The Spell Fire Bolt

[darthauthor]

The Spell "Fire Bolt" from Rifts Ultimate Editoin Page 205

Range is great and gets better with every level.
Damage is little better than an energy rifle.
I assume it is as hard or easy to dodge as an energy rifle's shot.
But just to be certain like me ask.

Question #1
Is the target -10 to dodge like the spell is a gun shot?

The spell says that the caster gets +4 to strike.
Damage is 4d6 M.D. or 1d6 times 10 S.D.C.

So it sounds like the best of both world in damage flexibility for the sake of hunting or NOT MIST ing the target.

Question #2
Can you call your shot and snipe a CS grunt in his armored head?
Or the head of the deer?

I ASSUME ALL the conditions that apply to the spell "Energy Bolt" applies to this spell called "FIRE BOLT."
Namely, that it harms vampires and such.
Does NOT start fires.
Can NOT shoot a gun out of someones hand.
Will NOT explode or DISABLE hand-grenades

Question #3
Unlike the spell "Energy Bolt" it makes no mention of Ley Line or Nexus effects over the spell.
Does the Damage go up also or just the RANGE?

[ShadowLogan]

1. -10 applies, it is considered an energy blast

2. If you have a strike roll you can do called shots

3. Usually when a spell/ritual mentions LL/N specifically it is because (IMHO) it over rules the generic rules for them modifying them. As firebolt (and lots of other spells) doesn't list LL/N effects it uses the generic rules. (TIDBIT: PF2E/HU2E versions of the spell DO mention LL/N effects, however this is for an SDC world).

[Soldier of Od]

I would not personally describe the range as "great". Slightly better than a fireball, but shorter than many other damage spells, and (like most spells) terrible when compared to a firearm. Not bad, but not great.

The combat rules in RUE talk about energy beams "from energy weapons, monsters, psionics or magic". So I would say this is covered by the usual ranged combat rules. What is a "beam" or not may be open to interpretation, but the title of this section actually says "blasts" instead, so I don't think Palladium are being specific with their definitions here.

The -10 to dodge only counts if the dodger is within 10ft of the shooter.

I think if you have to roll a strike, you can choose to call and/or aim your shot, like any other ranged attack. It an advantage/trade off between the ability to aim at a specific target but possibly missing completely, and a spell that never "misses" but can only home in on the main body.

Vampires take half damage (in H.P.) from magic fire and other magic energy attacks.

I would assume that the usual ley line effects apply.

[darthauthor]

Wait.
I am confused about the Title of the Spell now.

Does "Fire Bolt" mean it is fire damage?
Can it start fires? UNLIKE the Spell "Energy Bolt"

[Soldier of Od]

Fire bolt is a bolt of fire. Energy bolt is a bolt of energy (whatever that means!)

If it doesn't say it can start fires it can't start fires.