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Hey all, I'm coming back to ED after a long long break - last game I GM'ed was original first edition. I'm running a new campaign (as of this past Sunday) using 3rd edition. Please forgive me if this is a silly question or if the answer is readily found in the books. I've looked and can't find anything.

Almost all the spells that augment damage either give a set step bonus to damage (eg Iron Hand) or specifically state there is additional damage (eg Flameweapon, Blade Fury). The description on Blazing Fists of Rage (BFoR) is a little vague however. Here's how I read it:

"...illusory flames that augment the damage he inflicts..." A character who has this effect on him attacks first makes an unarmed damage test (eg STR, Claw Shape) and then makes the BFoR effect test for damage. The WIL used is of the attacker ("target's Effect Test") and not the casting mage. A disbelieve would only occur should the defender have some reason to think it was an illusion (past experience, know mage is an illusionist) or if a wound occurs. The wild animals they were fighting had no clue...

My players thought it was too powerful (even though they were the ones using it, windling illusionist casting it on a t'skrang tail and a Very Large troll warrior), but I see it as the illusionist's way to feel useful in combat at the ever-so-vulnerable first circle. For the combat we were playing, the troll was doing step 9 + step 11 damage.... quite a bit for their first combat. Above was how I ruled it on the spot and how I still feel about it. Thoughts? Am I missing something?

Yep. With this spell you don't deal damage with Claw Shape, STR. Just Effect Test of a target affected by this spell.

When he strikes an opponent with an unarmed Attack Test, brilliant red sparks fly from the area struck, accompanied by an explosive sound effect. The target’s Effect Test determines how much damage is inflicted.

Yeah, Earthdawn (3rd edition at least) is kind of set up so that spell-casters are pretty potent at early circles and then that kind of drops off. That does sound like a bunch of extra damage, so the wounds are very likely to occur. Beasts are usually pretty good at knockdown tests, so be sure to ding the illusionist on those free sensing tests!

Good luck with your campaign!

When he strikes an opponent with an unarmed Attack Test, brilliant
red sparks fly from the area struck, accompanied by an explosive
sound effect. The target’s Effect Test determines how much damage
is inflicted. If his opponent takes a Wound, the Knockdown Test
is considered a Sensing Test (see Illusions, p. 139).

Only the effect test determines the damage.

I agree, only the Effect Test step Damage is dealt.

Okay, went back to my books to pull up the original text (not that I don't trust others, I just feel better reading it for myself). In EDC, it does in fact include the line "The target makes an Effect Test in place of a Damage Test for any successful attacks he makes, using his own Willpower step." This line was dropped from the description for ED3, which I do think makes it sound more ambiguous.

Thanks all for the input. Given the EDC description, and that it's a first circle spell, it makes sense that the spell effect test replaces it. Kasbak's logic that both should occur is what I was working from, and it seems to me that's how (potentially) 3rd Ed was intending it. The all-or-nothing aspect of illusion spells means it is either very useful or very pointless.

I think I'll rule that the damage is either normal unarmed damage (whether it is STR or Claw Shape etc) or the spell effect, which ever is higher. It wouldn't make sense for the spell damage to replace the other if the spell damage step is lower.... Imagine, if you will, casting this on a Thundra Beasts's horn (step 15 damage) and, if you go by the EDC rules, it does step 12 damage. What really would make sense is giving it a straight bonus like Iron Hand and Flameweapon, both also first circle spells. Maybe instead I'll make it a straight extra d8. That's a little more than Flameweapon and a little better than +3 steps, but also has the potential to be ignored.

I think that this spell is meant to be for characters with high WIL and low STR but remember that even if character got STR Step 6-7 which is usualy max for characters on low circles and WIL Step at even the minimum Step 4 it is still better with enhancement. Also I wouldn't allow casting it on thundrabeast's horn because the nature of spell is to enhance fists (not even t'skrang tail IIRC).