[CigarSmoker]

In the 6th Edition i wonder what it means if a spell is marked as "P".

What I see as "baseline:
You cant throw a "P"=Physical Combat Spell in Astral Space like Flamestrike. But you can do so with a "M"=Mana mana combat spell like Manabolt.

Now the Question:
Now whats with Heal, Increase Reflexes, Increase Attributes (all marked "P") can they be used in Astral Space ? And if not, can they be used on Spirits that are Manifesting and are Dual natured while doing so ?

[Michael Chandra]

"Physical spells only affect the physical realm." (p131)
"A manifesting
astral projection has no physical presence,
meaning they cannot interact with the
physical world, and they are not captured on
any recording equipment. You also cannot
cast spells at targets solely on the physical
plane, but you can communicate with the
people in the vicinity as if you were there." (p160)

Given how even Manifesting won't let you cast spells aimed the physical world/realm, and Physical spells cannot be cast outside the physical world/realm, in astral you cannot cast at all. And Manifesting Spirits cannot be buffed by Physical spells.

Materialization, however:
"This power allows astral beings to take shape in
the physical world and form a temporary “body”
to inhabit while they’re here. This lets them interact
with, and affect, physical beings."
So yes, you can Heal a spirit.

[CigarSmoker]

Ok thank you ... i am not sure with the Heal tough. Why Heal and not increase Reflexes / Increase Attributes?

[Michael Chandra]

I meant all of them but you're right, I'm as vague as the CRB. Shock!

(My PR8 HTR team uses alchemical preparations to buff their spirits.)

So, Physical spells can only be cast when you're either a meatbody or Materialized, and can only be cast on targets that are either meatbodies or materialized targets. Mana spells can be cast always, but you have to be also present on the same plane somehow, e.g. you can hit a Dual-natured enemy from the Astral plane, and they can hit you back, but you can't Mana-hit a person that's not dual-natured at that point. (Note that robots count as metal meat.)

[CigarSmoker]

Ok thank you

[Shinobi Killfist]

Okay if you cast improved attribute on a mental stat and then astrally project does it effect your astral stats?

I assume no, but I am not 100% on that.

[Arkas]

Okay if you cast improved attribute on a mental stat and then astrally project does it effect your astral stats?

I assume no, but I am not 100% on that.

Somewhat sadly I would rule yes, as the wounds your body suffers also affect you in the astral. I would like to rule no though, as you usually do not need to compete with massive augmentations in the astral.

[Shinobi Killfist]

Okay if you cast improved attribute on a mental stat and then astrally project does it effect your astral stats?

I assume no, but I am not 100% on that.

Somewhat sadly I would rule yes, as the wounds your body suffers also affect you in the astral. I would like to rule no though, as you usually do not need to compete with massive augmentations in the astral.

Not sure. On one side you don’t need it to get past 6e wards. But astral combat against a pretty average spirit is impossible for most mages. So maybe it would be nice to have a astral defense pool of 19 or whatever.

[Michael Chandra]

You do maintain a connection with your body, since you can track it, so maybe?

[Shinobi Killfist]

They’ve changed how magic works enough that I’m not sure previous editions logic can help with this.

Astral combat is sort of rare but the difference between having 9s and 10s in logic, intuition and willpower instead of 5s be 6s is fairly significant.

Astral punch with 16 dice vs 12 soaking with 9 instead of 5 defense test of 19 vs 11. You might actually be able to tackle a force 6 spirit like that.

[Arkas]

Yeah, I have no doubt, that one would want to have it as a mage and like I said, I think it even works that way. I would however prefer a more pure approach to the astral.

[Shinobi Killfist]

Yeah, I have no doubt, that one would want to have it as a mage and like I said, I think it even works that way. I would however prefer a more pure approach to the astral.

I’d prefer that as well but to do that I think they need to build in better tools for astral combat at a base level.  But I want the permanent buff system to go overall not just for the astral.