Goodmorning all,
Stealing from the linked forum post I would like to suggest the following total makeover of the magic system.
Non pre-set spells.
spells would be made by the user, during the game in the following manner.
1 choose the size of spell
cattrap - 2 components, minor - 5 components, major - 12 components, world shaking - 24+ components
2. Choose the components of the spell
Each school of magic would have 3 or 4 levels, each level would have 3 or 4 abilities available.
Fire level 1 might have
Direct damage - do one 'swing' attack 8 damage 10
Splash - add to a spell, does +2 attack - 4 damage, + 2 swings. (or - 3 max duration, effects max 3 units in a group)
cauterize wounds - Does 1 damage, cures shock, stun, bleeding frozen, and other similar status ailments (not poison).
Water 1 might have
Direct damage - do one 'swing' attack 8 damage 7
Freeze - add to a spell, inflicts frozen status to one unit (freeze prevents motion if all units in group are frozen, reduces def by 3 and swings by 1.)
Cure - Like cauterize but heals rather then hurts.
One of the Air schools and levels might have spells that improve accuracy, block archery, reduce effective distance(for archery), reduce the number of 'targets' a spell consumes when it hits. (lightning vs fireball)
The earth school would bolster Armour, block a target completely, (so you are attacked by no more then 2 people at a time not 3).
A simple Cattrap might use the same ability twice, so cure + cure = better cure spell, Direct fire + splash = weak fireball.
Level 2 abilities of a school would take two component slots, and level 3 would take 3.
Also you could make spells by mixing schools. Use one 'cross school' component.
So cattraps can not be cross school, but minor spells can have 5 bits of one school, or 2 bits of one school and 2 bits of another.
Each bit would have an associated mana, essence, casting time, research time,and maintenance cost, as well as the number of slots used would add mana costs.
Some spell components would obviously not be mixable, or mixable only with other tactical or overland spells. (raise land for example).
Step 3. Choose your graphic.
Step 4. Pay to 'research' the spell. Like the current system you would build up a pool of magic research points, you can design spells, and then wait to have enough RP to unlock it later.
General
The System would be complimented with researching spell components, so if you have 2 of 4 firebooks you can start by researching level 1, then researching each of the spell components of level 1, or skipping and researching level 2 and then researching the spell components for level 2. If later you find or capture a 3rd fire book you can then research level 3 and it's components.
Now you have the choice on how you spend your RP, make a new spell, discover a new component, unlock a new book level, research cross spell abilities?
You would of course start with some research points, enough to unlock an attack spell, and maybe a small summon spell.
What does everybody think.
I think this system might be too much of a change for StarDock to implement before an expansion pack. but perhaps worth thinking about on the back burner.
