Any reason a character can’t do this if they use one hand for each magic attack or hold an implement in each hand and just increase the difficulty per the dual wielding rules?

Can anyone see any problems with allowing this?

If two attacks use the same characteristic and skill then you just increase the difficulty by one, so a basic magic attack at short range would then be an average check dual wielding. But things would get harder as you add effects and how would you handle different effects on the spells? Not sure.

Wouldn’t you just use the Lightning upgrade to add AutoFire? Except describe it differently? It actually makes it a Hard Check in that way, but with a magic wand it’s only Average.

Otherwise I guess you could do what you suggested. The spells would need to be identical for simplicity, with a single increase in difficulty beyond the base. Spend 2 Advantage to trigger the second hit. You would have to suffer 4 Strain for this though rather than the 2 for a Spell using the Lightning upgrade

Yeah, you would suffer 4 strain. Hadn’t thought of that. That might put a player off trying since you increase the chance the strain is wasted by increasing the difficulty.

Or do you think you should only suffer the additional strain cost if you successfully trigger the second attack?

If you did cast two different types of spells it would be hard to get enough advantage to trigger the different effects anyway. As you say, you need 2 advantage just to trigger the second attack and then 2 more for each effect.

But yes, the lightning upgrade does seem to give you a similar effect more simply.

More interesting would be casting two different spells at the same time, how you do that would be challenging.

I also don't think there would be anything prohibiting making a spell attack combined with a one-handed weapon attack...

7 hours ago, salamar_dree said:

I also don't think there would be anything prohibiting making a spell attack combined with a one-handed weapon attack...

The difficulty would ramp up doing this though as the two attacks use different characteristics and skills, and a magic attack at engaged is already average difficulty.

I am running a Skyrim campaign soon and this sort of thing is possible in the video game so I want to allow it if a character wants to go that way.

Let’s say it’s a basic attack spell with a magic implement to increase damage, at close range it’s an Average Difficulty, same as a Melee Check. Increase difficulty once for the two weapon combat, Increase again because it’s different skills, final difficulty is Daunting.

Then you pick your lowest between Strength and Int/Cun/Wil/Pres dependant on Spell caster. Realistically this is going to be a 3 if you’re even attempting this.

Then pick the lowest skill, again if it’s anything more than a 3 then you have really sunk some xp into this.

So the dice pool is hopefully PPPDDDD before any environmental effects or aiming are taken into account. Spending a Story Point would be wise to get the extra Ability dice, then you need 2 Advantage to even hit twice!

Sounds like you need a talent to at least ignore one of those difficulty increases. Or even ignore that particular rule of the extra difficulty

There is a talent in the book to reduce the difficulty of the next dual wielding check you make so if a player wanted to do this they should certainly pick up that talent first.

Make it a talent, "Pact of the Hexblade" etc.

Pistol (or crossbow pistol) and Spell might be more feasible. Melee and Spell would suck without talents.

Regardless, the Dual Wielder talent would be a must.