manipulation-, if not you would only roll 1 dice).


Do we think that the author slipped up and that RAI is actually:
Counterspelling foci add dice equal to their Force to any CounterspellingDispelling attempt, as long as the countered spell is in the same category as the focus. It also adds its Force to your spell defense pool.



Until clarified I would argue that RAW is that you always get Force added to your spell defense pool and if you spell defense against the correct category it also add it's force to the spell defense attempt.