Quote - I got the ball and box to work ok, and the ball and floor but I just can't get the gather node to work on a model.  Something I'm not doing right, I'm sure,

Ditto that!

I got the ball on the box but that's all I've been able to achieve with this.

I want to know how you get it to illuminate on an actual figure such as a mage holding a ball of light where the light would obviously be illuminating the mage's body.

"It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to say." - Ghandi