Spellbooks and casting in combat

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Timaeus
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Spellbooks and casting in combat

Post by Timaeus » Tue Aug 24, 2004 5:53 pm

With all the effort the Immortals put into creating all those unique spellbooks they are most often never held because if a wizard uses a weapon and spellbook they can not cast spells in combat. With all these spellbooks floating around it would be nice if a wizard could actually hold them instead of leaving them in the vague inventory where they are not seen by other players and are actually a target for a thief to steal.

Shields are coded to be allowed to be worn and still cast spells could the same be done for the spellbooks?
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Post by Elenthis » Tue Aug 24, 2004 9:14 pm

Excellent idea Timaeus. I have only seen a few of the awsome spellbooks about, and I think that would make a lot more RP sense and fun :)
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Post by Fayona » Tue Aug 24, 2004 10:28 pm

Very very good idea! Fay use to carry around her spellbook because not many people had that one and she liked to show it off. I think its really cool how much time the Imms put into coding in all the neat little designs and such.
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Post by Tandria » Wed Aug 25, 2004 3:17 am

Yes! I agree! Was thinking that myself a few times, actually. Great idea, Timaeus :).
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Post by Aegin » Wed Aug 25, 2004 6:51 pm

*thumbs through his spellbook quickly*

Where was that fireball spell? I know it's in here somewhere!

*as the orc horde overruns him*

Wait! I'm not ready!

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Post by Telk » Sun Sep 26, 2004 9:51 pm

I like the idea, but what about spell components? Would you be able to reach into your spellpouch to get a component with one hand holding a spellbook and the other a weapon? Would there be a way to possibly code being able to cast with a spellbook and weapon yet not being able to cast if the spell needs a component?
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Post by Gratey » Sun Sep 26, 2004 10:02 pm

Well, If you wish to write a spell in you will have to take the effort of getting the spell book and writing it in....I also think you should have to have a quill to write it in to make it more RP wise.....But the floating spellbook Idea is GREAT! Good idea Timaeus
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Post by Cyric » Wed Sep 29, 2004 5:50 pm

Not sure if I like this idea as much.

If a mage releases his grip on a spellbook in order to snag that spell component, shouldn't the rogue get a chance to snag that book while the wizard isn't looking? Technically, the wizard isn't holding it -- He's using one hand for spell casting and the other for stabbity-ing.
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Post by Mele » Wed Sep 29, 2004 6:14 pm

Well, maybe that could be a flaw to it. No one is asking it be made you HAVE to wear it, but just that you be ABLE to, since imms made such pretty little books. :)

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Post by Tychina » Sun Nov 07, 2004 12:34 pm

With all these spellbooks floating around it would be nice if a wizard could actually hold them instead of leaving them in the vague inventory where they are not seen by other players and are actually a target for a thief to steal.
Just wanted to point out, that the statement that no one see's them is in error. Those same thieves you are worried will steal your precious precious books, can easily see them. :wink:
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Post by Lysha » Sun Nov 07, 2004 6:02 pm

Hmmm....maybe after someone traine Still Spell (or however it is worded) they can then hold their books and no worries. ^-^;; Just throwing in my thought.
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Post by Courakil » Wed Nov 17, 2004 9:05 pm

The thieves worry is really mot too much of a problem, the wizard just tempoarily sheathes their weapon, pulls out the ingredient, and ..bam! spell. What could be interesting on the same token is an armoured spellbook that could be used as a shield as well. Think about it, it could be fun, though dangerous. If it's just an asthetic decision though, you could make it so they could attach it to a belt or something.
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Post by Rotha » Sun Jan 09, 2005 4:46 am

Basically, you want people to see your spellbook when they look at you, but it still needs to make sense... if both your hands are full, it doesn't make sense that you can do somatic and material components. Besides, spellbooks are HEAVY. I think it would be near impossible to fight at all unless it was in a backpack. I think the best you could do (at least for realism) is either make your spellbook float somehow (the flashy way :)) or just make sure to stow the book in your pack and whip it out at every occasion (thus showing it off). I did also think that maybe you could wear it somewhere other than in your hands... but unless you have a really, really thin spellbook, it wouldn't make a lot of sense...
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Post by Telk » Sun Jan 09, 2005 6:40 am

What about a spell that could be cast on various items to make them float?
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Post by Pakur » Sun Jan 09, 2005 9:54 am

In most of the FR novels i've read, mages don't hold their spellbooks all of the time. They have them stashed away in their bags. The spells that they need or use most are memorized, their spellbook safe in a spellguarded satchel at their waist or in a pack. I've also never read of a mage casting a spell that required a component, holding his spellbook in hand, and wielding a weapon all at the same time. It just seems very unrealistic. As for the floating spellbook idea, any character could ICly snatch it out of midair, providing there aren't any magical traps on it. I believe the system works very well right now.
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Post by Gwain » Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:48 pm

I could see spells of small powere requiring only memorization, but greater spells and feats that coraspond with those spells might require a book of magic to act like a conduit. Magic is power so I've always considered a spell book as a grounding for the use of the weave. In essence it controls and conducts the magic for the spellcaster. The more powerful the magic the more a spellcaster would need a book to channel through.
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Post by Isolrem » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:32 pm

I like the idea. A free hand to cast spells should not be interfered with something such as a spellbook. And certainly prevention of thievery is a factor.
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Post by Isolrem » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:37 pm

Rotha wrote:... Besides, spellbooks are HEAVY. ...
Spellsbooks are one pound, the weight of light grocery, considering even mages in the game normally have good strength at least...
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Post by Telk » Sun Apr 10, 2005 11:42 pm

Isolrem, the 1 pound is just for code, ICly a spellbook is a huge tome, or a small one depending on how many spells the wizard knows that will most likely be heavy.

Edit: Didn't mean JUST for code, I could see a 1 pound spellbook, excuse my stupidness ;) I was just saying I believe the majority of them are indeed heavy, and the code can't distinguish that.
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Post by Isolrem » Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:25 am

Ah yes, a huge tome would change matters... :)
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