Archive:Rune combination

The runes that can be engraved in equipment to cast spells (see [[Magic System]) can be designed by combining rune particles. The rune particles can be learned through quests. A spellcaster can combine the learned rune particles to spell runes in a special GUI window. When she found a valid combination she can save this combination to engrave it into equipment. When wearing equipment with runes engraved by someone else that contain rune particles unknown to the spellcaster she can not use these spells (the meaning of runes is unknown to her and thus she can not read them).

Glossary:

Mana Cost

The total mana energy needed to recharge the spell (see Magic System)

Slots

How many rune slots the finished rune will take up in equipment. The slots of all rune particles are added.

Level

The skill level requirement of the spell rune. The requirements of all particles are added.

Effect particle

Every finished particle needs one effect particle. It determines what kind of damage the spell inflicts, how much basic damage and the basic mana cost. The first effect particle should be acquired through the tutorial (I suggest heat). The others are accquired through one long series of quests for each element. These quests should be very straight-forward and easy to follow (although not necessarily easy to complete) because these rune particles are very important for the progress of a spellcaster character.

Element	Name	Slots	Level	damage	cost
Fire	Heat	1	0	10	10
	Flame	2	20	20	30
	Fire	3	40	40	100
	Hellfire	4	60	80	300
Water	Bubble	1	0	10	10
	Splash	2	20	20	30
	Water	3	40	40	100
	Tsunami	4	60	80	300
Earth	Sand	1	0	10	10
	Mud	2	20	20	30
	Earth	3	40	40	100
	Stone	4	60	80	300
Air	Wind	1	0	10	10
	Tornado	2	20	20	30
	Air	3	40	40	100
	Sonic	4	60	80	300

Combined effect particles

Two effect particles with the same slot number, damage and mana cost that do different elemental damage can be combined to one effect particle of a combined element. All properties stay the same but the element is a combined one.

Element	Rune 1	Rune 2	Combined
Metal	Heat	Sand	Spike
	Flame	Mud	Blade
	Fire	Earth	Metal
	Hellfire	Stone	Razor
Lightning	Wind	Heat	Spark
	Tornado	Flame	Volt
	Air	Fire	Lightning
	Sonic	Hellfire	Thunder
Ice	Bubble	Wind	Cold
	Splash	Tornado	Frost
	Water	Wind	Ice
	Tzunami	Sonic	Blizzard
Nature	Sand	Bubble	Thorn
	Mud	Splash	Poison
	Earth	Water	Nature
	Stone	Tzunami	Acid

Application particle

Each finished rune can, but doesn't has to, include one application particle. This runes governs the area of effect of the spell. They also affect the mana cost and damage of the spell. Usually the easier to use the higher the mana cost and the lower the damage.

Application particles are learned from wizard NPCs. The NPCs are usually not hard to find and will usually send the character on a short quest before he will teach it to the character.

None

Cost Factor

1.0

Damage Factor

1.2

Level

+0

Rune slots

0

Effect

When no application particle is used the attack becomes a touch-range attack that only affects an enemy that is exactly in front of the character.

Bolt

Cost Factor

1.2

Damage Factor

1.0

Level

+5

Rune slots

0

Effect

The bolt particle makes the spell a projectile that flies forward and hits the first enemy it collides with. It is slightly weaker and costlier than a touch attack but much more usable. The bolt rune should be the first application rune a new character obtains so that a new mage has the choice between using its first effect particle as touch attack or as bolt attack.

Ray

Hits all enemies that stand in a line from the caster to the targeted point.

Cone

Hits all enemies in a 45° angle in front of the caster.

Ball

Projectile that causes a small area of effect.

Blast

Free positioned, small area of effect.

Storm

Free-positioned, large area of effect.

Nova

small AoE around caster.

Inferno

large AoE around caster.

Apocalypse

extremely large AoE around caster.

Strike

An attack for spellcaster/fighter crossclass characters. The character performs a normal attack with the currently equipped weapon. Hitting and dodging are calculated normally. The attack deals magical damage with the element of the effect particle and calculated by a special formula that includes weapon damage, weapon skill, spell damage, spell skill, strength and willpower.

Enhancement particles

Enhancement particles give the spell more exotic properties but make it weaker and costlier. Any number of enhancement particles can be used for a rune.

The quests to obtain these particles are all hidden very well and usually require some thinking outside of the box to complete.

silent

When a silent spell is cast it can not be seen by other characters. They only see that they are damaged but not what causes the damage.

vampiric

10% of the hit points lost through this spell are given to the caster.

illusionary

This is the only enhancement particle that makes the spell (a lot!) cheaper instead of more expensive. An illusionary spell appears like a real one to other players but does no damage. Useful as a distraction in PvP combat. How can that guy cast ten enforced fire storms in a row? Oh, I see, they are all illusionary. *ouch* ok, this one wasn't

enforced

Halves the enemies magical defence.

creeping

Deals damage over time instead of instant damage. The total damage is higher but inflicted in small portions of 20% every 5 seconds for 25 seconds.

cursed

Inflicts an additional attribute loss in addition to the normal damage. What attribute is affected and how much depends on the effect particle.

Spell naming

The finished spell is named "[Enhancement particle] [effect particle] [application particle]". Examples:

Bubble                      Bubble
Fire + Bolt                 Fire Bolt
Flame + Inferno + enforced  Enforced Flame Inferno
Fire + Air + Nova           Lightning Nova