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MMO without "flashy" magic?
BadSpock
Member UncommonPosts: 7,979
Here's a question - would you be interested in an MMO without "flashy" magic?
I'm talking low-fantasy magic, more akin to LOTR (books) or Game of Thrones than to the typical fireball-throwing particle effects flashy magic in everything from EQ to WoW.
No direct damage magic.
No in combat healing.
No instant cast anything, more long-winded chants, incantations, and rituals.
No casting while moving.
What would you have then?
Pre-combat buffs and boons, i.e. an incantation to bolster your allies resolve.
Out of combat healing - chant to mend wounds or like a ritual to return the life and spirit to a fallen comrade.
Environmental, conditional magic - like being able to turn a puddle of water into ice to create a slick, or turn an open flame from like a trebuchet hit into a wall of fire to ward off attackers.
Simple magic, like being able to create a light source for a dark dungeon instead of lighting a torch.
Magical in more practical terms like being able to read ancient runes, speak a magic word to open a magic door.
A bright flash to disorient enemies only if the sun is behind you.
A forceful "push" to crack/break apart and clear a boulder or rubble from your path.
Ability to imbue magical properties to armor and weapons using rituals and/or specialty ingredients of a magical nature, like fire oil created from dragon blood or a hardening agent for armor distilled from treant bark.
Ability to speak and read ancient/dead languages and/or communicate with animals and command them.
Transfiguration / Animagus - transform into an animal.
Would you play such a "Wizard" archetype if your "magic" were primarily of a support, utility, and lore/knowledge finding nature and you still had to rely primarily on martial means (swords, bows, etc.) for combat?
Comments
Well, maybe a few things.
He had died and come back much more powerful at the time
Yeah that would be the kicker. The magic use would have to be subtle and "grounded" enough to where not everyone would want to be a Wizard, and even those that did would be seen swinging swords and crashing shields in combat most of the time.
You'd have to make some pretty severe trade offs, like you could use zero armor. Or you had to use a staff in order to do any "powerful" magic which meant you were slightly gimped in combat - of course using a staff and sword at the same time ala Gandalf would be cool as shit.
Thats my question, how did you work "no moving while casting in"
people can move and swing a swrod. in facts thats how its done
shooting arrows from horseback was quite common thing
so why would our imaginary wizard have to stand still while manically waving his hands or chanting? ;P
I would definitely play something like that. Magic is treated as pure dps these days. It would be nice to see it become pure utility. Harken back to it's roots a bit.
I guess it would be the equivalent of using sign language while running? Can deaf people sign and run legibly at the same time? I actually have no idea and never seen it and it's not meant to be a slight towards deaf people. Just what I picture looks kind of funny. Either way, for gameplay purposes I think a mage type person should at least be able to walk/move somewhat while casting.
"If I offended you, you needed it" -Corey Taylor
yes they can scream their hands off while running....ive seen it.
having a low magic world in a game would be interesting though
No i would not enjoy it and never liked EQ OOC healing either.
I ha e seen a lot of real cheap looking effects in games,especially when comes to laser type fire,hence the oft used term pew pew fire.
Most of the military type guns turn me off as boring,hence why i prefer magic and Fantasy a lot more.My fave fps games were Unreal and Quake so not your typical ping ping or pew pew,like i see in COD or CS or similar.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
Life is Feudal MMO beta will launch late this year early next year and have no magic whatsoever. It will only have real life alchemy and herbal medicines.
The closest thing to magic might be a naptha grenade as used in the movie "300".
Life IS Feudal
Well the idea is that with magic not really being all to "combat" oriented at all, more so magic exists as a utility.
You don't need to read a ancient rune tablet to learn how to open a magic door to lead your party into a dungeon whilst riding a horse and shooting a bow, kind of thing.
People are getting hung up on the "casting while moving" thing because (I think) combat.
The idea here, in general, is except for a few very specific examples, pretty much removing Magic from the combat.
Like, a Necromancer could return life to a fallen comrade's body after the battle was over- but with some negative effect only mitigated by a proper "healer" down the road.
And they could "summon" a dark/foul creature to do their bidding and fight on their behalf, but we're talking a pre-combat ritual to summon said entity, not shooting Shadow bolts and casting a DoT Hex.
Just think of all of the cool utility type spells you've seen in other games...
Like the Warlock from WoW summoning a pet minion, or a heathstone cauldron, or summoning portal, and having a group buff to increase parties crit damage. Or a Curse to enfeeble the mind of an enemy.
Or a Mage creating a portal, teleporting, summoning food/drink, a buff to parties Intellect, maybe even a Polymorph etc.
But no DoTs or direct damage spells.
Would it be "Magic" enough to have all the utility of your "typical" MMO mage/wizard/warlock/necro/druid etc. etc. but still rely on good old martial skill for combat?
but what would that necro do during combat, lets face it, MMOs are all about combat.
i could see that work in a MMO with non combat classes ala SWG.
In combat they'd have a sword that was cursed to cause wounds to fester and rot if they struck their foe - like the morgul-blade used by the Ring-wraiths from Tolkein.
That kind of thing.
But their combat "moves" would be no different than a warrior/fighter/swordsman type.
Why be a warrior type then? No magic? Wear armor, use shields, more skilled with weapons, maybe other "magic-light" abilities like Leadership skills to inspire allies with their presence or intimidate foes with a yell and gesture, etc.
Well, i dont want to be a naysayer (and i dont mind it) but you would get "all classes play the same"...a lot ;P
Can we not face that. I mean I know it's true, but it's just kind of a said fact that too many mmos are wholly focused around killing things. I want a little bit of hope that things can change. Just a littl.
The wizard dose make more sense as a non combat class though. It wouldn't mean they don't go on dungeons, but that they just wouldn't fight directly. It could work out especially if you stacked your dungeons with traps and puzzles to go along with the killing.
Yeah, certainly, but I just think it'd be cool to see a low-fantasy use of magic.
Something a bit more grounded than people flinging energy balls and ice storms at each other.
Well, in conan (original movie) "wizard" was a non combat character (well he did participate in final battle ;P...to a degree )
I think you ment something along those lines. original conan movie.
I'd still see Wizard types as fighting, but not with magic - outside of like, a special blade they have enchanted to glow when orcs are near or that can be lit aflame with dragon oil and a arcane spark from their fingertips to intimidate foes and maybe light something ablaze when they make contact - if said thing is flammable.
You'd have to change archer's too. A very skilled archer can certainly draw and shoot accurately on the move and while riding, but an arrow could also be stopped be a shield or even deflected by a skilled enough warrior.
You wouldn't have "special" shots that did crazy spell effects either, except in the case where magic were used before the shot to say... enchant the arrow to fly further or if you dipped the tip in venom.
So a lot of combat would come down to melee, yes, but using the LOTR movies as an example, even Gandalf and Legolas spent a very large portion of the time they were in battle slicing stuff up with a sword didn't they?
When was the last MMO that required you to use a light source, read runes, or pick locks?
Most MMOs just skip to the combat as that seems to be what people want.
Magic like being able to change appearance (illusion), levitate, or breath under water, create light sources, unlock locks, deciphering ancient languages, and moving faster doesn't seem to attract people.
because in the end it all came down to killing stuff. You couldnt advance in the game if you didnt kill stuff.
so those were just fluff buffs to get to killing stuff faster/easier.
More about what characters could do outside of combat.
So you take your three basic RPG archetypes - fighter, scout, wizard, and break them down like:
Fighter - lives for combat, most skilled in melee combat, can use shields and ranged weapons (bows, crossbows, spears) and most comfortable and agile in armor ranging from simple leather to plate. Outside of combat, skilled with their hands - can work metal, ores, and lumber into everything from tools to weapons to homes and fortifications. Sturdy, brave in the face of danger and capable of inspiring strength and resolve among their allies.
Scout- fast and quiet on their feet, observant, skilled with a bow, can fight if they have to - but tries to avoid direct confrontation. Can become skilled with the use of poisons and traps. Tracking and hunting. Adept at identifying and gathering valuable plants, mosses, and weeds. Skinning animals for leather and pelts, natural survivalists capable of extended service in the wilds without the comforts of civilization. Avoid heavy armors to remain light and deadly silent on their feet. Natural escape artists.
Wizard - In tune with the magical forces of the world. Scholars. Adept at reading and interpreting ancient runes, puzzles, languages, and signs. Their mastery of the elements and magic allows them unparalleled utility for a fellowship of adventurers. Still trained to hold their own in a fight, Wizards rely on their intellect and preparedness to see them through troubled times. Can heal the most grievous of wounds, cure potent toxins, and break powerful curses. Or apply them! Can commune with animals, beasts, and even with the dead.
I know, it's an old-fashion idea to be just as (if not MORE) concerned with everything outside of combat as the acts of combat themselves.