FTW magic system : V

» Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:54 am

Oblivion's melee system allows players to vary damage, block and 4 special moves with one weapon. A spell has a fixed power/action, and combat becomes more about selecting the right spell than casting. This leads repetitive use of an ill-applicable one spell fits all. What if one spell could be; on target, on touch, cone(flame thrower) or glyph and vary in power. Similar to melee; how long you hold the button, skill level and perks will determine the power and magika cost. Take a single fire spell:

-Ranged hold button and release at desired power; allows anything from rapid barrage of smaller fireballs to a single giant flaming ball of doom using the same spell.
-On touch same as above but player is in physical contact of desired target when button is released.
-Flame thrower double click and hold on 2nd click (the cone range/damage could be increased or decreased by left/right trigger buttons on controllers or scrolling the mouse wheel forward or back.)
-Glyph, I imagine theses as preparations for battle not done while being attacked, hold button down while looking at the ground and the fire glyph begins to trace. At certain critical points in the glyph the spell button is pushed and held to desired amount. The points represent size of affected area, intensity, duration and perhaps an inner "trigger" circle.

Caution, charge a spell too much and it could do anything from simply fizzle out to blow up in your face. One spell could replace a dozen in the spell book. By reducing excess spell clutter and shifting focus to dynamic casting instead of spell selection, the magic system becomes much more immersion and enjoyable.

» Sat Nov 13, 2010 1:46 pm

Four tabs: Target, Touch, On Self, Beam/flamethrower

» Sat Nov 13, 2010 2:56 pm

Caution, charge a spell too much and it could do anything from simply fizzle out to blow up in your face. One spell could replace a dozen in the spell book. By reducing excess spell clutter and shifting focus to dynamic casting instead of spell selection, the magic system becomes much more immersion and enjoyable.

What you describe is exactly what I am hoping for. I am very interested in seeing how they go about this with the other schools.

» Sat Nov 13, 2010 7:36 pm

What if one spell could be; on target, on touch, cone(flame thrower) or glyph and vary in power.

Then you'd have something like this:

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/01/24/skyrim-building-better-combat.aspx?PostPageIndex=2

One of the more alluring changes to the spellcasting in Skyrim is how you can employ spells in different ways. For instance, you could blast enemies with a flame ball from afar, hold the button down to wield the spell like a flame thrower, place a rune on the ground to create an environmental trap that spontaneously combusts when an enemy steps on it, or equip the spell with both hands to deliver high damage fireball attacks that drain your magicka reserves quickly.

:blink:

» Sun Nov 14, 2010 1:09 am

Then you'd have something like this:

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/01/24/skyrim-building-better-combat.aspx?PostPageIndex=2

:blink:

I was excited when they said this would be, but it is not as robust as the system I suggested. For example if an NPC has 10pts of health left and the spell I have been using is 30pts damage fire. I just need a little fireball so even with the system they have here I would need to change spells. So yes what they have except hold to charge fireball or on touch and double tap for flame thrower.

Also, though they might have it in mind and not mentioned it; being able to adjust glyphs on the fly, trigger points, duration, area effect and intensity using the same spell would be wonderful.