The system would be good,  but by the time you add in all the special effects you want to use,  chose the number of  'swings' or targets you want to be able to hit, chose your element, slide your damage and your accuracy,  and who knows what else . . .   you've been clicking and sliding for 2 minutes to cast a spell.  OUCH.  now you could do this outside the battle, and customize your spells from spell components like you customize units that you build and then save the spell to your spell book. . . that would be more intersting. 

have a list of available spell components,  and the cost (mana, essence) associsated with each component.  Then add limits to the number of components a spell can have, add in using components from other schools of magic. 

Could be great, Could be great,   Would be a complete overhaul, and definitely something that will have to wait until Elemental 2, or at least a full expansion.

Really crafting spells, like one makes troops, and saving them to your spell book,  would be wicked,  Making them real time, in a battle,  would be TOO painful for words.  Crafting spells needs to be a Statigic map activity. 

Robbie Price.

Thanks for your feedback!

And yeah as i said in my first post im aware that a full fledged system with the different elements etc would be a huge undertaking to make.

But a small one instead..

Remove the elements, those are not important.

You choose the spell (from the exisiting spells we have today) and you slide it abit

So ok, firebolt, increase range, increase damage, go! Casting time is... 1-2 turns, this would have to be balanced out of course.

(Magic is pretty crap now so you could probably double the damage with a 2 turn cast.. But we need to remember to have a more than 100% increase in damage from sacrificing a turn, else you could just cast the spell twice and get the same result)

Ok Another Idea..

How about Spell Charging?

You take a spell, Firebolt! (I like that one, easy to remember)

Ok so you click you Spell Charging skill, you click Firebolt, and you character starts casting.

Next round when its his/her turn you get asked by the game if you want to finish the spell or make it more powerfull etc etc.

This way you can also manipulate the magic abit, at least boost if if you are, say, fighting against something big, and you need that extra punch.. I dunno..

Please, feedback! And if you got your own suggestions please bring them!

You know, who says you need sliders to control the range, damage, aoe?  You could always "expand" the spellbook and research the different flavors of each spell.

Chain Lightning I - 2 squares, 3-14 damage

Chain Lightning II - 4 squares, 2-7 damage

Chain Lightning III - 6 squares, 1-5 damage

Yeah, it's not as "cool" or interactive as sliders but you'd have the choice as to how you want to cast that spell.

I'd love to see improvements or enhancements to existing spells through quests, research, and/or items.

Anyone familiar with the Elder Scrolls will be familiar with the concept of creating your own spells. You need the right spell books, maybe even access to the right shards, you put in your research and presto, you get the spells you think you might need. This could take time, too, but, with everything you practice, you should get better at your stock spells the more often you cast them.

Fireball might not be an impressive spell, but once you got it down pat you can cast it faster, more often, or for less mana (less waste). Or you manage extra distance or extra oomph.

Alternatively you might ALSO, additionally, have the spellweaving ability (could be learned, or could be chosen at creation) that lets you create spells on the fly, but of course they are improvised, so you really have to be quite good in the first place to get some sufficient result.

But when facing this army of fire devils and only having fire combat spells, you might decide it to be worth doing if it gets you an instant Water Fist spell.

That, of course, would require you to know the weaknesses of your enemies. Which in turn would require them to actually have weaknesses and strengths.

Or you use the System of Ars Magica - you have schools of creation, destruction, intelligence, etc, which can be combined with the different elements. Create Fire - then just decide whether you want it in ball form or rather as an arrow, or a giant wall. Destroy Fire - whether you want to get rid of that wall, or protect yourself from that Sea of Fire you are going to unleash.

In principle it could be handled quite nicely, especially if you combine it with the Elder Scroll system. Point, click, add number, combine effects. Magic Whammy

Brad, someone, read this!!

Its getting lost behind all the other good ideas