== Rethinking Clerical Battlecast ==
	by John Eure

* What's wrong *

People have been complaining that low-level clerical attack magic is too
expensive.  In particular, Wounding Grasp is at 3rd level, Poisoned Grasp
is at 4th, and Holy Bolt is at 4th.


* Why it's like that *

The rules are all about /balance/.  If we give some ability an advantage,
we must also give an equal penalty, so that the ability does not become
more powerful than other abilities of the same cost.

For example, we give Mystic Magic the advantage of player-chosen spells.  
To balance this, they get fewer spells, and some of those spells are
at higher levels than normal.  And to prevent people from choosing all the
most useful spells, we force the choice to be made by using "paths".

As another example, we give clerics the advantage of healing magic, which
mages don't get (except for Dispel Magic).  To balance this, they get the
penalty of fewer attack spells.  However, because this weakens their
ability to survive during combat, we strengthen that aspect by giving them
Safe spells, which allow them to absorb an infinite amount of damage
without being hurt.  (As opposed to Barkskin/Stoneskin, which vanish after
1 or 2 blows.)

So in this particular case, the advantage clerics get is that they can
cast their Combat spells without worrying about the "hands free" rule - in
effect, they get a free Battlecast that only applies to Cleric Magic.  
The corresponding penalty is that their lower-level attack spells are more
expensive, because we have to assume that they'll be cast with sword in
hand.  (Higher level spells are unaffected, because it doesn't really
matter whether you've got a sword when you cast a spell like Divine
Wrath.)


* What I'm proposing *

The quick version is, get rid of the free clerical Battlecast, and in
exchange lower these 3 spells by 1 level each.  (For instance, that'd put
Wounding Grasp at 2nd level.)

The slightly longer version is that we should also alter the Rannashite
cleric kit to provide free Battlecast (since the primary bonus is 
what I'm proposing to give all clerics).  And I'll propose to the GWC to 
let dwarves take the Rannashite kit, in the absence of kits for the 
dwarven deities.


* The good points *

I'd estimate that only about 10% of clerics make use of the free
Battlecast.  For all the rest (except the ones with Pacifism), we're
screwing them over by giving them a penalty and not providing any
corresponding advantage.  As many people have noticed, this sucks.

Practically, speaking, this change would be hardly noticeable.  Since the 
"hands free" rule only applies to the whistle-based Combat spells, all the 
Noncombat spells aren't affected.  And since Safe spells and healing 
spells (except Dispel Magic) are Noncombat spells that don't require a 
whistle, they can still be cast at any time.  Only the offensive spells, 
like Nightmare, Mana Vortex, and Divine Wrath would be affected.

Plus, if we keep the rule that you don't need Battlecast to wear armor, 
this would only mean that you'd have to drop your shield and sheath your 
sword before casting a Combat spell.  (And even if Dawn's proposal to roll 
that change back passes, it'd be easy to add an exception for clerics and 
armor.)

Also, this proposal can be implemented regardless of whether Sam Gailey's 
rollback proposal passes.  This situation existed before 2001, after all.


* The bad points *

This proposal would remove one of the ways Cleric Magic is different than
Mage Magic, and would make the two abilities more similar.  Of our two 
primary types of spellcasters, mages are the ones who're supposed to be 
casting the offensive spells, and clerics are the ones who're supposed to 
be using weapons, but this change goes directly against that.

It would discourage clerics from using weapons.  Right now, we have the
expectation that clerics will take some weapons points (especially in
shields), because they have very limited attack magic.  This proposal
would remove what little incentive there is, and would encourage clerics
to rely on Safe spells for protection.

It would encourage players of clerics to specialize, and min-max by taking 
lots of levels of Cleric Magic.  We want to encourage players to take lots 
of different skills to make a well-rounded character, and not concentrate 
on just one skill.

No cleric would ever take Battlecast, since it costs 6 points and provides 
very little benefit.  (This might be solved by adding a "lower level" of 
Battlecast, that costs 3 points but only applies to Cleric Magic.)


* The proposal *

1) Remove the free clerical Battlecast

-- Remove this from Battlecast:
	"Exception: Combat spells cast through the Cleric Magic ability
	can be used freely with weapons in hand, and do not need 
	Battlecast."

-- In the Cleric Magic ability, change this:
	"You only have a few offensive spells, some of which are at higher 
	levels than normal, but in return you do not need the Battlecast 
	ability - all of your spells can be cast with weapons in hand."
to this:
	"However, you only have a few offensive spells."

-- Remove this from Rules of Magic: Restrictions on Casting:
	"Combat spells cast via Cleric Magic are also free of this 
	restriction."

-- Lower the spells Wounding Grasp, Holy Bolt, and Poisoned Grasp by 1
level each, in the Cleric canon.

-- Change the Rannashite kit from this:
	"Must take either Courage, Overconfidence, or Foolhardy.  Must 
	take at least 3 points of Weapon Skill.  Mage spell Strong Grip 
	allowed.  Grasp spells and Holy Weapon cost 1 spell point less.  
	No Knit spells (they take too long)  or Martyrdom (vengeance is 
	better)."
to this:
	"Must take either Courage, Overconfidence, or Foolhardy.  Must 
	take at least 3 points of Weapon Skill.  Spells cast through 
	Cleric Magic are free from the "hands-free" restriction.  Mage 
	spell Strong Grip allowed.  Holy Weapon costs 1 spell point less. 
	No Knit spells (they take too long) or Martyrdom (vengeance is
	better)."

-- Propose to the GWC to allow dwarves to take the Rannashite kit, in the 
absence of kits for the dwarven deities.


-- If Sam Gailey's proposal passes, don't do any of those; do these
instead:

-- Change the Battlecast ability from this:
	"This represents special training or ability in casting so that
	the Mage does not need to have his/her arms unburdened while
	casting a spell.  The character can cast Mage spells while still
	wearing armor and/or carrying a weapon in hand during the casting."
to this:
	"This represents special training or ability in casting so that
	you do not need to have your arms unburdened while casting a
	whistle-based spell.  You can cast whistle-based spells while
	still wearing armor and/or carrying a weapon in hand during the
	casting.  (You do not need this ability when casting bell-based
	spells.)"


-- In Rules of Gameplay X (Magic) B (Restrictions on Casting), change 
this:
	"Mage magic (but NOT Cleric magic) requires the hands and arms to
	be free, since it is assumed that Mages will need to be
	gesticulating while casting a spell.

	As a result, a Mage may not cast a spell while wearing any armor
	or shields, since these would restrict motion.  Also, a Mage may
	not hold a weapon in hand during casting (or cradle a weapon in
	the arms, or have a weapon on lanyard from the wrist, etc.  The
	arms must be totally free to move.)  However, a weapon may be
	sheathed or dropped during the casting.

	The exception to this rule is if the Mage has the Battlecast
	ability.  Mages with Battlecast can cast with their arms burdened
	(including wearing armor or shields or holding weapons) during the
	casting of a spell."
to this:
	"Whistle-based spells (but not bell-based spells) require the 
	hands and arms to be free of all restrictions while casting a
	spell.  A spell caster may not cast a whistle-based spell while
	wearing any armor or shields, holding a weapon in hand, cradling a
	weapon in the arms, or having a weapon on lanyard from the wrist,
	etc.  The arms must be totally free when the whistle is blown
	(although weapons and shields may be sheathed or dropped before
	the whistle is blown). If a spell caster violates the "hands-free"
	rule, the spell automatically fumbles.

	The exception to this rule is if the spell caster has the
	Battlecast ability.  Spell casters with Battlecast can cast
	whistle-based spells while holding weapons and shields.  (They
	must still use spell books.)"


-- Lower the spells Cause Minor Wound, Holy Bolt, Cause Poison, and Cause
Major Wound by 1 level each, in the Cleric canon.

-- Change the Rannashite kit to this:
	"Must take either Courage, Overconfidence, or Foolhardy.  Must 
	take at least 3 points of Weapon Skill.  Spells cast through 
	Cleric Magic are free from the "hands-free" restriction.  Mage 
	spell Strong Grip allowed.  Bless Weapon costs 1 spell point less. 
	No Knit spells (they take too long), Martyrdom, Holy Proxy, or 
	Self-Sacrifice (vengeance is better)."

-- Propose to the GWC to allow dwarves to take the Rannashite kit, in the 
absence of kits for the dwarven deities.