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Male Spell Caster

Posted: 03 Jan 2009, 03:49
by valus
I'm trying to make an animation for the male to use when casting a spell.

Here is the motion right now.

My question would be if I need to add some magicky stuff around his hands or if that would be a separate operation?

I need some more dramatic lighting to reflect the magic stuff around his hand, but how is the motion?

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 03 Jan 2009, 04:36
by Crush
You should leave the magic graphic effects to the particle engine.

Regarding the animation itself: Keep in mind that a) the character will usually have a wand or staff equipped when he casts a spell and b) the animation has to accomodate both projectile-launching magic as well as summoning and supporting magic.

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 03 Jan 2009, 11:58
by 5t3v3
About wand/staff. Since it's possible to attack without weapons (fist) for warriors, in my opinion spell casters should be able to cast spells without staffs equiped. So this animation could defenitly serve for something. If you want to cast two birds with one stone, we could use this same animation for casting with staff, and have the character hold the staff horizontal in both hands pushing it forwards (much more dramatic/aggressive then waving it in the air anyway :p) Maybe a second animation would be useful anyway for defensive/healing spells though?

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 03 Jan 2009, 12:18
by Crush
One animation must do. We have to keep the number of frames as low as possible to make equipment development sufficiently fast.

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 03 Jan 2009, 15:13
by valus
Okay. I'll make one with him using a wand.

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 03 Jan 2009, 16:14
by AxlTrozz
Sad indeed, I liked the spell movement a lot, despite of the arguments of wands and objects, congratulations you did a great job with the movement. keep it handy, because we don't know if one of the races will be capable of magic without any object.

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 03 Jan 2009, 17:23
by octalot
I think the existing stab-attack sequences could be used for casting with a wand, with different timing for the frames.
It wouldn't do for staves though.

The final frame of this unarmed one might be used for a staff held horizontally, but maybe that's wishful thinking for a way to get this good animation in to the game.

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 03 Jan 2009, 17:28
by Crush
The existing stab attack sequence is going to be scrapped and replaced with a new trusting animation which can be used for different weapons than knives.

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 04 Jan 2009, 00:45
by valus
Here's take two.

Don't hold back. Tell me what you think.

I'm trying to be mindful of your equipment sprites.

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 05 Jan 2009, 03:01
by Rotonen
I'd say that the latest will work if there is also a separate animation for preparing a spell. I can really see equipment go well with your off-hand in that one. Would this mean you will be always casting with your shield hand and the shield hand would hence be your main hand?

My vote goes for classical preparation/concentration with your hands together while chanting something. Kind of like buddhist monks do it.

Image

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 05 Jan 2009, 04:12
by valus
I dig that idea, too. But aren't spells going to be cast with a wand?

I could make an animation in which the spell is prepared with wand in hand.

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 05 Jan 2009, 05:05
by Rotonen
The problem here is that we don't really know too much about the gameplay mechanics of when and how you're going to cast spells.

I'd say holding your weapon between your hands while chanting is a good assumption which would lead us forward. Should especially work with wands and staffs.

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 05 Jan 2009, 05:46
by valus
The mage class rules need to be pounded out for sure. That would help :)

The animation changes depending on whether they must wands, staves, hands, if they must mouth the words, if they must make signs, or trace symbols in the air, or use reagents / components, etc. etc. etc.

So we're stuck here.

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 05 Jan 2009, 07:16
by Crush
Rotonen wrote:The problem here is that we don't really know too much about the gameplay mechanics of when and how you're going to cast spells.
Did you really fall THAT far behind in following the gameplay conceptualisation?

Spells can be cast with or without a wand or another weapon equipped and can have a cast time between almost instantly and a few seconds.
valus wrote:The mage class rules need to be pounded out for sure.
(Off Topic) There are no classes in TMW and there won't ever be classes. The character system of TMWServ is completely classless.

For a description of the (already partially implemented) TMWServ magic system please read: http://wiki.themanaworld.org/index.php/Magic_system

Re: Male Spell Caster

Posted: 05 Jan 2009, 08:39
by Rotonen
Crush wrote:
Rotonen wrote:The problem here is that we don't really know too much about the gameplay mechanics of when and how you're going to cast spells.
Did you really fall THAT far behind in following the gameplay conceptualisation?
Nope. The problem I'm seeing is that we don't know what it pays off to wield when you are going to do magic. Especially due to our classless system you could practically have anything in your hands and hence the animation should take this into account and we should not design the animation with only wands and alike in mind.

Due to the variability of the cast time, we also need the cast preparation frame, as already suggested.

I don't want to end up with something that looks silly with most weaponry available.