In the "Encountering a Card" section of the Rulebook, there is this rule:
Each player may activate any power no more than once during each step.
I see how this prevents Harsk recharging multiple cards to add multiple d4s to a combat check at another location, and how this prevents Amiri burying multiple cards to add multiple d10s to her Strength, Melee, or Constitution checks.
What I don't see is why Lem's power is worded as such:
Once per check, you may recharge a card to add 1d4 ( +1) ( +2) to a check attempted by another character at your location.
Why did the designers feel the need to write "once per check"? Is there something here I fail to see when using my powers, or is it just some left-over text from previous (play-testing?) incarnations of the game that can be safely removed?
Interestingly, it has been removed from the Skull & Shackles' Lem:
You may recharge a card to add 1d4 ( +1) ( +2) to any check by a character at your location.
By the way in Skull & Shackles, Lem can now apply the power to himself from the beginning, just as the Virtuoso Lem in Rise of the Runelords, right?
So when casting a spell could Lem's power (or Lini from RotRL) work for both the arcane/divine check as well as the recharge check?
Yes. These are two different checks, so you can apply the power for each of them (source).
This is the "Attempt the Check." step, followed by the "Attempt the Next Check, If Needed." step (which explicitly mentions recharging a spell).
On an only partly related note, interestingly enough S&S Lem can buff himself from the getgo, but CD Lem can never buff himself (with that power).
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The changes to Lem's wording is to simplify the text on the cards. Since the rule is in the rulebook about activating powers only once per step, it is no longer needed on the card. But the rewording of the rest is to allow Lem to apply his power to himself as well.
And Fayries is correct, they are two separate checks so you can apply the power to each check.
What I don't see is why Lem's power is worded as such:
Once per check, you may recharge a card to add 1d4 ( +1) ( +2) to a check attempted by another character at your location.Why did the designers feel the need to write "once per check"? Is there something here I fail to see when using my powers, or is it just some left-over text from previous (play-testing?) incarnations of the game that can be safely removed?
I'm pretty sure that's not needed anymore. As the living rulebook has been tightened over time, phrases like this that might've been needed once will be going away in future versions, if more printings are done.