Greetings and Salutations. I definitely see how that could be read either way. My gut tells me that it's 8 spells ranging from levels 1 to 2 (e.g. 4 from L1 & 4 from L2, or 3 from L1 and 5 from L2). That just seems the most logical from the way most of the other classes are written up. Gaining that many level 1 and level 2 spells just seems off (to me). But let's look in the book further.
I think there is a telling phrase in this wording (though I admit not as clear as it could be): "a total of eight spells ..." Let's look at a different class, shall we? How about the LLW?
There are two notes here, one is that it says "from each magic Level" and not just from levels 1-4 (a phrase we do not see in the Mystic's write-up). The second is the repeating of the phrase "total of 12 spells" (yes, the number has changed from the Mystic's total of 8, but the concept of "total" is clear).
At first impression the "total of [#] spells" comes off as meaning after you add all the spells up together (8+8 would total 16). The LLW reference seems to indicate that Palladium is using a similar term. Can you make an argument the other way? Possibly, but that's my answer and some support to go with it. Hope that helps. Thank you for your time and patience, please have a nice day. Farewell and safe journeys for now.
Rifts Ultimate Edition; page 119 wrote:At first level select a total of eight spells form the magic spell levels of one and two.
I think there is a telling phrase in this wording (though I admit not as clear as it could be): "a total of eight spells ..." Let's look at a different class, shall we? How about the LLW?
Rifts Ultimate Edition; page 115 & 116 wrote:At level one experience, players may select any three spells from each magic Level 1-4, for a total of 12 spells (three from each).
There are two notes here, one is that it says "from each magic Level" and not just from levels 1-4 (a phrase we do not see in the Mystic's write-up). The second is the repeating of the phrase "total of 12 spells" (yes, the number has changed from the Mystic's total of 8, but the concept of "total" is clear).
At first impression the "total of [#] spells" comes off as meaning after you add all the spells up together (8+8 would total 16). The LLW reference seems to indicate that Palladium is using a similar term. Can you make an argument the other way? Possibly, but that's my answer and some support to go with it. Hope that helps. Thank you for your time and patience, please have a nice day. Farewell and safe journeys for now.
