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I play with a group of 4 guys, and nobody has any conviction regarding how to properly cast spells. We understand how to cast an animus, and use buffs on friendly targets. But it's always tricky when it comes to blasting an enemy model with spells.

How does a warlock cast an offensive spell? Is it 2D6 + FURY stat >= target DEF? That's what the rulebook seems to state, but that makes certain warlocks and warcasters pretty lame vs high DEF models. I guess that's fair, some guys aren't as good with magic, but ...

How does a model with no FURY stat use an attack like Force Bolt or other attack spell? Is it JUST a skill check? Or does a druid (for instance) need to compare the target's def before they can start applying damage?

It seems counter-intuitive that a battle hardened warlock has to compare to it's target's DEF, and some less experienced little casters in a unit can easily hit targets with very high DEF. I understand that some casters will be better at using magic than others, but a skill check on 7 will hit 50% of the time, all the time, regardless of how the enemy buffs their DEF.

Am I understanding this correctly?

Thanks in advance!

Pg 83 Prime "magic ability" deals with non-caster casting, determining a magic attack ability by making a magic attack roll. Just like you do with a caster, except instead of focus(or fury) stat you use the magic ability score. Magic ability score + 2d6 = magic ability attack roll which is then compared to the defender's def stat.

If there is a skill check to be made, it will say so. I do not believe anything with a magic ability has a skill check, they will have *ability or *attack associated with their magic abilities



Automatically Appended Next Post:
I should also answer the first question (found in prime pg 77, magic attack rolls). Yes you are correct, except also remember 2 things:

You need to roll for spells cast on enemy models that are Offensive spells (pg 77 prime, offensive spells and magic attacks )

Casters can spend a focus or fury to boost the magic attack roll, plus some casters have feats that will automatically boost or even add additional dice to magic attack rolls

Yes, you use your FOCUS/FURY stat plus the 2D6 roll. Yes, some casters do suck at casting offensive spells.

Magic Skill attacks compare vs Defense as well.

So a Battle Mage with Skill7 will roll 2D6 and compare to the targets defense. He's not trying to roll equal or under 7. They aren't skill checks, they are attack rolls.


Much of the time, a caster's offensive spells are going to be kinda crap. Especially the ones that just cause damage. Only ones that usually see use are ones with very high pow, sprays, a debuff, or a spell that has an additional effect(Like a Slam or place effect)

Hi you always boost, so you roll 3d6 plus your fury/focus

gangreen wrote:
Hi you always boost, so you roll 3d6 plus your fury/focus

What does this mean?

Thanks guys! Great information. Once again, all the information is there in the rules, but it helps a lot to have veterans explain it.

Thanks again.

PhantomViper wrote:

gangreen wrote:
Hi you always boost, so you roll 3d6 plus your fury/focus

What does this mean?

I think he is saying you should always boost with offensive spells from the Caster.

Which is not always a great idea. Most of the good offensive spells will be used against lower Def targets(like Force Hammer on a Jack/Beast) so its only rarely you will need to boost.

 CaptObvious wrote:
Thanks guys! Great information. Once again, all the information is there in the rules, but it helps a lot to have veterans explain it.

Thanks again.

<fluffexplanation>In regards to warcasters having a more difficult time hitting than some of the mage 'units,' one way to think about it is that many of these mage units may only have a 'focus/skill' of 3 or 4, but they're 'always boosting to hit.' They're actually not more skilled, it's just that all that information is wrapped-up in the statline. It'd also explain why they have to use an action to cast a spell, while a warcaster/lock doesn't.</fluffexplanation>

Also keep in mind, warcasters have access to many spells and can cast numerous spells per turn plus the boosting ability, while no-name spellcasters usually have no more than 3 available and can usually only use one per turn.

If you read into the fluff of the game and if you have any of the new RPG literature, warcasters arent actually unique because of their spellcasting ability, there are other dedicated spellcasters that should be better at spellcasting. Warcasters are who they are because they are the only beings who can bond with cortexes, magical weapons, and armor. The ability to form these bonds makes them capable of commanding weapons of war, more lethal in combat, and more durable in combat which is then backed up by their innate spellcasting ability. So really, warcasters are unique because they can do everything, not because they have spells.