tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208890564265615027.post8189842479574496600..comments2024-03-08T19:47:41.485+11:00Comments on Ascii Dreams: Designing a Magic System - Part One (Suspension of Disbelief)Andrew Doullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11099404183952971291noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208890564265615027.post-3185505368329682852013-04-25T03:08:45.818+10:002013-04-25T03:08:45.818+10:00My biggest thing with any game's magic system ...My biggest thing with any game's magic system is how varied the spells are. Ex: One to light up a cave, turn items into something else, warp back to your H.Q, and the time-tested fireball >>>>> 10 attack spells of varying degrees of direct damage. May seem like a no-brainer however you'd be surprised what's out there (or maybe you wouldn't).<br /><br />Del_Duio<br />http://dxfgames.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114665645458848981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208890564265615027.post-33978434055305496872013-04-25T03:08:24.265+10:002013-04-25T03:08:24.265+10:00My biggest thing with any game's magic system ...My biggest thing with any game's magic system is how varied the spells are. Ex: One to light up a cave, turn items into something else, warp back to your H.Q, and the time-tested fireball >>>>> 10 attack spells of varying degrees of direct damage. May seem like a no-brainer however you'd be surprised what's out there (or maybe you wouldn't).<br /><br />Del_Duio<br />http://dxfgames.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114665645458848981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208890564265615027.post-77997450518593555712009-11-29T14:08:22.333+11:002009-11-29T14:08:22.333+11:00Interesting point but it doesn't highlight the...Interesting point but it doesn't highlight the use of anchors - in order to make magic systems recognisable across any type of game genre. This is why the Japanese developed their own worlds with the whole Final Fantasy concept rubbing many western fantasy buffs the wrong way. <br /><br />It's why you implicitly recognise the maps in many of the (good) fantasy books. They often deliberately structure them similar to real world couterparts, but with none of the names. If the reader doesn't recognise it, they will find themselves lost because many fantasy stories refer to non-existent locations. It is distracting to have to constantly flick back to the map section - although I know some that find this entertaining.<br /><br />Whilst I'm here - make sure you read Song of Fire and Ice series by George R R Martin from book one. He is one of the few true Tolkien rivals in literature with huge family trees being woven into complex, often tragic plots. He doesn't have the same flowery, poetry-reading knight or gruff, homesick warrior that other fantasy books have. It's like The Wire - but in a medieval alternate world. His world-magic is very understated and often leaves the reader wondering if it really does exist.<br /><br />On the original point - the paradigm of magic will always remain the same because it is paralleled with modern day scientific counterparts. Light sabers = swords, rifles = bows, pistols = crossbowss, fireballs = petrol bombs, etc.Cipherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16592424159681160442noreply@blogger.com