Spells: Group Spells/Songs "Too High for Intended Target" that is out of group

[Aksiom2k]

While waiting on the boat in FV on my 60 Bard, I was swapping some songs around on my spellbar in preparation for the run through TD to the firepots. Nearby, there was a low level halfling (presumably also waiting for the boat) whom I had targeted upon arriving to the end of the dock. After standing up from memming songs from my spellbook I tried to cast Selo's Song of Travel with said Halfling targeted and received the "Your spell is too powerful for your intended target" message. Clearly, the group spell can't land on my target since he is not in my group, so the spell shouldn't be interrupted from casting. It would seem this has something to do with Target Group Buffing, which is disabled i think, yet is still taking a check when someone goes to cast a group spell on a lower level player.

i have not had a chance to test this on any other classes.