OK, bit slow to post this but busy, busy at the mo.
This forum is for anybody interested in custom DS spells, from conception, through design and implementation.
At the moment I am at the conception stage of two projects, both spell schools intended to have a fully rounded selection of spells (offence, defence, buff-up, summoning, healing, etc)
and associated magic items.
The two schools are 'Circus Magic' and 'Voodoo'.
Here are two sample spell concepts from my lists (at the moment I have many more Circus Magic ideas than Voodoo but I offer one from each):
(Circus Magic)
T: Rabbit Trick
L: Three
CT: Medium
R: Sight
AE: n/a
D: 30-120 seconds
S: n/a
B:The caster conjures a magician's hat and throws it to the ground. The hat then spawns a rabid rabbit every 10s, which will attack the nearest opponent. These rabbits have resistance to physical damage, move at twice the speed of a normal rabbit and inflict a diseased bite. However, they are not endowed with extra hitpoints and effective damage will quickly kill them.
At level 3 the hat remains in place for 30s, spawning three rabbits.
At level 4 the hat remains 60s, spawning six rabbits.
At level 5 the hat remains 90s, spawning nine rabbits.
At level 6 the hat remains 120s, spawning twelve rabbits.
(Voodoo)
T: JuJu Doll
L: Three
CT: Medium
R: Special
AE: n/a
D: Special
S: half-damage
B: JuJu Doll is a standard voodoo spell that enables the caster to damage the enemy at a distance. The spell conjures a fragile JuJu Doll into existence, based on the target individual. This JuJu may be damaged, once, by any means and by any person. The damage dealt to the JuJu is transferred to the target individual and the JuJu itself disintegrates. Any form of damage can be dealt to the JuJu, physical or magical, but it is important to note that while magical damage will be dealt to the target individual, magical effects, such as slowing or blinding, will not transfer. In addition, there is an upper limit on the damage that may dealt to the target set at one quarter of the target's normal hitpoint total. A successful save halves the damage transfered to the target.
I apologise for the rather obvious derivation of the spell stats but it's essentially what I'm used to. The major stat that is missing is mana cost (given that we know the DS spell system uses mana). Without comparative costs of the spells that ship with DS itself, I have no way at present to set the cost.
Everything in these spells and the other 30+ spell ideas I have written down is up for grabs. Duration, damage, everything.
Well, that's it. Welcome again.
Jasperodus
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Yes, I thought about that too, I was going to call it 'High Wire', but obviously 'Tightrope' is just as good.
I came to similar conclusions as you did. It could prolly be made to work but I imagine it could be problematic for the reasons you suggest. I've put it down as a 'maybe' in my latest lists.
I can reveal that I do want to do a spell called 'Human Cannonball'...
I've got a lot of stage magician and clown themed spells with a couple of acrobat/strongman inspired spells as well. At some point I'll be making a full list of concept/design notes available.
Glad you like the theme/school idea.
Jasp
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You'll want to start thinking of how you'd like to publish your ideas so the other developers interested in helping you can help. Would you like to put your ideas into CVS?
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I shall have to keep updated in this forum as well, it seems. i'd love you help you out and hear all of your spell ideas, Jasp. a well thought out spell can be cause for an entire adventure, or at least an out-of-the-way excursion to get it, and magic is essentially the difference between "historical" and "fantasy" role playing. and who wants to read history when they can fantasize, right? ;} all kidding aside, i'll be happy to assist you in all ways when the game is put out with our Seige Editor. i'm sure we can even have some fun with a "spell off," designing different looks for DSDevGuild's custom spells, and taking votes to see which looks better.
if you guys (not just Jasp) want me to post some of my spell ideas as well, let me know, and i'll put a few up... once the Editor is out, we'll know better what we can and can't do with magic, though, so for now i'll stick to some basics.
UrbanLegendary
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You may have got this, but a "storm of daggers" would be cool, maybe?
It could start low-level, with one little dagger arcing overhead to hit somebody. Then, as you level goes up, it turns into a flurry of daggers that swirl around like a hurricane.
Like a blindfolded knife thrower in the circus.
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I've been thinking about a 'Knife Thrower' spell along similar lines to what you say. Also a circus throwing knife magic item.
Some other tentative ideas include 'Knife Dancer', 'Firewalker', 'Rope Trick', etc.
If there are 100+ spells shipping with DS, this means that the two schools that ship with it are prolly ~50+ spells each.
It's a big ambition, but I'd like Circus Magic (which will definitely have priority over the Voodoo School) to approach that number of spells. (This probably necessary for a full-rounded school, in any case.)
Nick
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Hmmm... are these opposites? Are the mages who specialize like archenemies? It's interesting to think of all the ways gaining experience with one school could impact the skills in other areas.
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you guys ever consider spells that require one to have certain levels in both class of magic? like a summon spell that requires to have a level 10 in both schools and leveling up is shares equally in both skills?
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OK, bit slow to post this but busy, busy at the mo.
This forum is for anybody interested in custom DS spells, from conception, through design and implementation.
At the moment I am at the conception stage of two projects, both spell schools intended to have a fully rounded selection of spells (offence, defence, buff-up, summoning, healing, etc)
and associated magic items.
The two schools are 'Circus Magic' and 'Voodoo'.
Here are two sample spell concepts from my lists (at the moment I have many more Circus Magic ideas than Voodoo but I offer one from each):
(Circus Magic)
T: Rabbit Trick
L: Three
CT: Medium
R: Sight
AE: n/a
D: 30-120 seconds
S: n/a
B:The caster conjures a magician's hat and throws it to the ground. The hat then spawns a rabid rabbit every 10s, which will attack the nearest opponent. These rabbits have resistance to physical damage, move at twice the speed of a normal rabbit and inflict a diseased bite. However, they are not endowed with extra hitpoints and effective damage will quickly kill them.
At level 3 the hat remains in place for 30s, spawning three rabbits.
At level 4 the hat remains 60s, spawning six rabbits.
At level 5 the hat remains 90s, spawning nine rabbits.
At level 6 the hat remains 120s, spawning twelve rabbits.
(Voodoo)
T: JuJu Doll
L: Three
CT: Medium
R: Special
AE: n/a
D: Special
S: half-damage
B: JuJu Doll is a standard voodoo spell that enables the caster to damage the enemy at a distance. The spell conjures a fragile JuJu Doll into existence, based on the target individual. This JuJu may be damaged, once, by any means and by any person. The damage dealt to the JuJu is transferred to the target individual and the JuJu itself disintegrates. Any form of damage can be dealt to the JuJu, physical or magical, but it is important to note that while magical damage will be dealt to the target individual, magical effects, such as slowing or blinding, will not transfer. In addition, there is an upper limit on the damage that may dealt to the target set at one quarter of the target's normal hitpoint total. A successful save halves the damage transfered to the target.
I apologise for the rather obvious derivation of the spell stats but it's essentially what I'm used to. The major stat that is missing is mana cost (given that we know the DS spell system uses mana). Without comparative costs of the spells that ship with DS itself, I have no way at present to set the cost.
Everything in these spells and the other 30+ spell ideas I have written down is up for grabs. Duration, damage, everything.
Well, that's it. Welcome again.
Jasperodus
Hey, I like that title, Circus magic!
reminds me of the discussion on PDS about "Lord of the Dance" modding. "Sorcerous Dance" would be another good school.
For the circus magic, "Tightrope" would be cool. It would allow you to create a walkable path across chasms, longer the higher the spell level.
This might upset level designing and planning, but it's just an idea, after all...;)
Yes, I thought about that too, I was going to call it 'High Wire', but obviously 'Tightrope' is just as good.
I came to similar conclusions as you did. It could prolly be made to work but I imagine it could be problematic for the reasons you suggest. I've put it down as a 'maybe' in my latest lists.
I can reveal that I do want to do a spell called 'Human Cannonball'...
I've got a lot of stage magician and clown themed spells with a couple of acrobat/strongman inspired spells as well. At some point I'll be making a full list of concept/design notes available.
Glad you like the theme/school idea.
Jasp
You'll want to start thinking of how you'd like to publish your ideas so the other developers interested in helping you can help. Would you like to put your ideas into CVS?
I shall have to keep updated in this forum as well, it seems. i'd love you help you out and hear all of your spell ideas, Jasp. a well thought out spell can be cause for an entire adventure, or at least an out-of-the-way excursion to get it, and magic is essentially the difference between "historical" and "fantasy" role playing. and who wants to read history when they can fantasize, right? ;} all kidding aside, i'll be happy to assist you in all ways when the game is put out with our Seige Editor. i'm sure we can even have some fun with a "spell off," designing different looks for DSDevGuild's custom spells, and taking votes to see which looks better.
if you guys (not just Jasp) want me to post some of my spell ideas as well, let me know, and i'll put a few up... once the Editor is out, we'll know better what we can and can't do with magic, though, so for now i'll stick to some basics.
UrbanLegendary
You may have got this, but a "storm of daggers" would be cool, maybe?
It could start low-level, with one little dagger arcing overhead to hit somebody. Then, as you level goes up, it turns into a flurry of daggers that swirl around like a hurricane.
Like a blindfolded knife thrower in the circus.
I've been thinking about a 'Knife Thrower' spell along similar lines to what you say. Also a circus throwing knife magic item.
Some other tentative ideas include 'Knife Dancer', 'Firewalker', 'Rope Trick', etc.
If there are 100+ spells shipping with DS, this means that the two schools that ship with it are prolly ~50+ spells each.
It's a big ambition, but I'd like Circus Magic (which will definitely have priority over the Voodoo School) to approach that number of spells. (This probably necessary for a full-rounded school, in any case.)
Nick
Circus Magic vs. Voodoo...
Hmmm... are these opposites? Are the mages who specialize like archenemies? It's interesting to think of all the ways gaining experience with one school could impact the skills in other areas.
Opposites? No. Just two ideas.
As it is, the Circus Magic school is far more developed conceptually. Probably CM will be the focus of my work until quite a lot of it is done.
Jasp
you guys ever consider spells that require one to have certain levels in both class of magic? like a summon spell that requires to have a level 10 in both schools and leveling up is shares equally in both skills?