Instant magic...and balanced game

[Dome]

Do you think it would be possible to make a balanced game with every magic being instant? (of course changing some formula here and there)
Or it's impossible no matter what?
Just wondering (In the D&D game, for example, magic is instant and usually uberbroken)

[akwikone]

With some slight rebalancing and larger mp cost for later spells, it could be possable.

[Archael]

sure it's possible

just treat magic like a ranged attack (bow) with an area of effect, and have compensation with smaller damage / success rates

the fact that most magic is faith reliant is detriment enough to counter balance it's range and AOEness, IF you balance it's values

[Xifanie]

Need more magic evasion else instant magic is broken as hell since you can go all out on first turn. :/

[Dome]

So...every magic should be evadable and cost more mp to make istant magic balanced...I see..

[philsov]

it's possible, but something to consider is how to toggle ranks.

Currently there is a perk to casting Fire2 over Fire4 in that Fire2 will resolve quicker despite being weaker.  I don't think just an MP cost difference will be sufficient.  

I mean, if you want to reduce black magic to essentially 4 spells, that's still balanced -- just reduced at the same time.

[Archael]

just make the higher ranks have better AOE, better damage, but shit accuracy as they go up

Fire 1 - Single Target, good accuracy

Fire 2 - 1 AOE panel, v0, ok accuracy

Fire 3 - 1 AOE Panel, v1, bad accuracy

Fire 4 - 2 AOE, v1, shit accuracy

dont even need mp costs

[philsov]

there's a formula for Faith*MA*Y that also has a variable % hit rate?

[Archael]

no

but LD has an asm hack for one in mercenaries

[Zozma]

It would work out well if it was like Tactics Ogre where units start with 0 mp but regenerate like 10% or so per turn but since thats not the case....

It allowed the units to cast low level spells frequently or spend several turns charging up for one big one.

[SilvasRuin]

Hm... I think I like that idea better.  Wasn't Symbols of Rage or whatever the name is going to have an ASM hack that built up MP based on actions?  One way or another, it should be possible.

Ideally, you'd borrow the 0 MP start from that and then craft a status effect that copies Regen for MP.  Slap it on every job and monster as an innate and you'd be good to go.  Not sure how much is possible with modifying the status effects though...

[Dome]

Something similar to "Every unit starts with 0 mp and everyone has move mp innate" then?

[Zozma]

that would probably eliminate retarded ai problems with the spells being instant, however, the ai probably wouldn't have the sense to save up mp for higher tier spells if they have access to lower ones as well...

[Kaijyuu]

possible? yes.

possible without making the game less fun? no.

[Dome]

possible? yes.

possible without making the game less fun? no.

Why do you think it will be less funny?

[theultrawolf]

yeah, it would give it a more epic factor/people rushing to get mp to cast spells.

[Kaijyuu]

Why do you think it will be less funny?

*points at FFTA*

[Dome]

Why do you think it will be less funny?

*points at FFTA*

I completed the game 100% like...5 years ago?
I cant remember anything of it xD

[Kaijyuu]

Instant magic was one of the lesser sucky things they did in FFTA, but still a major disappointment. Spellcasters were pretty boring.

[LastingDawn]

no

but LD has an asm hack for one in mercenaries

Unfortunately that hack does Nothing, I'm not sure why, but it doesn't seem to do a thing, I would like someone else more knowledgable to look at it, since Razele didn't make too many mistakes and I'm pretty sure he must have tested it to see if it worked at first.