Astral Interference and Baseline Subtraction Questions

[Mataxes]

Feel free to rule as you wish, but Baseline Subtraction does one thing:

It allows the target to ignore modifiers associated with the Astral Interference talent.

If there aren't currently any modifiers present from that talent, the spell isn't really doing anything, but that doesn't mean you can't cast the spell. While the spell duration lasts, it counteracts the effect of Astral Interference.

It's like saying you can't cast Crunch Climb on somebody who isn't climbing. You certainly can, but the spell effect (the Climbing bonus) doesn't come into play until the appropriate circumstances.

[etherial]

[Baravakar]

Even if you had the highest rank in Spellcasting (15) the maximum duration of Baseline Subtraction would be 90seconds. If someone walks around contently maintaining the spell, sure what the heck they would not suffer any possible penalties cause if the one talent was activated.

I still say Dispel Magic is a better option.

[Mataxes]

[Mataxes]

[Razan_GM]

And when you cast it as Permanent Spell you dont have to cast it all the time. You are protected and all the rest suffer when someone uses Astral Interference talent. So its a great way to fight other magicians.

[Utsukushi]

Dispel Magic being better assumes you're not the one invoking Astral Interference. And since Dispel Magic is a spell, it's probably harder to target Astral Interference than it is to target, you know, things that don't interfere with spells.

The... designer anticipated chain of events looks to me to be:
Party is walking along. Wizard is keeping up Astral Sensing to keep tabs on everyone.
Battle starts - opponents seem to have a spellcaster or two!
Wizard casts Baseline Interference, covering herself and the Elementalist, and if she forgets the Illusionist I'm sure it's nothing to do with that crack he made about orcish latrines yesterday. Everybody knows orcs don't hold grudges.
Then Wizard invokes Astral Interference. Ta-dah! Her party (maybe even the Illusionist) enjoys easy spellcasting, while the enemy suffers penalties. Now, come round three, she can cast... oh, drat, her Matrices are all full of Astral Sensing and Baseline Interference, but, you know, if she had something else ready, she could cast it.

[Mataxes]

Note: Dispel Magic is now a talent, not a spell.

[Baravakar]

[Razan_GM]

The more options the better, look at history of armament. There is so many different weapons, many works best only in a very specific conditions.

Many thread items users, Creatures, Horrors, Horrors Constructs, Spirits have ability to cast spells - but they cannot Dispel Magic - Astral Interference is a great way to get upper hand, but only if you have Baseline Subtraction.

Look at big picture, not only adept vs adept.