Changing energy damage types

Post by **deserter** » January 26th, 2006, 3:02 pm

scott wrote:I like the slay idea as well.

Yeah, slay seems better as it's more universal.

Energy attack doesn't sound appaling ot me BTW...
I would propose Magic attack, but Magical is already there and they would be mixed easily... Of course one gets used to "Energy" but now it sounds a bit weird.

toms · Post by **toms** » January 26th, 2006, 4:02 pm

Weeeell, the same as for other damage type changes counts here for me.

Mikko · Post by **Mikko** » February 7th, 2006, 7:59 pm

I think that adding a damage type is not an effective solution to the problem. Energy is overly complicated and unintuitive. If lightning damage is considered to be a subtype of energy damage, why does it affect undead so strongly? All this metaphysical rambling might be avoided easily, if the holy damage type was removed altogether. In its place, white mages might deal fire damage in the same way as regular mages.

Post by **Sangel** » February 7th, 2006, 8:20 pm

"Slay" is a sound suggested for a weapon special, but I'd really rather not see it used in this context.

I also like the idea of having four damage types, but I'm afraid that "energy" and "null" strike me as unintuitive. What is "null"? What would be its strengths and weaknesses?

I'd prefer to see:
Fire
Frost
Light
Shadow

Holy would become "Light", and we'd add a new damage type for Undead called "Shadow", which carries far richer connotations than "Null". Having "Light" and "Shadow" also lessens the religious symbolism somewhat, though still leaving it open to interpretation.

JW · Post by JW » February 8th, 2006, 8:12 am

Sangel wrote:Holy would become "Light", and we'd add a new damage type for Undead called "Shadow", which carries far richer connotations than "Null". Having "Light" and "Shadow" also lessens the religious symbolism somewhat, though still leaving it open to interpretation.

Light nad shadow are kinda silly if you ask me. I'm going to be hurt by darkness?

Null is the lack of energy or the removal of energy. Energy is the opposite.

Null would be the most devastating of all magic types if it existed in the game. It could have effects akin to disintegrate in DnD I imagine.

Airk · Post by **Airk** » February 8th, 2006, 5:56 pm

How about "Void" instead of "null"?

Post by **Darth Fool** » February 8th, 2006, 6:08 pm

The problem, IMHO, with void and null is that they do not sound good as damge types. Try seriously saying "the Lich dealt 15 points of void damage to the dwarven warrior." I would suggest using "mystical" damage to replace "holy" and "spectral" damage for the newly proposed shadow/null/void damage.

Airk · Post by **Airk** » February 8th, 2006, 6:21 pm

Darth Fool wrote:The problem, IMHO, with void and null is that they do not sound good as damge types. Try seriously saying "the Lich dealt 15 points of void damage to the dwarven warrior."

Maybe I've been playing too many console RPGs, but "void damage" is pretty normal in my mind.

As is "negative energy" for that matter, though that one is kinda long.

Post by **Sangel** » February 8th, 2006, 8:32 pm

I agree with Darth Fool, "void" and "null" and even "negative energy" are all concepts I'd immediately associate with physics. Perhaps they are used in certain console games, but their natural "implication" is not of a damage.

"Spectral" and "Mystical" have quite a nice ring. Or possibly "Spiritual"?

JW · Post by JW » February 8th, 2006, 9:03 pm

Airk wrote:
Darth Fool wrote:The problem, IMHO, with void and null is that they do not sound good as damge types. Try seriously saying "the Lich dealt 15 points of void damage to the dwarven warrior."
Maybe I've been playing too many console RPGs, but "void damage" is pretty normal in my mind. As is "negative energy" for that matter, though that one is kinda long.

Thanks for the backup Airk.

I've played quite a few RPGs in my day, and I've studied physics, so that probably explains my push for such an energy type.

Elvish_Pillager · Post by **Elvish_Pillager** » February 8th, 2006, 10:52 pm

Cuyo Quiz wrote:
Elvish Pillager wrote: How's it coming?
Not yet, studies getting in the day. Please wait until monday were i should have free time, or come forced to make some of my own. By then, i should have had some reckless unit facings to see how it works.

It's been several mondays, got any data yet?

Post by **Darth Fool** » February 9th, 2006, 12:43 am

As proposed by a friend, how about "Unnatural" damage?

Elvish_Pillager · Post by **Elvish_Pillager** » February 9th, 2006, 11:08 am

Darth Fool wrote:As proposed by a friend, how about "Unnatural" damage?

Like damage taken from technological weapons?

...

Whatever it means, it's really, really unclear.

Rune · Post by **Rune** » February 9th, 2006, 2:26 pm

I think that Light Energy and Dark/Shadow Energy is the best proposal so far. Alternatively we could use Lawful and Chaotic as energy types.

Fire and Cold are okay as they are IMHO.

Another option is to use the five classical elements (fire, earth, wind, water, aether) but I'm not sure if that many types are wanted.

toms · Post by **toms** » February 9th, 2006, 3:28 pm

Better we update the WML for posiblities to have millions of custom damage types.