SR5: Object Resistance Doesn't Apply to Direct Combat Spells?!

Gosh, It's been quite a long time since my last installment! Wasn't intending for such a long hiatus but that is story for another time. Right now, I want to get back into the swing of blogging with a quick, easy blog post.


Been playing Shadowrun 5th edition more regularly now. As I remarked in a prior post, the more I game, the more I read. As such as a the resident mana slinger player, I decided to try and make sense of the object resistance table and how it may apply toward combat spells. After all, the table is toward the back the sorcery section. Quite the separation from the combat spells!


Why the inquisitive search you may ask?


Well, back during heyday of Third Edition, an object's object resistance made the object more resistant toward spells. Direct Combat spells included. The more technologically-advanced an object was, the less one could effect it with, say, a powerbolt. If magician desperately needed to damage a vehicle or drone, an indirect elemental manipulation spell was the best chance even if you had to deal with armor and such.


So perused the spellcasting section. General rules. Combat spells. The Object Resistance Table. Near as far as I can tell, an object's object resistance simply doesn't apply to combat spells.


Major change.


Know what that means? No using Fireball and hoping for the best. Well, you can, chummer, but armor can easily render your spell not doing drek. Nah. Direct Combat spells which effect objects, ie physical spells, such as Powerbolt and Powerball just received an upgrade in the eyes of this former Third Edition player. Got to love edition-based cognitive dissonance, eh?


Think my combat mage is gonna have to learn both power bolt and power ball now...


Happy Gaming!