You wouldn't be able to use the cataclysm spell without a storm of magic, regardless of whether it's apparition based or not.
Mah, the grey college should have an inkling what the rest is doing. Generally I doubt the other colleges are ignorant of the apparations, they just don't openly talk about it because then they need to do an investigation and maybe do a statement to the emperor or the elector counts and it's all much easier if you just don't.
We might be able to if it's a Fog spell and a spell we created. That's the real draw of the Staff of Mistery. (I think I remember it being said that) Cataclysm -> Battle Magic is a category downshift just like Battle Magic -> Not battle magic is.
Armies are slow, sure, but consider how Mathilde was when on the K8P expedition or the Dum one. She couldn't just do whatever. I'd expect that to be even more so in a situation where the Empire is full on going to war. The Sylvania cmapaign I think was the outlier here, because Abelhelm had a lot (arguably too much) trust in Mathilde, and so just let her do whatever, believing it would be fine.
It's not definitely a downgrade. We got:
I personally think those travel days will be even worse for finding a teacher. Because the wizards kinda have to travel with the army to stop chaos cultists from doing some weird ritual and wiping out the state troops. Someone needs to be magical protection and that falls to either the priests or the wizards and I believe it will be both.
Mmmm. A hope, then.
I'd imagine we'll see his reaction when we Codify it, which I expect is definitely happening before we try binding another one.
... That's an optimistic outlook when one takes into account how long it took for row to get codified...
I think this is an extremely good point. If Mathilde ended up in a war tomorrow, she already knows two very powerful Battle Magics: RoW is fantastic for strategic and tactical maneuvering, and MMM is an amazing debuff skill. Even with just these two spells, Mathilde can have a huge effect on a battlefield and during a larger war. Not to mention that she casts them both at an upscaled level above what they'd be cast as standard:
If we're really determined to give Mathilde a full suite of BM spells, she's already got three categories covered: Utility with RoW, enemy debuff with MMM, and assassination with herself. What she's missing is a unit attack spell and a friendly buff spell. (Perhaps Fog Kill and my own Warriors of Fog?) If Mathilde creates two more Mist-y BM spells, I think that would give her a full suite of options comparable to any other Battle Mage.
Actualy Boney has comented many times that cataclysm spells only require "favorable conditions", storms of magic are just one possible favorable condiction.
I believe Boney said that some Gold Wizards believe that they take the apparitions with them when they die (with some welcoming it and some removing them before death if possible) so I imagine they disappear either way. Into wherever Apparitions came from I suppose.
