Suggestion: Different way to cast magic
by Chase Jackson · in General Discussion · 02/18/2003 (9:21 pm) · 4 replies
First off, great job Realm Wars team. I love most of what you have done in the game so far. I have a few gripes though, but today I will just address one.
The Elf sorceress curently uses a staff from which she fires her magic with. In a large majority of fantasy, wizards and sorcerers dont really use a staff to cast magic, they use their hands and speak something . The staff rather would be used as a object of focus from which the caster derives power to cast a greater spell then one without the aid of a staff.
I suggest something along the lines like this:
Hexen Mage Hands
(sorry for lack of better example)
Basicly what I do not like about the staff is that it doesnt really feel like your character is casting a spell, It feels like you character is simply using a staff with its own magic power.
If you do go with something like this in the future I started thinking of a great way to continue using the staff. Have it be an like an accessory that recharges spell uses faster, kinda like the Energy pack in tribes 2.
Again, great game. I hope I have not offended those who have worked on the elfs magic system, I apoligise if I have.
The Elf sorceress curently uses a staff from which she fires her magic with. In a large majority of fantasy, wizards and sorcerers dont really use a staff to cast magic, they use their hands and speak something . The staff rather would be used as a object of focus from which the caster derives power to cast a greater spell then one without the aid of a staff.
I suggest something along the lines like this:
Hexen Mage Hands
(sorry for lack of better example)
Basicly what I do not like about the staff is that it doesnt really feel like your character is casting a spell, It feels like you character is simply using a staff with its own magic power.
If you do go with something like this in the future I started thinking of a great way to continue using the staff. Have it be an like an accessory that recharges spell uses faster, kinda like the Energy pack in tribes 2.
Again, great game. I hope I have not offended those who have worked on the elfs magic system, I apoligise if I have.
#2
I agree items such as this should be considered weapons for the mages to use eventualy, which add to their magical potency and may heighten spellcasting in some ways.
As for magic itself, the charging system mentioned is supposed to be added to the game. I think there's a possibility that different systems may be used, some using the time-based system, others using charging, and maybe more... or it may just boil down to one way for all. I'm not certain exactly which way it'll go, but it will be tested and refined like the rest of RW.
Magic items, as far as I know, are still in the design phase, but I think we should take what you mentioned into consideration when planning them.
Good thoughts by the way :)
- Chris
02/19/2003 (1:13 am)
I honestly just thought of the staff as being a prop just for now, and if anything her (the elf's) default weapon. There's still plenty more to discuss about magic and I believe James mentioned we will be working on it in the next month or so.I agree items such as this should be considered weapons for the mages to use eventualy, which add to their magical potency and may heighten spellcasting in some ways.
As for magic itself, the charging system mentioned is supposed to be added to the game. I think there's a possibility that different systems may be used, some using the time-based system, others using charging, and maybe more... or it may just boil down to one way for all. I'm not certain exactly which way it'll go, but it will be tested and refined like the rest of RW.
Magic items, as far as I know, are still in the design phase, but I think we should take what you mentioned into consideration when planning them.
Good thoughts by the way :)
- Chris
#3
02/19/2003 (11:59 am)
Right now the differetn staffs are different weapons just because that was the easiest way to get it working. The sound fx and the animations for spellcasting are totally off.
#4
02/19/2003 (12:04 pm)
nm 
Eli McClanahan
The system we're using now is only temporary. I agree that weapons shouldn't make a difference when it comes to what spells you use. Personally, I think you should be given about 5 slots to place the magic of your choice in, and that's what you have to use. Weapons should be used as weapons only, with MAYBE some type of boost for your magic overall.
I imagine the reason why it looks the way it does now is because we aren't using the right system yet. Everything will be tested of course, but I -think- we're going to go with the charging system I (self glorification, yay) came up with.
Using that system, there would have to be an animation created for charging, such as holding both arms in the air, or holding your right arm out in a fist, or whatever. An effect would probably spawn under you, and that would be the jist of how magic charging looks. Think of the player animation in the Final Fantasy games when they use magic.
I really didn't think about weapon to magic use until now. Forcing a player to switch weapons to use a specific type of magic isn't a good thing. It's also unrealistic for the character to be able to carry so much weight (please don't say "slow down the player the more spell rods he carries.")
The game just works better without that. It's for the best, aside from that, because it gives more of a feel for the races.