Larian Studios Forums Beyond Divinity (English) General Casting delays on spells? More "nukes"?

This may make me a bit unpopular, but here goes!

Have you guys at Larian ever considered putting casting delays on spells? I know that mages eventually encounter enemies that resist their spells but come on! I can spam spells literally as fast as I can click! Anyone else think this is a little unfair (especially early on)?

I once considred playing an archer type charatcer but soon realized that I could play a mage and get the job done a lot faster. Bows fire at a snails pace compared to the ranged spells in the game.

Slowing down these speed demon spells would also make summoning become more useful. As of now, who needs a meat shield when you can just freeze/blind/slow/cage stuff and machinegun it to death with spells.

Aestetically speaking, I'd like it if mages were less like fireball hurling, spike perforating machine guns and more methodical. It may take a few seconds to cast a spell, but maybe make them more area effect based. I was somewhat disappointed with this in DD. Most of the spells are rapid fire single target as opposed to "Chant an Incantation for a couple seconds, gesture, cast, kill hoards of enemies". (ie Baldur's Gate) In my mind, thats the point of being a mage in most RPGs. Slower on the draw but when they unleash their power, heaven help those who are in the way! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />

They don't have to be slowed down too much, as DD and further games are probaly going to be heavily combat based. Maybe make some faster, but less damaging. Make some truly damaging "nukes" that take a second or two to cast but rain death on several enemies at once.

Thoughts?

sounds like good ideas to me, spells are a little too fast,
with not enough widespread damage....... good points all...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> good idea. U should have to pause.

I played a survivor while my boyfriend played a mage. He had a far easier time at lower levels, but I had an easier time at higher times since I focused on melee. However, I agree. Mages should have to suffer at low levels, too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />



Yep, my first survivor used a bow to kill my way all the way until I had to kill those damned troll kings that slow ya down, so finally I decided no more and went the melee way. Those bows can do a lot of damage, but it's true, mages have an unfair advantage in this game in range-attacks.



I really liked the way that I had to plan out a strategy for mages in Baldur's Gate. But then again, mages were never really solo characters in BG. They were inside a party -- although I suppose a mage could surround himself with summoned and use them as cannon fodder. I think mages should definitely have more restrictions as far as spellcasting recuperation time goes -- if warriors and survivors have to deal with it, then so should they. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

This is kind of funny. I stopped using Resoration because it was too slow. I almost lost more hit-points in combat from pausing to cast then I gained from casting it.

I agree that Meteor Strike was too quick, though. Perhaps the speed can increase at higher skill levels.

meteorstrike just kills many enemies with a few rapid clicks of the mouse.

On the other hand, melee characters don't need to click repeatedly to attack. I think the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome balances out the mage's rapid-fire approach. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

With more thought, I think that my problem with speed and the almost total lack of area effect spells. As of now, you just spam a spell until all the enemies are dead or you've run out of mana. What few area effect spells there are more like damage over time.

Ever played BGII? Remember Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting? How about fireball or cone of cold? Thats what I mean by area effetc. BAM! every enemy in x radius take 80+x damage. Sure, they can resist it, but the spell become harder to resist as more points are put in it.

You could have a few area effect "nukes" that have casting delays, coupled with some very fast weaker spells for killing the weaker enemies. After all, you wouldn't want pop off a nuke unless you were in a very serious situation.
Also, summons would become more useful because a mage could use them as meat shields AND a means of killing lower level enemies that aren't worthy of recieving the nuke.

I agree. They need spells that cause elemental damage across a lot of monsters, but costs 100 to 200 mana. I say elemental damage so that some monsters are resistant to it, forcing you to learn a different tactic.

One problem with this could be running laps of the woods and having 100 monsters following you, which are all killed by one spell. Maybe if it damaged all creatures within the range, doing a maximum of #### damage.

and also a spell that costs all of ur mana and takes 1/2 of ur stamina away, but kills everything in a certain area, and the area becomes like the waste!