Simple Spells

[Ghekrd]

Instead of mixing glyphs how about just a magic skill? For example, once you become an apprentice you obtain something like a magic book. There are different spells depending on your rank of magic and the way you chose... I don\'t exactly like the glyphs cuz I sometimes don\'t know which glyphs to mix.

[Moogie]

That would be uninspiring, uninventive, and unoriginal. Just like every other magic system in every other game out there.

It\'s fun to have a unique system where you actually have to use your brain and figure out the puzzle. Trial and error, experimentation, success and failure. Learning magic is a challenge... it\'s an art... it\'s something to be proud of when you finally figure out the complex glyph combination of a spell which will make you all-powerful.

[confused]

Originally posted by Moogie
That would be uninspiring, uninventive, and unoriginal. Just like every other magic system in every other game out there.

It\'s fun to have a unique system where you actually have to use your brain and figure out the puzzle. Trial and error, experimentation, success and failure. Learning magic is a challenge... it\'s an art... it\'s something to be proud of when you finally figure out the complex glyph combination of a spell which will make you all-powerful.

Well the idea is far from unique, I seen this concept implimenet in a couple CRPGs in the last 15 years and a few Pen & Paper RPGs also have implimented. I also have one with me that has a very similar magic system that is at least 20 years old already.

[Phinehas]

I just had to dredge this thread up to say how much the glyph system bothers me. It's extremely bad for RP-ing a wizard. We apparently have to carry backpacks full of glyphs with us everywhere we go and bring them out and smack them together or something to cast magic. I know that no one's going to change the system just because I don't like it, but this is the wish list, after all.

[Gharan]

In my opinion the glyphs take far to much inventory space,I only have energy and arrow in my inventory at the moment and sold the rest of my glyphs for more space.

[Karyuu]

In the future we're most probably going to have a separate "glyph bag."

I think in PlaneShift the magic system alters the established perception of a wizard's job. It's less raising your arms and chanting, and more working with items. Glyphs aren't large objects, and you can hardly expect to be able to work in more than two Ways, at most (in the ultimate end). That already narrows down the amount you have to carry - either you concentrate on the Way that you prefer the most, or you do a little here and there and never rise to true mastery of any.

Mages have to have glyphs about their person - and that gives me some interesting costuming ideas - but I really don't understand how that's bad for roleplay?

[Kezzik]

only two ways? well that's dissappointingly limiting

[Phinehas]

Mages have to have glyphs about their person - and that gives me some interesting costuming ideas - but I really don't understand how that's bad for roleplay?

I'd say that first off I'm just a fan of the old wizardry, and therefore this new concept bothers me. I never really RPed before I came to PS, and having to not play the character I want to play in the world that I want to play him in is disturbing.

Also, there's EXTREMELY little explanation of how glyphs are used in an RP sense. What do we do, smack 'em together and hope sparks fly? Also, how much of the magic is dependent on the glyph and how much on the wielder? If it's all the glyph than there's no talent to magic except figuring out which one to use to zap people with.

I'm guessing I'd like the system better if there was more explanation with it.

[Karyuu]

I'll make a note to add your questions to the Q&A thread then - it's knowledge that would benefit the entire community.

[Under the moon]

This 'glyph' system is hardly original. In countless games, you have to 'equip' an artifact to cast a certian spell. The Suikoden series is a good example of this in action.

I the system bad? *shrugs* Just don't call it original.

[The Shadow Nose]

Random though:

Personally, I liked the magic system in NetHack. Wizards could do so many cool things because they could read spellbooks to get new powers. But then they need to have enough knowlege in that particular area to even learn the spell in the first place. It has a sort of simplicity in it that I like. (plus the fact that those spellbooks were so hard to find, buy, or iidentify...

Anyway, having spellbooks that teach specific spells sounds really good for me.



One other random thought: Thief vs. Wizard

Theif: I have a skill that lets me steal items from another persons inventory.

Wizard: Oh yeah! I can summon bolts of energy to strike down my enemies... as long as I hold these little glyph things.

Thief: *steals the wizards glyphs* Yoink!

Wizard: ...


Moral of the story: Skills are better than items, because nobody can steal your skills.

[Under the moon]

*makes sure to level up on the /yoink skill*

I see glyphs like magic wands. Just a conduit for the knowledge and skills of the wizard. Each glyph is 'prepped' to ehance certain spells.

I would like to see glyphs that can hold more than one spell, or advanced custom spells. (more on that later)

[Phinehas]

It still just seems extremely awkward in practicality. Almost as if the glyph system was thought up specifically so that anyone could use magic, but no one would be a "pure" magic wielder.

[Under the moon]

I agree. You will like what I am thinking up in my devious mind. Too bad it would not be esy for n00bs to learn, so it will never happen.

[Phinehas]

Well, let me know anyway, that way we can mock the feeble-minded noobs together.