We'll say don't worry about that case, first of all! That usage is fine and would still be free because it's really for flavor, and that's kind of the core line for our vision for combat stuff. If it's something that other players really aren't involved in or is more background color, then we don't worry about a token cost or anything like that. At least not until it gets to big, sort of "area of effect" style spells! If it's a one-on-one NPC to PC interaction, that's okay.
Once it starts to get towards situations where you're dealing with other players directly or where the help would start to influence public opinion in a more major way (such as like, idk, casting Shield on a whole building), that's where the cost starts to come in. The idea of our balance is for player to player powers and reputation, not necessarily with the NPC populace.
As for the smoochin' magic, this would not have a token cost, no. Since these are just ways to power spells that Matt already knows, this is no different from any other character's magic system that they app into the game with. The cost only applies for new spells or for the "to be used at a later date" kind of spell granting described before.
no subject
Once it starts to get towards situations where you're dealing with other players directly or where the help would start to influence public opinion in a more major way (such as like, idk, casting Shield on a whole building), that's where the cost starts to come in. The idea of our balance is for player to player powers and reputation, not necessarily with the NPC populace.
As for the smoochin' magic, this would not have a token cost, no. Since these are just ways to power spells that Matt already knows, this is no different from any other character's magic system that they app into the game with. The cost only applies for new spells or for the "to be used at a later date" kind of spell granting described before.