Magic? Or at least sort of?

I like the idea of 'magic' that is actually technology, but also certain tribes with less technology should be able to use some form of actual magic. The player, though, should rely on gear and such.

 

spaaaaace magiiiic

 

Starpower! I still like my idea of star power! The ability to harness stars! Hence the term Starbound
~ John

 

I think using technology would be amazing, like instead of using teleport magic, it could be a teleporter bracelet that teleports you X metres away.

Fire Ball magic, could be like a gauntlet taht sprays out a gasball that lights on fight like a flame thrower
Ice same thing but Liquid Nitrogen

I reckon keep this a Sci fi game, but there's no reason why you can't think of a technological way of using magic.

Hell even summoning magic could be simply explained as teleporting a creature around lol

 

There are technological ways of doing the same stuff you do with magic, be it bracers, drones or whatever you may think of, you just need to remember that being technological doesn't mean that it has to be real, that's it, after all, sci-fi is not reality.

 

Well. Look in Starwish, some alien races (Lucernians) had their own ´´Magic`` that was really their willpower.

 

Something like Biotics from Mass Effect could be nice.

 

Well, we can even have machines do that for us, they don't have to be your "usual guns". Errrr... Ok, I'll show ya what I mean:



You see, Captain Commando is your answer .

 

It would definitely upset me if there was not some sort of Magic-type feature in this game. One thing I'm overly fond of is anything that casts stuff, whether it be technical or magical or whatever does not matter that much to me. However, if there are alien tribes that use traditional magic, what is to stop the player from obtaining said magic? Perhaps they drop like a tome with the spell in it that you can't use until you go back to your space station and research it? Then you could create a magical device to harness or enhance the capabilities of said tome, which would incorporate the technological theme of the game. Sound nice to anyone else? Regardless, I'm in with a lot of people on this thread that some form of ranged attacks that uses something other than ammo needs to exist. It's up to the developers what it's called.

 

Magic is simply technology that we don't understand yet.

 

How about sci-fi things for each magic ability?

Gravity Gun = Telekinesis
Flamethrower = Fireball
Tesla Cannon = Lightning
Freeze Ray = Ice

All can be powered by rechargeable battery bar instead of mana bar and all fit within the item basis of Starbound. I'm sure we could brainstorm others that fit the theme.

Sorry if this has been posted between pages 2 and 5, but 5 pages is a lot of reading at 2:13 AM.

 

I've got different ideas to represent that... And they don't imply the use of a gun... Don't take me wrong, the idea is pretty good, but I'd like to have something different for that purpose... I've got a little suggestion in the suggestions subforum, you may want to stop by and give your opinion, it could help me a whole lot , I need a new perspective .

Also, Korruption and Brigan Filgroinas have great ideas, so, be sure to check their threads too . It will be worth your while.

 

Maybe instead of spells you could have Codexs, which are lines of complex code that can unlock the powers of the universe? When used/typed/etc, you could alter the laws of the universe in some way, like controlling gravity, or sending powerful gamma rays at enemies, or even opening a black hole!

 

As has certainly been said before, magic and super-technology are often indistinguishable. The advantage, from a writing point, to tech in this case is that it feels more setting appropriate. The best part is that it doesn't need more than a few lines of exposition as a justification. "A race existed before that could make this. They all died out (Do I smell exploration quest hooks?). Some of their tech still exists. Yay magic-things."
As for whether there NEEDS to be magic~ options in the game is another matter all together. I think that it adds a deeper gameplay option, but that it in some ways is dangerous to shoehorn a game into an existing paradigm. The ranged/melee/magic tripod exists because it does a good job of representing a lot of different options. However, it can also be limiting. By calcifying the system in those three categories, it prevents some of the fluidity that the devs may be looking for. A sword that casts fireballs as an alt cast, but can still be swung, starts to play havoc with that system, because it's hard to itemize for. Do you want magic damage boosts, or melee, or both? Is hybrid armor something they want to deal with? At a point, it all comes down to stats, and system, but the whole tripod-system just limits the creativity to find new and exciting answers. I think my final opinion is that I would rather have faith in the devs to deliver their vision of what this game should be than to worry about demanding that magic, or anything else really, be included. </gamedesignrant>

 

I agree to you up to certain point, in terms of gameplay, making categories limits possibilities, that's right. Neverthless, in most games, short and long range attacks do exist. What I think most people want to see is some kind of special attack or attacks or the likes of that. They probably want more options, which is not a bad thing... I think that this is the moment for people to expose their ideas, because once the game is finished and it comes out, people should refrain themselves from suggesting further stuff. But when Chucklefish say "here, this is our game, made with all our love for you, fans" no one will be able to say that Starbound is not a game made for gamers, so I say... The suggestions forum exists for a purpose, so, let's allow that purpose to be fulfilled...

That's is my opinion on this issue, which is not an issue really because in the end all that matters is what Chucklefish decides to implement, so I think everything that we do will support the game's development as long as it's supportive for the team. I think that is what we should aim for...

 

Tribes wouldn't fit...

 

On less-advanced planets, tribes would fit the game very well, I think.

 

Sure on less advanced planets, but having a "tribe" as your posse is not the kind of thing they are going for...
Also magic does not really exist in this game, just have the tribes with swords and spears since they are less advanced.

 

Maybe the tribe could have some kind of traditional ritual, which you enter to, and prove is mumbo-jumbo, meaning they get angry at you? After that, cue Indiana-Jones style running away, as the tribe shoots poison darts at you, after disproving their traditions.

 

THE BEST SOLUTION: The Player goes in to an abandoned, empty, dead, with no life planet and start to dig. Suddenly he finds a scroll with strange writings on it. The Player brings it to he's lab and analyses it (ex. its a fireball spell) and after that,he can use the spell OR he builds some kind of a skeletal mechanical arm, puts it on and now he can create a fireball in hes palm and throw it at the penguin's face. Good? Bad idea? Tell me.