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Originally written by Stughalf:

The entire point of having the "Magic Shaping" division of creations is to distinguish magic-using creations from simple "straight-damage" creations. Giving Battle Shaping creations the power to cast spells would effectively remove the division between creations like, say, clawbugs and glaahks. Also, Rothgroths already have an acid attack; it's part of their standard melee attack. I do agree, though, that the player should be able to set a default attack form for those creations that have both a melee and a missile attack.

Your point about the energy for Battle and Fire Shaping creations is a good one. I would suggest that this problem be remedied in GF3 not by granting these creations spells to use up their energy, but by providing all Fire and Battle Shaping creations with a fast-recharging "Shielding Energy" bar which would take all the damage in battle for the creation until exhausted, at which time damage would begin to be subtracted from HP. Shielding energy would recharge partially between rounds of combat. Perhaps this innovation would even things out for Battle and Fire Shaping creations and reduce the near-complete dominance Magic Shaping holds in GF2.

As for the mercenaries idea, it could work. Being able to hire powerful human warriors or mages, or perhaps even Shapers, would be very interesting indeed. However, I think the "percentage of gold" thing would be rather hard to implement. A flat cost to purchase the services of a given mercenary would make things simpler.

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quote:

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Originally written by Stughalf:

The entire point of having the "Magic Shaping" division of creations is to distinguish magic-using creations from simple "straight-damage" creations. Giving Battle Shaping creations the power to cast spells would effectively remove the division between creations like, say, clawbugs and glaahks. Also, Rothgroths already have an acid attack; it's part of their standard melee attack. I do agree, though, that the player should be able to set a default attack form for those creations that have both a melee and a missile attack.

Your point about the energy for Battle and Fire Shaping creations is a good one. I would suggest that this problem be remedied in GF3 not by granting these creations spells to use up their energy, but by providing all Fire and Battle Shaping creations with a fast-recharging "Shielding Energy" bar which would take all the damage in battle for the creation until exhausted, at which time damage would begin to be subtracted from HP. Shielding energy would recharge partially between rounds of combat. Perhaps this innovation would even things out for Battle and Fire Shaping creations and reduce the near-complete dominance Magic Shaping holds in GF2.

As for the mercenaries idea, it could work. Being able to hire powerful human warriors or mages, or perhaps even Shapers, would be very interesting indeed. However, I think the "percentage of gold" thing would be rather hard to implement. A flat cost to purchase the services of a given mercenary would make things simpler.

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