Spell FX for the win!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZprDgeSeHXw
I have only added a few spells that are visible in the video, but here's an idea of how awesomely flexible this system is:
- There are 18 distinct types of effects (not just effects--actual TYPES! for example, player-targeting, location-targeting, omnidirectional target, multi-projectile, etc...)
- There are 3 combo slots, leading to 5832 completely unique combo types
- There are a (practically) infinite number of visual effects, and each takes less than a few minutes to tinker with until they look nice.
I emphasize "effects" in this because weapons and consumable items are used via their effects. For example, a bow is used the same way as a projectile spell. The difference comes in how the effects are granted: the "shoot arrow" effect is granted when you have a bow and an arrow equipped; the projectile spell's effect (magic missle or razorleaves, for example) is granted due to player level. Some complex skills are granted when you have the right combination of items: bow + arrow + level 15 theif, for example, could yield the multishot skill. There are also some really interesting skills, like the "hawkhelm" which grants the "farsight" ability. All this ability would do is pick 5 targets in your current direction: By comboing this with other abilities, you can multiply their effect (such as with shooting an arrow, you can shoot arrows at the 5 selected targets!)