There are a few cool effects currently in-game, but there are so many more possibilities. Also, items that go in the back slot have both an active slot and a visual slot even though they are all cosmetic. Effects and stats for back items would be a great addition. Magic would be so fun to mess with and could be a viable addition to the game for combat. *Decided to add more because of feedback * Melee Weapon Effects - Lifesteal - gives a randomized % of health back per hit Vampire - gives a randomized % of health back per kill Frost - slows down enemy movement by a random % Projectiles - fireballs, skulls, poison gas, lightning, you name it Knockback - gives that weapon a good punch Bash - gives a small % to stun an enemy for a random amount of time Crits - gives a random % of a random % of bonus damage Throwing Weapon/Bow Effects - Add the basic abilities that are already in the game and ones that are listed for melee Explosive Arrows - deals high AoE damage and breaks blocks Grenades - EMP (stuns), Frost (slows), Sticky, on-impact explosion, Gas, Smoke (enemies lose agro), etc. Crits - gives a random % of a random % of bonus damage Gun Effects - *Guns should have accuracy that is randomized* Bouncing - bullets bounce a random number of times Incendiary - ignites enemy Chain Shot - bounces from enemy to enemy Laser Sights - points a laser where the path of the bullet will go Piercing - shoots through multiple enemies Frag - lets out damaging shrapnel on impact Crits - gives a random % of a random % of bonus damage Armor Effects - Jump Boost - jump higher by a random amount, boots only Speed Boost - run faster by a random amount, boots only Thorns - all damage taken is dealt back by a random % Evasion/Blur - makes some enemy attacks to miss Igniting - lights attacker on fire when hit Electrified - zaps attacker when hit with lightning that bounces to nearby enemies Freezing - slows movement of attacker when hit Back Slot Effects - Light - some could let off light with randomized brightness, color, and other random effects (STROBE LIGHTS!) Armor - just some simple plain armor boost Blocking - like a back shield, it will block some attacks that hit you from behind Flight - like wings or jetpacks that allow flight Warmth - slows down freezing Energy Refilling - speeds up energy rejuvenation, can be just passive or it could be effected by certain things such as solar powered Techs - Force Field - blocks all damage for a single attack, uses a lot of energy, press 'F' to activate one shield Spring - double tap space for a huge jump Blur - become invulnerable for very short amount of time to allow for pro dodges Drill Machine - digs straight down for the cost of energy Attack Helicopter - spawns a miniature helicopter that is controlled by a control panel dropped with it, when taken control you lose control of your character until the helicopter dies or you press 'F' again to self-destruct Now for the magic/technomancy. Magic/Technomancy (uses energy) - Armor Increase - adds some armor by a random amount for a random duration (does not stack) TIER I TECH - Fireball - shoots a fireball that burns Iceball - shoots an iceball that slows Poison Blast - shoots a ball of poison that adds poison effect Shock Pulse - shoots a wave of electricity that damages Force Push - shoots a blast of air that deals low damage but pushes away enemy Telekinesis - pick up a single block to control with the mouse and throw at enemies TIER II Tech - Fireball II - more powerful than the previous Fire Pulse - fire emanates around you dealing burn damage Iceball II - more powerful than the last Ice Shards - fires a spray of icicles that deal damage Poison Blast II - more powerful than the last Poison Burst - emits poison around you that adds poison effect Shock Pulse II - more powerful than the previous Electric Burst - deal damage around you Force Push II - more powerful than the previous TIER III Tech - Fireball III - more powerful than the previous Fire Nova - big explosion of flames around you dealing big damage Iceball III - more powerful than the previous Blizzard - slow everything around you with a big radius dealing big damage Poison Blast III - more powerful than the previous Poison Nova - explosion of poison in a huge radius around you that adds the poison effect Shock Pulse III - more powerful than the previous Electric Field - deal huge damage around you in a huge radius Laser - fire a laser out of your hand dealing massive amounts of damage Force Push III - more powerful than the previous Effects to Technomancy- Chain - bounces from enemy to enemy at random Explosive - adds splash damage to projectile spells Penetration - goes through enemies Please give opinions and criticism if needed
I'd rather not see actually magical magic, especially if it's using your clearly technological energy, but that's mostly just a theme thing. There are plenty of ways to theme things that are basically magic that would fit better.
yeah, there's the Bioshock games for instance, using plasmids which are clearly not magic but work just like it
really all of these ideas are actually pretty good, but magic is undeniably not appropriate at all. Seph has the right idea for this kind of stuff though, simply have the current techs listed as utility techs, and the "magic" as attack techs, represented by a tech chip that is red instead of green
Yeah, while magic doesn't fit very much, Starbound is clearly very much a game not afraid to mix fantasy with sci-fi. While I don't think ACTUAL magic should be in the game... Techs that take the place of it? Totally. It would be a very cool addition to the game. As well, you could have items like gauntlets that hold a specific attack Tech, so now you have a third type of item other than melee or gun that you could happily play with. Do I want actual magic? No. Reflavored magic? ABSOLUTELY.
i don’t know if they want to go the direction of magic… They could just make the ideas into sify stuff idk
I'd prefer something akin to technomancy or psychic powers over magic... Pretty much the same thing, but a bit varied on the cause and aesthetic. Being able to summon drones is another thing I'd like to see.
I really loved magic weapons in terraria and would love to see something like this in starbound too. If stuff like that is implemented I think it should have some unique effects and particle effects. It was really a lot of fun trying all the different magic items in terraria because most of them were pretty unique in their effects. I wouldn't mind if it's implemented as real magic (there even is a wizard in the game who sells a wizard hat) but I can understand why people think it doesn't fit into the game. However there are some suggestions for that already.
I wasn't bothered too much with technology and energy that can produce magic-like effects. I DO play Warframe, which they practically use magic in that (even though it isn't). Plus Starbound has already pushed those limits anyway, you have bone maces that fling bones at people and axes that fire... weird sphere things. Not to mention there's an Avian Emblem thing that shoots a gigantic fireball. I don't think adding any of these effects would really be bad. The only effects you listed that would be closer to magic than technology would be lifesteal.
With that said, I think it may be a possibility however, In my honest opinion.. Starbound should have as as little magic themes as possible. It's one of the things which makes Starbound different from Terraria.
This is in reply to all the people that talked about it should be more of a "Technomancy" where it is all based around technology that does the same effect as magic. Changing title to fit more of this aspect
I agree that magic doesn't fit the theme of the game. But what about PSYCHIC powers? Telekinesis, Telepathy, MIND BULLETS!
Mind bullets,,,, huh i guess the ancient hylotls could be telepathic, or you could have like an advanced tech that is magnetized bullets. That would fit more with the theme and still work well with what you want !
I like the idea of PSI powers. They would totally fit this game. Yeah. Florans could have "shamas" using PSI powers just like krogan shamans using biotics in mass effect universe. Glitch psionic with brain headmod would be badass too! I would like to see psi powers like psionic strom, mind control, mass confusion, locking someone in air with telekinesis or maybe leaving your body and control your psychic ghost (which would be invunerable) and check what's in cave benath you. Psi powers could be acquired like tech powers or they could be contained in psi balls/crystals that your character held in hand. Hope it will be in game some day
i have to agree - i like the ideas. seeing actual "offensive" tech (brain enhancements that allow the usage of "psychic" powers etc.) are one of the few things that i really miss in the game. since they don't want to give races a special feature that other classes can't get except for the armor bonuses, i think the technomancy-part could really be beneficial, even for those who dont want to "spoil" their scifi world with magical elements, since it wouldnt really be magic
