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Jeff, please respond - Magic and Avernum 5 in Avernum 4
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quote:
I seems that in order to reduce the amount of graphics for the spell page most of them are gone. In order to get a new spell something has to be removed.
This is ridiculous. Unless Jeff actually received a large number complaints saying, "seeing more than 20 buttons totally confuses me, so I'm not going to buy your games anymore." There is no real reason there can't be more. The number of spell icons is totally arbitrary and likely stems from nothing more than Jeff liking the number 20 or something similar.

If having those little button graphics actually is some sort of barrier, I will happily volunteer a couple hours of my time to make them myself.

quote:
Partly it's balance (let's face it, plenty of Exile series spells were basically useless); partly it's probably lack of ability to think up new and different spells that are actually useful and do something besides "do damage of type X" or "inflict status effect Y".
The only spell in E3/BoE I found totally useless was "Symbiosis". True I didn't use "Flame arrows" or "Goo" very often after I'd gained a few levels and could use better spells, but I did use them, and did like having them. Besides the fact that switching to mostly using higher level spells once you have them is still true of A4.

My question is, why not? There already are summoning spells and, in Avernums past, they sometimes summon demons. Why not have a spell that specifically summons demons? If the spell is of a similar level to the summoning spells that can already summon demons, how is game balance affected in any way?

And why not have the spells that "do damage type X" and "inflict status effect Y"? We consistently have the spell "Firebolt". If we add the spell "Icebolt" that is of a similar level and causes a similar amount of damage simply of a different type, what has changed besides adding delightful variety? Does this require more than palette-swapping the spell effect graphics from red/yellow to white/blue and copy/pasting the code with "firedmg" switched to "icedmg"?

If we have separate spells for less ice damage, but hits multiple targets, and more ice damage, but hits one target, does that drastically alter game dynamics?

We have a spell for acid. If we have one for poison as well, what's the difference? If we can slow our foes, why not web them?

Even if every single spell is not used with great frequency throughout the entire game with every playing style, it's already that way, so why not have the variety?

quote:
I think the main reason the number of spells reduced so dramatically was the introduction in A1 of spell levels at 1, 2, 3. With the need to make each level of a spell different there were in effect 120 spells rather than 40.
This is not entirely true and has gotten progressively less true as the Avernums have gone on. Only a handful of spells actually had their effect change significantly from level to level. Most spells simply increased in damage amount and/or number of targets in a way totally indistinguishable from the increase that already occurs by gaining PC levels and increasing your magic-related skills. At best, you could argue that there are maybe 50-55 spells rather than 40.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

There are any number of spells Jeff could add, taken from games he's already produced, that would not significantly affect gameplay in any way beyond adding variety, utility, and enjoyment to the use of magic in the game. So the question still remains, why not have more spells?

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Jeff, please respond - Magic and Avernum 5 in Avernum 4
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I really, really like having a wide variety of spells, and think it adds a lot to the game.

So, if I may ask, what did happen to the variety of spells from Exile 3 and BoE? Does adding more spells cause a prohibitively large amount of difficulty in balancing the game? Were there complaints it was too complex and fewer spells is an attempt to simplify? Does programming spells take a really long time? Why did we go from 124 spells to 40?

Personally, I hope to see again the spells to create my own magical barriers, to scry monsters, to identify my own items, to summon demons, etc., etc., etc.

Given the precedent, my hopes aren't terribly high, but if we aren't going to have more spells, can we at least know why?

[ Wednesday, February 21, 2007 08:10: Message edited by: Archmage Alex ]

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Rate Homeland : The Stone of Night in General
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I decided to retry it, but had to stop after 10 minutes because I was developing a headache. I reiterate my above opinion.

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Oldbiehood in General
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quote:
Originally written by Sarasaphilia:

Visual aid is required for this particular post.

Where's Archmage Alex when you need him?

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Geneforge 4 on Digg.com, digg it and help out Spiderweb Software! in General
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I guess I'm a 3. I'm not sure if I post enough to have much a "reputation", though.

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A Year and a Day in General
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Posts: 1629 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Brain Teaser(s) in General
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Posts: 1629 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Why? in General
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Profile Homepage #85
quote:
Originally written by dareva:

I keep thinking "sasparilla," which has sort of weird Old-West connotations to it somehow.
LOL! I never gave the name more than a passing glance and always just assumed it was "sasparilla". :D

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Things to improve Dikiyoba's ausome story! in General
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Profile Homepage #60
quote:
Originally written by Thralni:

I might has well put up a sign on my head saying "shoot me." It would have had the same effect.
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Things to improve Dikiyoba's ausome story! in General
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quote:
Originally written by Nikki x:

I can't find it...
This one? :D

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E3: Woes of the magically inept singleton in The Exile Trilogy
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It's for the challenge silly. :P

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Ahem. in General
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Posts: 1629 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Why? in General
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I like the idea of magic, and I needed a screen name for a message board about fantasy RPGs, so I chose The Sorcerer. Then we switched from the Ikonboards, and I decided to change to something with my real name in it.

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A Rememberance of Things Past in General
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Profile Homepage #58
quote:
Originally written by : The Sorcerer
Hey, that used to be my screen name. :P

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E3: Woes of the magically inept singleton in The Exile Trilogy
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I just made a magically apt singleton, raised him to level 5, and gave him tons of knowledge brews to raise his intelligence and mage lore and he got through easily. Now I just kill him and use the editor to revive him when I need to get in somewhere.

Apparently level, mage level, or mage lore effects the chances of a piercing crystal working.

[ Saturday, February 03, 2007 12:21: Message edited by: Archmage Alex ]

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Behold in General
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Posts: 1629 | Registered: Wednesday, October 3 2001 07:00
Hidden Fans in General
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quote:
Originally written by Gust of Ice:

Um...one of your search terms was "demonslayer?"
I was trying to find where you can get Demonslayer in E3. Apparently you can't. :(

And I linked to the cache instead of the page because the page was down momentarily while I was making the post and I didn't feel like waiting.

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Hidden Fans in General
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Why don't they come here?

[really long url]

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E3: Woes of the magically inept singleton in The Exile Trilogy
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I can't unlock most doors, and have no hope of getting through magic barriers.

I created another character specifically to knock down the the secret tunnel barrier to get me to Blackcrag, but the stupid barrier refuses to be dented by my piercing crystals. :(

What increases the chances of a crystal working? Do I just need to keep reloading and trying again until that 1 in 12946 chance the dice will roll as I want them?

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Custom titles in General
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quote:
Originally written by Nikki x:

Of course, you could just all add Brody on MSN. Weird conversations with him are the only reason I log on these days. :P
You should all add me. :D The email I can be found by on MSN is in my profile.

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Childhood's End in General
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Early 2007 is when exactly? in Geneforge 4: Rebellion
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YAY! I can't wait! :D

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A Statistically Happy New Year! in General
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I'm still waiting for Exile Monopoly.

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Custom titles in General
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Because it tickles my spleen. The better question is, why hasn't your chocolate lost its flavor?

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A Statistically Happy New Year! in General
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Yes, you just said "Spiderweb Software". :D

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