Ars Magica 2 spell "grammar" - help?

[Mahoka]

Some of my spells are not doing what I feel like they should be doing. I assume I am just speaking horrible magicese.

Two spells as an example:

Channel - Entangle - Mana Drain
What I think it should do: As long as I channel, entangle the target in my crosshairs and drain their mana.
What it does: holding right click entangles me and drains my own mana...

Rune - Rune Procs - Rune Procs - Rune Procs - Heal
What I think it should do: Place a rune on the ground that when walked on heals me. Works a few times.
What it does: Places a rune on the ground that disappears with no effect whatsoever the first time I walk on it.

I need a grammar lesson, or a pointer to a resource to help with this, please

 

[Iskandar]

First one is probably because unless you specify otherwise a spell targets yourself. Maybe add projectile or touch and see if that helps?

Second I'm not sure about.

 

[KingTriaxx]

The second should be Rune>Heal>Rune Proc x2 I believe.

The first should definitely have a target defined.

 

[CaseyRobinson]

I don't use channel much, but I think it defaults to a self target. So what you really want is a Channel - Touch - Entangle - Mana Drain

The rune is similar, try a Rune - (Procs if you want) - Touch - Heal
Not sure why it would disappear after one trigger.

In creative mode the spell writing bench has a "Make Spell" button, I recommend using that to try things. You can also place completed spells back on the desk to see all it's shapes, components, and modifiers.

 

[TangentialThreat]

I made a community spellbook for this sort of information. The order is shape, component, modifier.

>beam | entangle | mana drain

Beam will work much better here. Channel works fine for dig but I think that's only because you can't dig yourself.

>rune | AoE | heal | rune procs | rune procs | rune procs

Runes and other ground-targeting methods work way better when paired with area of effect.