This update is not your usual media release, instead of showing the updated maps or concept art I want to dedicate this update to the game play of Arcane Duelist. More specifically I want to present the Arcane Duelist spell creation system. Arcane Duelist features some fairly original features and I think that the realtime spell creation system is a good example of something you can expect to see in Arcane Duelist.
So what is this “Realtime Spell Creation” system?
In Arcane Duelist players use spells to deal damage to their opponent and gain the tactical advantage. Realtime spell creation means that during the duel a player will “create” the spells they want to cast. Spells are created by combining various elements into a spell that can then be used. Each spell in Arcane Duelist is some combination of three elements that can be ordered into three slots. Once three elements are selected the spell is cast, and once cast it is ready to be used. This results in a total of 27 spells that a player can create during a duel. With so many spell options players will become more familiar with the spells they use more often, and spells that have more technical applications and are more situational will add an extra dimension to the characters. This moves the uniqueness of characters out of the game and into the minds of the players themselves. Remembering 27 spells during the melee of combat should be difficult, and knowing how to use combinations to get desired effects will reward those players who can think on their toes and have a more complete grasp of the spells available.
Creating spells under the pressure of combat will also add a few interesting aspects to spell casting. 1.) The possibility of fumbling a spell when a player accidentally chooses elements that they did not intend to. 2.) A learning phase where players will, in a way, be able to level up their characters by learning more spells and becoming more familiar with the system. 3.) Creating spells on the fly adds an extra layer to spell casting and makes for a more involved system. 4.) The combination of elements to create spells allows for an extremely streamlined interface. 5.) The elements in the spell have a relation to the resulting spell cast. This in turn contributes to immersion and a coherent game world.
For more information about Arcane Duelist feel free to check out our website at De-dev.com.
