[mrcatman]

Initiates can use the masking metamagic power to hide the auras of their bonded foci (one of which could be a spell foci for sustaining spells).

The quickening metamagic power sustains spells.

Both the foci and quickening require karma investment.

Considering the similarities we see between the sustaining foci and quickened spells, our mage was wondering if a Grade 4 initiate could mask 2 bonded foci and 2 quickened spells. RAW, it's no. But we're thinking yes.

Thoughts?

[Michael Chandra]

I'd say no, and maybe wait and see what Extended Masking will do, which in SR4 let you mask (quickened) spells as well.

[mrcatman]

I'd say no, and maybe wait and see what Extended Masking will do, which in SR4 let you mask (quickened) spells as well.

Oh... that sounds cool. What was Extended Masking in SR4? Another Initiate metamagic power choice?

[Michael Chandra]

Yes, requiring Masking as prerequisite.

[mrcatman]

I'd say no, and maybe wait and see what Extended Masking will do, which in SR4 let you mask (quickened) spells as well.

Did Extended Masking from SR4 also let you mask spells sustained by the mage himself or via the Focused Concentration quality?

[Ryo]

In SR4, Masking only applied to your own aura, and Extending Masking extended it to actively sustained spells, quickened spells and active foci.

In SR5, they've extended the base Masking to Active Foci, with no mention of Sustained spells or Quickened spells. Seems kind of weird if they bring back Extended Masking just for those two, instead of moving the full effect of Extended to the base metamagic.

[Michael Chandra]

Nah, it serves as balancing aspect on buff-builds.

[Shinobi Killfist]

Seems a weird place to balance it as sustaining focuses are the primary point of a buff build. Though I guess with focused concentration its in a similar with sustained spells. 

[Reaver]

meh, it's not that big a change....


under 4a, while masking could hide your aura, your foci still glowed to high heaven and couldn't get through a barrier.... and by the time you are actually ready to initiate, you probably had a couple of Foci... which made masking practically useless

now under 5, at least masking hides your foci as well taking the ability from practically useless, to "a good choice" (there are other good choices too, so now it really depends on what you wish to do)