Spell and Spellcasting Animations and Effects

[Nurvus]

Most NWN spells are really cool.

Yet we all want better and better, not just with better definition/texture.

 

Here are some of my suggestions for some spell animations:

 

- Mage Armor - Some sort of ethereal armor is summoned onto the caster.

Perhaps composed of some cool looking Shoulderplate and Breastplate alone. That way it could overlap with any existing armor, not ruining robes or sleeves.

It would scale with the target of the spell, so that it looks great on anyone.

 

- Wail of the Banshee - the NWN spell looks like an ordinary elemental. I have 2 ideas for this:

An actual banshee screaming in the same way than that of NWN's spell;

A gigantic banshee face forming up from the ground, roughly the size of the spell effect area, and screaming upwards.

 

Now for some questions:

 

- Will spells like Tenser's Transformation also polymorph the caster instead of simply removing one's casting ability?

 

- Will casting a spell be conducted with the equipped weapon, or will the caster have the weapon "disappear" while casting, like in NWN?

It would be cool if the weapon was present and included in the animation, like a Paladin praying with the sword held aloft or the blade against his forehead. or a Sorcerer pointing his staff at the foe and releasing a deadly fireball from it's tip.

 

- Also would be great to have other spells and effects cast from items, like Rods, use the item in the animation. Drinking potions already works well. But what about using Rod of Frost on the enemy or Wand of Sleep?

 

- Will Summon Creature I-IX be able to summon different creatures and perhaps different numbers and levels of creatures?

Will those and Gate bring forth different creatures based on alignment?

Will a character be able to control more than 1 summoned creature at a time?

Necromancers in particular would look specially good with a small army of undead behind them.

 

Cheers and good work, y'all.

Edited February 24, 2006 by Nurvus

[Diamond]

I think you'd get better feedback at Biosidian forums, rather than here.