V9:Casting

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- The Project Phoenix (V9) Development Team

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• These rules represent a proposed ruleset for the Amtgard LARP. All references to the organization are used from that perspective, and do not represent current organizational policy or procedures. Amtgard is a trademark of Amtgard International.
• This wiki is the detailed, comprehensive form of the ruleset. You can find the condensed Quick-Play rules here. These are currently still a work in progress.
• To view the current official Amtgard rules, please see the Amtgard V8 Rulebook.
  

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Casting (How to use Abilities)

All abilities follow the same basic rules for casting, whether they are evoking a physical feat or a magical spell. As such, the following terms are interchangeable when referring to how abilities are used:

• "user" and "caster"
• "using" and "casting"

HOW TO CAST - STEP-BY-STEP

A Wizard attempts to cast a spell.

In order to use or "cast" an ability, you must complete the following steps. If any part of this process is interrupted, performed incorrectly, or if an effect suddenly prevents you from casting, the casting attempt fails and no effects will occur. If you wish to attempt to cast the ability again, you must restart from the beginning.

1. Speak Loud and Clear: All spoken components must be said loud and clear enough to be heard and understood within 50ft or by the target, whichever is closer. If the target is closer than 20ft, the casting must still be heard and understood clearly out to at least 20ft.
   • Mispronunciation, improper wording, omitting words, insufficient volume, or a gap of more than two seconds between words will interrupt casting.
   • Remember that battlefields can be chaotic and each player will process sensations differently. Casters and their targets should act in good faith when determining what is loud or clear enough. When in doubt, refer to the Battlefield Etiquette.
2. Don’t Move Your Feet: You must not move your feed while casting. Casting is immediately interrupted if you move your feet in any significant way. Minor movements, such as adjusting your balance, will not interrupt casting. Some effects can allow abilities to be cast while moving.
3. Have a Free Hand: You must have a Free Hand for the duration of your cast. Casting is immediately interrupted if you no longer have a Free Hand. Abilities marked with ⬗ do not require a free hand.
4. Identify the Target: When casting a verbal or enchantment ability on another player, you must clearly point and state their name or a unique descriptor that precisely identifies them.
   • Ideal descriptors include class-name, clothing, and/or carried items.
   • Insensitive or derogatory nicknames/descriptors are not acceptable.
   • Pointing can be done with weapons or items in hand. It does not need to be your Free Hand.
   • Pointing is only required while you are identifying the target. The pointing does not need to be maintained throughout the cast.
   • You are responsible for making your best effort to convey your intended target fairly and in good faith via a combination of both spoken word and pointing/gesturing.
   • Strike-based abilities such as Spellballs, do not require a target since the target is defined by striking them.
5. Say the Ability-Specific Incantation: Speak the unique, ability-specific lines listed in the Incantation section of the ability description.
6. End with the target in Range and Line of Sight: The target must be in Range and Line of Sight at the moment the incantation is complete. If so, the ability will impart its effects on to the target. If not, the ability fails and has no effect.
7. The Ability is Expended: One use of the ability is expended as soon as the incantation is finished, even if the target is immune, resistant, out of range, out of line-of-sight, or otherwise unaffected by the ability.
8. Make any Necessary Choices: If the effect requires a choice, that choice must be made and declared as soon as casting is completed.
   • To save time, either the caster or the target can make the choice for non-offensive abilities, although the caster has final say in the event of a disagreement.