I was always impressed with the way spells were handled in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, it was a system that was neither necessary nor obvious, but yielded great results if you got good at it. Casting spells required memorization of the button presses, and all of the games abilities were available from the start of the game. You just had to find or discover them for yourself, and meet the MP requirement. Within some new boundaries, I think a system to use racial abilities, supernatural gifts, or psychic powers should be implemented. Avians seem like they place a lot of value in their deity, I'm sure they have soothsayers or priests of some kind. Maybe these holy men have actual supernatural or at least superavian abilities? The system could be as simple as it was in Castlevania, requiring button presses like "right left up down left mouse", or a seperate button modified could be used, like holding down left shift while inputting commands. Both methods could lead to some interesting gameplay developments. To keep things fresh, maybe each character could have a set of randomly generated skill lists, so no "compilation" of spells could be made for quick reference, and everyone would have the same experience of discovering the depth of their character. I imagine in times of quick button presses like during fights or while running from an intimidating enemy, you'll stumble upon these abilities through key spam. This sense of discovery could only be achieved if the ability system was left as it were in Castlevania.
Yeah, this is a good idea. I never played castlevania, but i like the idea. But what kind of special things would you expect from humans?
Holding shift while pressing in turn the following: T - H - I - S - I - S - S - P - A - R - T - A Would result in kicking a mob or player to the chest, making them fall over. On a serious note, I think this would be awesome. It souldn't be easy button combinations though, I think that would be dull. The way I see it, you should also be able to create your own moves with the abilities you have collected.
But wouldn't people just look up the combinations on the internet? I can already see just created characters already using Omega-Death-Beams... By MP requirement do you mean that you would simply have to have enough MP to cast the spell? Or that you would have to have some amount of max MP to be able to use that spell? Also, what about non-mage characters? I don't think they would have much MP. How would they use skills and be able to use better ones later?
skills combos could be randomly generated per character... Each Player Character will have a random list of innate abilities based on list from their race (non-magical so as to appease the Dev Gods) No one character would have all abilities Each ability would have a random button combo (from a list or procedurally fabricated) so that no "how to" list can be created, even if a list of abilities is released. I also suggested something similar Here. I love SOTN!
This is exactly what I'm talking about. Races could have different aptitudes and each spell/ability would be effective to different levels between characters. Maybe that aptitude could be raised through training, resulting in difference in "Mage characters" and "non-Mage". The option is there, but if you'd rather fine tune a rifle over practicing pedantic button presses, more freedom to you. Your idea is great! You've developed it a little further than my idea, with a key difference of weapon abilities. I love that idea too, holding attack on a per weapon basis results in different skills. It'd be great if both of these ideas were implemented, combat would be massively varied!
