"So if we're using ground-to-sky lightning"

actually i just decided to take the opportunity to pass on some useless knowledge there... lightning does "fall" from the sky but the visual and aural effect that ppl experience occurs after/just as it strikes the ground... it also comes from the ground up but the effect is so quick and instantaneous that it's imperceptable (thus so many ppl believe that the visual affect of lightning actually comes down from the heavens)... i forget exactly what happens but once lightning hits the ground energy is discharged (i forget why...) in the form of light (which emanates up along the "body" of the bolt) and sound - and of course lots is also released into whatever object is struck... i'm definitely way off with my description but i believe it's quite accurate although i forget exactly how intense, focused discharges of energy affect dense matter... (sound is merely a perception of the movement of air waves, blah blah...)) my vision for this spell is for it to be outdoors-only although i do believe there could be a logical rationale behind using it in areas so vast and open that there would exist miles of open air between a "ceiling" and the ground...


"The only problem with being able to target trees and rocks is that it could become very difficult to target an enemy in a forest. I like the idea, don't get me wrong. I haven't played Divine Divinity as a Wizard yet. Am I right in saying you can target anywhere and the spell simply moves in a projectile fashion until it hits something?"

indeed you are right... but of course what is wrong with accidentally hitting trees which explode due to their inability to contain the massive energies of lightning? the first version of this idea involves powerful bolts which do considerable damage, thus even a reduced percentage of said energy would still be quite significant (and transformed into fire damage) - not only that, if this were some extremely powerful opponent who just happened to be hiding amongst the trees the player would still be able to target it for a direct lightning strike that would do full damage... the possibility that one would ACCIDENTALLY hit a tree or rock is actually slim (more likely one would purposely target these objects for their area effect - and because once cast on a specific target that target is now off limits for all future casts of this spell) as all one has to do to target an opponent is hit and hold ctrl (autotarget) and this spell hits unerringly...

with the second version of this spell one could forget about targeting enemies in a forest and SOLELY target the trees just for the stackable exploding effect thus reducing a proud forest - and it's inhabitants - into a massive wasteland of flaming charred rubble... an orc archer might think twice about hiding in or around obstacles when said strategic placements begin blowing up or falling on top of them... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" />

something else i missed in my original description would be the strategic use of puddles/ponds... say you're being chased by a party of orcs out in the open and there's puddles of stagnant water around... u run yourself into a strategic location and time your cast of lightning strike such as the charge affects multiple members of the party... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" />