Larian Studios Forums Beyond Divinity (English) Suggestions Mage skill suggestion: lightning strike

what i'm thinking of is an outdoors only high level lightning attack... after a half second casting delay an arc of lightning would appear from the skies instantly striking it's target without error (imagine realistic looking bolt now - white/black monocolor, there should be no "falling" animation and it'd require no more than 3 frames of animation to look good (the spell should be easy to depict even with randomized variation of animations))... the bolt can strike one target once...

level 1: just a bolt of lightning from the skies... it'd do some massive damage to creatures non-resistant to lightning

level 2: a flashier looking bolt of lightning that does more damage

level 3: a flashy looking bolt which would appear to strike twice (double length of animation) that does more damage

level 4: a flashy looking bolt which would appear to strike twice (double length of animation) and daze it's target

level 5: HUGE, powerful, super flashy bolt that would cause a second of blindness for nearby creatures that see (maybe deafness for creatures with ears? - basically stun nearby creatures for a second or 2 giving the player an unfair attack advantage or a chance to run)...

i envision a "cooling off" period for this spell such that it cannot be repeatedly cast in a short amount of time... another possibility for this spell (lower level version) incorporating a such a feature intelligently would be

level 1: thin, simple lightning bolt, does typical amount of damage, strikes one target once, extended casting+cooling off period (cannot be repeated effectively and cannot strike the same target twice)

level 2: same as level 1 but does slightly more damage with a shorter casting+cooling off period... slightly larger lightning bolt

level 3: same as level 2 but does slightly more damage with a shorter casting+cooling off period... larger looking bolt

level 4: same as level 3 but does slightly more damage with a shorter casting+cooling off period... flashier large lightning bolt (more frames of animation)

level 5: best looking lightning bolt (colorized vs monocolor?), does most damage with negligible casting+cooling off period (can be repeatedly cast against multiple enemies but not on the same enemy twice)


of course these could be 2 seperate and different spells <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Sounds good but is this like lets say final fantasy where you have to watch the summon creature (or lightning)like a clip? but re-reading it now reminds me of FF7 with the gems (materia or what ever its called) effect. For those who do not care to play ff7 to understand, you get gems and they like your characters with experiance points, they hold one spell that gain exp over time then you gain levels and it grow stronger.

Like i said i could be wrong and you meant getting spells from certain quests/mobs and classic write in your spell book.

personaly i like lightning to be an area effect like in diablo, when i was a lil lad my mage had a lot of time casting it, it like a tide of lightning but sort of zig zags until it hit it target.

I think that each element should have its own pros and cons.

My ideas, some taken directly from Diablo II:
Fire is powerful and straight forward.
Lightning seeks out targets and can chain between them, but is more eratic in its damage.
Poison is very powerful, but acts slowly.
Freeze is weak, but immobilises the target.
Acid is average, but disolves armour.
Spiritual Damage is strong, but only versus intelligence (ie. doesn't do much to animals/undead).
Holy Damage is strong, but only versus evil.
Corruption is strong, but only corrupts the good, making them deranged and likely to attack their allies.

I like the idea of the Lightning spell. Lighning's pretty! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The only issue I have with it is how many bosses will be outdoors? That would be the main reason I'd purchase such a powerful spell - to take out bosses. But why if I can't use it on them? Is there a variation that might work?

a "realistic" lightning bolt would appear to hit it's target instantly as the visual effect of lightning actually appears after it has struck the ground in real life (the actual beam of light actually comes UP from the ground... it is merely percieved as coming down from the sky...) any zigging and zagging (in real life or a game featuring realistic lightning) would occur as a target is being struck... i always thought the lightning in diablo 1 equated more with a static electricity attack (not a diss)... realistic lightning is something grand that i really don't see applied intelligently as an idea too often so i thought i'd just share my idea here :P

the spell i envision would be learned in a spellbook like all other spells... when i say casting time i mean the time from when you press the right mouse button to the time the bolt actually appears and strikes... it would come from the heavens like elemental hail (although limited to outdoors) but strike once/just a few times... since it strikes without error one would simply need to back up enough for the spell to strike before continuing to either run away or back into the fray... one would not be able to cast this spell immediately afterwards (except for the second spell possibility) but one could cast other spells including other lightning spells... i envision also a kind of area visual effect where everything dims except for the recipient of the bolt who would glow brightly while being struck (and possibly for a short time afterwards) and affect his surroundings like a lamp/gem in dim light... aural effect would of course be a mild crash for a low level lightning bolt and a rumbling crash-boom for the highest level strike...

something else which could make this outdoors spell more intresting would be the ability to cast it on trees (instant explosion which sacrifices power for "splash damage") or certain rocks (kaboom! less power sacrifice and different visual/aural effect for these rarer rocks... one could travel with some and use them in conjunction with the lightning spell somewhat like bombs - in which case the moving of items ingame would have to change as one could not realistically toss a 500 pound boulder hundreds of yards away at a whim (but could after learning some special skill?)...)... just an idea i have that i'd like to see implemented, especially in a game like divdiv/riftrunner...


EDIT: "Sounds good but is this like lets say final fantasy where you have to watch the summon creature (or lightning)like a clip?"

nah... i think that'd be taking the idea a step too far :P the game itself won't stop while the spell is being cast so for those few seconds/half second that your character stands still the other creatures will still be advancing or attacking - thus the area stun effect of the first lightning strike idea does not make it unbalanced :P ...


EDIT: a minor detail i'd like to mention is that lightning i envision is one single mighty bolt striking from the heavens which would look much more powerful than forked or branched lightning...

KABOOM! lightning rocks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

So if we're using ground-to-sky lightning, does that mean we can use it in subterranian areas? You could cast it on a target, electrically charging it, and then it would discharge into the surrounding stonework. For visual effect, the spell could lift the target off the ground and sparks fly out in all directions into the walls (at higher levels).

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? If so, you could target the base of the tree or rock to strike it.

Thoughts?

"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="" />

the part where u mentioned the game environment is fully destructible is really nice. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> i like it!!

i liked in jed outcast, occasionally, you broke threw a wall or something to get somewere.
but that was only designated areas

maybe like that? but everywere/

"i liked in jed outcast, occasionally, you broke threw a wall or something to get somewere.
but that was only designated areas

maybe like that? but everywere/"

that'd be much more difficult... i suppose hidden stashes/caves/dungeons could be uncovered by blowing up suspicious groupings of explodable rocks? i'm not really proposing that EVERYTHING be destructable - that would be pretty sweet but damn tough to execute properly , if at all... one has to consider the programmers when suggesting ideas :P

not to mention another slew of work for the graphics dept as they need to make destruction animations for each enviroment item.

marian's nightmare: fully destructible enviroment.

Lightning can come from the sky or the ground. It can also occur sky-to-sky. It is caused by a large difference in local electrical charge. Since nature likes to be balanced, when a high charged area comes near enough to a low charged area, they balance by transferring charge in a bolt of lightning. The sheer voltage of the lightning bolt heats up the surrounding air causing it to glow. The hot air expands suddenly causing a sound wave: thunder. That's the most of what lightning is.


Why shouldn't it hit unerringly? It's an aimed magic spell. If you wanted inaccuracy, you could have other potential targets have a change of accepting the charge instead based on size and distance from the intended target. Besides, you could only miss about twice in this fashion before you ran out of alternative targets. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Good idea! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Laying traps can take on many forms now! Perhaps if anyone who is standing water is struck by electricity, regardless of source, all others in the same body of water receive some damage too?

"Lightning can come from the sky or the ground. It can also occur sky-to-sky. It is caused by a large difference in local electrical charge. Since nature likes to be balanced, when a high charged area comes near enough to a low charged area, they balance by transferring charge in a bolt of lightning. The sheer voltage of the lightning bolt heats up the surrounding air causing it to glow. The hot air expands suddenly causing a sound wave: thunder. That's the most of what lightning is."


thx for correcting me! i knew my description was way off... <sweatdrops>


"Why shouldn't it hit unerringly?"

what i meant was that it wouldn't be so bad to "accidentally" hit a tree due to the splash damage effect of it exploding :P


EDIT: your description gives a rational explanation for how/why it could be cast indoors :P although i must admit i still like the idea of casting a powerful bolt of lightning from the heavens outdoors <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />