Dependency and savebreaks

[Mandor]

when a spell has a dependency, is that dependency break required always the same type as the spell's main type, such as aff, mal, or mental? Or are there some spells that have a main type, and have a secondary affect (like blinding) which is a different spell type from the original spell.

[Vhrael]

Spell dependency for breaks is based on the spell type. A maledictive spell needs a malbreak, etc.

If you're talking about something like "flamestrike" or "wrath", where there's an afflictive damage output and a chance of a secondary effect (blinding from smoke, cursing, etc.) then those secondary effects are still based on the type of spell that their originals are (in this example, both maledictive for blind/curse). You wouldn't wear malbreaks while trying to use flamestrike or wrath though, because the chances of the blind/curse are so low that you're better off going with affbreaks and using the spells for damage, like afflictives are intended.

If you get the secondary effect from a spell to go off, it's just a lucky bonus. I wouldn't recommend wearing breaks for a "maybe". Besides, if you're using the afflictives and an affbreak, chances are the target's going to be wearing afflictive saves, if any saves, so their mal saves will likely be lower and the secondary affect will have a better chance at hitting anyway.

[crazyhorse]

Mandor, the helpfile tells you dependency.

Phantom grasp help file lists both aff and mental dependency.

[Mandor]

thanks Vhrael.

[Davairus]

The flamestrike blind is actually not maledictive..its afflictive. I assume there are some spells where the double-dependency is important. Just clarifying that one isn't.

[Mandor]

okay so then the only one that matters is whatever it says in the helpfile. thanks.

[Vhrael]

I guess the flamestrike smoke makes sense, since it's the smoke "damaging" the eyes as opposed to a spell trying to affect the senses or whatever that the maledictive blind does... didn't know that though.