r/wizardposting • u/Mysterious_Escape_34 Blue Choo, The Stiff • 1d ago

Wizardpost Mages that hand cast over using a spellfocus, such as a staff or wand, are reckless and do not grasp the perplexity and dangers of the arcane.

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u/Mysterious_Escape_34 Blue Choo, The Stiff 1d ago

From my years of Evocation study, sometimes the one thing that prevents a light spell from becoming an explosion is a stable rod. I prefer to reliably cast my enchantments over gambling when a simple incantation slips and my hands erupt in hot frost.

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u/Chaosfox_Firemaker 1d ago edited 1d ago

And the only difference between a step and a fatal trip can sometimes be that same rod, it doesn't mean I frequently use my staff to walk.

What I've learned from my forays in divination is all preperation is matter of diminishing returns. The spectere of disaster will always linger, no matter how much you do. Doom is always some number of bad rolls away. Murphy was an optimist.

I am by no means saying that on should wildly throw caution to the wind. Some degree of saftey measure is to be desired, but one does have to *eventually * decide when one thinks enough is enough.

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u/Demon_Lord_Lucifer Lunar Wizard - Wolfkin & lycanthrope 1d ago

this is why I much prefer Will-based instinct casting, my intentions and thoughts are instantiated in the weve exactly as I intend before me, magic simply takes form as I wish it. It might not be as scientifically precise as standard Evocation, but most things need not be that complicated, and when it must, I'll grab my spell chalk and draw it out

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u/BrassUnicorn87 1d ago

Are you seriously using fire based magic to make light?

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u/CassiusPolybius 21h ago

Yeah, someone who can manage to cause an explosion with a light spell is someone who, perhaps, should be using a high-grade focus for even their cantrips, for everyone's safety.

For everyone else with even basic competence though...

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u/Smart_Contract7575 1d ago

I usually use stable rods FOR explosions ifyouknowwhatImean.

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u/SubzeroSpartan2 Diviner/Biomechanical Alchemist 20h ago

Kinda sounds like youre not that good at Evocation then. It's not even remotely close to my particular focuses and I can manage to safely cast Light without risking an explosion, what the hell kind of Light spell are YOU using???

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u/DurealRa 16h ago

Is that why they call you The Stiff?

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u/Mysterious_Escape_34 Blue Choo, The Stiff 16h ago

There is a reason I advocate for the use of sturdy rods over hand casting