Who can cast spells during combat in Spellfire?

Question

My question is about the rules for Spellfire, Master the Magic, which is a collectible card game that was discontinued in the 90s. There is a set of rules posted online here; however, it doesn't seem clear who can cast spells (and spell-like abilities) during combat (phase 4). Is it only the characters who are active in the current combat round who can cast spells, or can characters that are in the players pools use their spell-like abilities to assist a combat? For me, the confusion partly arises because some spells can be cast during phases 3 and 5 (outside combat), as long as a player has a character in their pool that can use those abilities.

For example, say I have a hero attacking an opposing player's realm and a wizard in my pool. Can the wizard cast spells into the combat to assist the hero? If my opponent casts a spell, can that wizard cast a dispel magic spell to cancel their spell?

Presumably, the rule will be the same for spells and other spell-like abilities (e.g. psionic powers, thief abilities).

Answer 1

During combat only champions participating can cast spells (that were attached to them before the combat began). spells are first cast by the attacker, then the defender.

The rules aren't written in the clearest manner, but spell casting during combat is clarified as part of the Order of Activation section:

1. RULE CARD

2. DUNGEON CARD

3. REALM POWER

4. HOLDING POWER

5. SPELLS, PSIONIC POWERS, AND OTHER CARDS IN PLAY BEFORE BATTLE (IN THE ORDER PLAYED)

6. POWERS THAT ACTIVATE “BEFORE COMBAT”

7. ATTACKING CHAMPION’S SPECIAL POWER AND ANY ATTACHED:
   a.) Artifacts*
   b.) Allies*
   c.) Magical items*
   d.) Blood abilities*
   e.) Thief skills*
   f.) Unarmed combat cards*
   g.) Psionic power cards*
   h.) Spells*

8. DEFENDING CHAMPION’S SPECIAL POWER AND: Attached cards (same order as attacker)

   *Multiple same-type cards activate first by highest bonus modifier and then alphabetically (starting with the first letter of the card name). When determining bonus, use only the number in the card’s icon. In the case of same-name cards with no bonuses, lowest card number goes first.