Magic phase when trying to dispel a "remains in play" spell

Had this scenario come up in a game today:

I cast Transformation on my butcher, turning him into a giant flame dragon.  This was awesome.  My opponent does not attempt to dispel it on my turn, nor did he try on his next few turns.  My dragon ate an entire unit of Sisters, and was a happy dragon indeed.

Finally, the confusion came.  It was my magic phase, my slaughtermaster was dead.  My two remaining wizards were my level 1 Maw butcher and my level 2 beasts butcher, who had just charged a bolt thrower and was getting ready to nomnom it.  Obviously my beasts butcher cannot cast at this time, due to reason of dragon.

We both had 6 dice thanks to a channel on his part.  His ultimate goal is to get rid of the dragon.

Can I skip any attempt at casting with my level 1 in order to have a chance of recasting transformation should he dispel it?

We saw it going 2 ways:

I choose not to cast anything.  My dice are forfeit.  He throws 6 dice at dispelling transformation.  Magic phase ends.

-or-

I choose not to cast anything.  He throws 6 dice at dispelling transformation.  Now that I have my second butcher back, and still have dice in the pool, I can then try recasting transformation.


Is there some sort of order of operations we should be following when he is trying to dispel a remains in play spell during my turn?

The correct answer is Scenario #1. Once you've declared that you're done casting spells, then you're done casting spells. You can't just say you're done, and then be like "oh, whoops, now I'm back to casting again!"

Your best bet in this scenario is to try and cast a spell with the level 1 in hopes that he would use dispel dice against it. Now, obviously, he probably won't waste his dice on that and would rather try to dispel the Transformation. But, that's just how it goes. You pretty much get one or two good turns out of that spell if you don't have a big caster to throw some meaty spells to disrupt your opponent's dispelling plans.

But yeah, once you're done, you're done. Pretty much sums it up!

Hm, rulemonger me says that your magic phase ends when you say it does - there isn't a clause that says 'when both players are finished, move to the shooting phase'. There's a clause that says 'when you are done casting spells, you move to the shooting phase'.

Now, that's a bit of a jerk interpretation - but I don't see any justification for him being able to cast a dispel after you say the phase is over. He can certainly do it at any point before then - I'd do the 'are you going to try to dispel Transformation? If not this phase is over.'

Now, you certainly can't go 'We're gonna skip the magic phase cause I'm not gonna cast anything'- it does happen and he can dispel during it, but he has to act, not react in your magic phase (as far as I'm concerned)

tl;dr : its your magic phase, its over when you say it is.

Hm, rulemonger me says that your magic phase ends when you say it does - there isn't a clause that says 'when both players are finished, move to the shooting phase'. There's a clause that says 'when you are done casting spells, you move to the shooting phase'.

Now, you certainly can't go 'We're gonna skip the magic phase cause I'm not gonna cast anything'- it does happen and he can dispel during it, but he has to act, not react in your magic phase (as far as I'm concerned)

tl;dr : its your magic phase, its over when you say it is.

These are the same two situations, ie. you say "I'm not casting anymore, phase over, your DD are wasted." 

... I don't see any justification for him being able to cast a dispel after you say the phase is over. He can certainly do it at any point before then - I'd do the 'are you going to try to dispel Transformation? If not this phase is over.'

Good advice.

@LawGnome - There was a third option (although I think option 2 is fine).  End your own RIP spell, then recast transformation on yourself.  I think this is the best option because his DC for dispelling a previous turns RIP is only the base casting value on the card, but in order to dispel it when you recast it, he has to get much higher.  In your specific example, you could even throw 2-3 dice at Wyssan's first (assuming that was your other spell), then 3-4 dice at Transformation - to force him to make a difficult choice when dispelling.  A Butcher with Wyssan's will eat a bolt thrower just as efficiently as a Great Fire Dragon.

-Snark

@LawGnome - There was a third option (although I think option 2 is fine).  End your own RIP spell, then recast transformation on yourself.  I think this is the best option because his DC for dispelling a previous turns RIP is only the base casting value on the card, but in order to dispel it when you recast it, he has to get much higher.  In your specific example, you could even throw 2-3 dice at Wyssan's first (assuming that was your other spell), then 3-4 dice at Transformation - to force him to make a difficult choice when dispelling.  A Butcher with Wyssan's will eat a bolt thrower just as efficiently as a Great Fire Dragon.

-Snark

I hadn't even thought of that one.  That is a great idea.  I will keep it in mind for the future.