Artifacts, Spells, etc: Strange Behavior

BobyDimitrov · 2001-06-09T10:22:35

Inspired by Ketchaval’s “+7 Wand of Instant Death! Fun?” Conflicting Magic This is what we had in an old design (trashed already): Every character has some Magic Skill. Every Magic Item requires some Magic Skill in order to “take control” of it, so you can use it. Some of the Items do have to be “controlled” only when Equipped (i.e. rings on the finger, amulets on the neck), others require “control” even if just sitting in your pocket (backpack, purse) like Magic Stones or some ancient Magical Relic. If you try to control too much items, that is if your Skill is less than the sum of all Skills required an Item might “malfunction”. Here’s an example: Character: Merlin, Wizard of Fire Magic Skill: 10 Magic Items (that require control equipped): Ring of Fire Walk, Magic Skill required: 2 Ring of Flaming Eyes, Magic Skill required: 2 Amulet of Burning Shielding, Magic Skill required: 3 Wand of Ignition, Magic Skill required: 5 Magic Items (that require control not equipped): Shard of Flares, Magic Skill required: 2 The Skin of The Salamander, Magic Skill required: 3 Total Magic Skill required: 17. Obviously, Merlin is controlling too much Magic Items. The ones, that he got (or equipped) latest might not work properly. Example: if Merlin got his Wand last, it may not ignite the enemy the next time he uses it or do less damage or even do damage to the caster. Also, some Items with PSI specials can render the caster in random state of will, like fear, rage… Using opposing Magic Schools’ Items, like Ice/Fire (this is odd, I know) could also change Item’s behavior, depending which School the caster has chosen to participate in. Example: if Merlin (with his current inventory equips the Ring of Freezing Breath (Ice magic), the ring will probably not work at all. Even if it works, it could do damage to the caster (that’s not just losing hit points – what if the ring freezes you in the middle of the battle, or invokes strong (and/or freezing) wind, while you’re standing on a cliff.), or it could randomly damage the surroundings, even enemies, NPCs, buildings, flora, etc. Also, an Item that won’t get off. A ring that you can’t take off your finger. Or, imagine you use a Staff for 2 years and when you sell it to another Character, you find that you’re losing your strength! Next time you’ll find a better Sage (with higher Magic Items Lore) to identify you a Staff. He didn’t found that the Staff puts a curse on it’s previous owner when it changes belongings. Or maybe a well-hidden nasty spell, to which you hero addicted like a narcotic and now that it’s gone he’s weakening. Just to start the discussion. More to come. Boby Dimitrov boby@azholding.com

Game Design and Theory Game Design

Started by BobyDimitrov June 03, 2001 03:50 PM

19 comments, last by BobyDimitrov 23 years, 9 months ago

Darkor

134

June 09, 2001 10:22 AM

BoboDimitrov:
It does deal quite effectively with the saving and reload problem. However, the player must be wondering what happened when it does. If he continues without disposing of the ring, he might get damaged from time with no apparent reason (at least not to him).

If there''s some way you can tell the player, it wouldn''t be realistic. But it''s a great idea to develop but only not practical in game situations.

Artifacts, Spells, etc: Strange Behavior

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Artifacts, Spells, etc: Strange Behavior

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