Wards and Signs (Prime ••)
Practice: Shielding
Primary Factor: Duration
Suggested Rote Skills: Intimidation, Occult, Survival
By cloaking her subject in Aetheric symbols of victory and indomitability, the mage shields the subject from the effects of hostile magic. When the subject is the target of a spell, that spell is Withstood with the Potency of clashed by Wards and Signs.
Only spells that directly target the subject can be Withstood clashed; a spell that turns the air around her into fire cannot be Withstood clashed. Likewise, if the subject is one of many subjects, Wards and Signs only Withstands clashes the spell with regards to her. Other subjects suffer the full effects.
Reason: All other shielding spells allow for clashes. Why should this be different? Also: Since the old one did not even have a cap on the Withstand, it becomes impossible to ignore many Withstands of a W&S without exceptional successes. With a CoW, there is always a chance to find a gap in the magical defense of your enemy.