Excellent suggestions+1
That is more or less exactly how I was hoping a spellbar might be treated, with some kind of expandable menu radial or tree or whatever. Just something to organize it more.
The hotbar needs to keep it hot! I still think the hotbar could easily be expanded by more rows generally, but these kinds of organizational UI shortcuts regarding how spells are prepared are really key. If it feels a little crazy right now dealing with just the first couple spell levels, things are going to go nutso when we get up to spell lvl5 and as you say as more classes are introduced.
Instead, here is what I propose....
1. Only have one single selectable action for each spell or ability. No separate abilities for level 2 magic missile etc.
2. When the user clicks and holds on any ability, pop up a radial meu where they can select modifiers for that ability. The radial menu can be categories as well, and categories would open another radial menu.
Example -
A. Sorcerer holds mouse1 on magic missile, radial menu pops up with choices of "spell level" and "metamagic"
B. Sorcerer selects metamagic, radial menu pops up with choices of level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Sorcerer picks level 5. Ability now becomes level 5 magic missile on hotbar.
C. Sorcerer holds mouse1 on level 5 magic missile. Once again, radial menu pops up with "spell level" and "metamagic."
D. Sorcerer selects "metamagic." Another radial menu pops up with "quickened spell" and "empowered spell." Sorcerer selects "quickened spell." Ability now becomes Quickened level 5 magic missile on hotbar.
3. The key point here is that the ability on your hotbar REMEMBERS what modifiers you put on it. So that slot will always be Quickened level 5 magic missile until you change/replace the ability. You could even have multiple entries for the same spell with different modifiers on your hotbar for easy access.
Just a great description. I really hope something like that is adopted.
