It seems like some of the key concepts (Word Name types, cost) don`t even have explicit titles.
These seem necessary for a final product, in order to be able to discuss the class` functioning in a reasonable way.
I can see many different flavorful options (´syllables´, ´consonants´, etymology´) which play up the ´word´ and ´language´ aspect of Words of Power. Thoughts?
Target Syllable, Effect Syllable(s)
Prefix/Suffix ... Although that suggests your sandwiching the main word between two modifiers.
Morpheme?
Which possibly leads us to Compound Words with exteneded casting times(harder to "say") but bigger punch?
Rather than syllables, why not keep them as distinct words?
Target word + effect word(s) = spell phrase. Or spellphrase if you want it to seem a bit more unique. Much shorter and as clear as the phrase 'words of power spell' for describing what it is.
Word Name Type is also a bit of a mouthful. Think Effect Family is a little clearer? I don't like that as much as spellphrase, but it beats Word Name Type.
...all good stuff...
Rather than syllables, why not keep them as distinct words?
Target word + effect word(s) = spell phrase. Or spellphrase if you want it to seem a bit more unique. Much shorter and as clear as the phrase 'words of power spell' for describing what it is.
Word Name Type is also a bit of a mouthful. Think Effect Family is a little clearer? I don't like that as much as spellphrase, but it beats Word Name Type.
This is actually what i kind of... expected.
I was imagining a WORDS OF POWER spell system to have... well.. words. As it is now, to cast a spell, you're combining things like "Small Burst" with "Fire Blast". Add an "Amazing Super" in there and you've got yourself an Anime RPG good to go.
This system, honestly, just BEGS for flavor text... and actual WORDS to go along with the words! Be it Latin, Draconic, Klingon, whatever. The words need corresponding words.
When i'm facing down a horde of skeletal minions, i'd rather cast something along the lines of "Orbis Comburo" than "Small Burst Fire Blast"
This system, honestly, just BEGS for flavor text... and actual WORDS to go along with the words! Be it Latin, Draconic, Klingon, whatever. The words need corresponding words.
When i'm facing down a horde of skeletal minions, i'd rather cast something along the lines of "Orbis Comburo" than "Small Burst Fire Blast"
I've been divided about starting a thread on this topic pretty much since I read the document.
I love the flavor of actually having an "in game" word associated with the mechanical effect. But I don't want to memorize a new vocabulary to remember what the different lengths of line effect are called. I'd like to see a situation where I can have my cake and eat it, flavor and mechanical simplicity wise, but right now its not quite there. Most of the Effect Words do an OK job of this. The elemental damage ones especially viscerally sound more dangerous as you go up in spell level. The Target Words though... not so much.
As long as I don't end up casting Fire/Fira/Firaga at the table though, I'm OK with the current nomenclature :P
I'm not suggesting that such a change would over-write the current names. They should have the flavor words in addition to the current system, nothing subtracted or replaced.
Just a simple line next to the title.
Fire Blast "Comburo" (Fire)
School evocation [fire];
etc.
This way it could be optionally used and not required, but such a simple addition could really add RP depth to an otherwise silly sounding spell system.
I would really rather that they stay away from including actual magical-sounding spell words in the rulebook. Christian gamers have a hard enough time justifying this stuff as-is, without some of the accusations we face suddenly becoming accuarate.
To add to AvalonXQ's comment, I would prefer to avoid faux Latin. A few years ago I wouldn't have felt this way, but Harry Potter ruined it.
Can you imagine a version of D&D with, "Accio Monster" and Knock becomes "Alohomora" . . . I'll stop now!
Certainly better than "Small burst Fireblast!" as some have mentioned.To add to AvalonXQ's comment, I would prefer to avoid faux Latin. A few years ago I wouldn't have felt this way, but Harry Potter ruined it.
Can you imagine a version of D&D with, "Accio Monster" and Knock becomes "Alohomora" . . . I'll stop now!
At least "Small burst Fireblast" tells me what it does without having to memorize a bunch of nonsense words.
If I want fancy magic sounding names for my spells, I'll make them up myself. :)
There's nothing stopping you from adding your own faux-language names to the words. I'd much prefer they do NOT add an "official" faux-language to the Words of Power system; doing so just "locks it in" so to speak.
I can give you references to all kinds of dictionaries if you like to make it easier on you. I'm on a Norse kick lately (fueled by my viking dwarf Kingmaker game), so I'm using an Old Norse dictionary to make faux words.
I´m agnostic on the naming of the actual Effect/Meta Words (whether more flavorful or utilitarian)
but I still feel it´s necessary to have a good lingo for describing how the mechanics of Words of Power works, e.g. ´Cost´ implies a unit, but we´re not given one in the playtest, there doesn`t seem to be clear lingo for ´word type groups´.
This `meta lingo` needed to discuss/conceive of the system mechanics themselves seems like it might as well be evocative. Otherwise it just seems like an accounting analytical system, not the tools of those who manipulate reality with mystic words.
I'd love to get a page of two of optional names for the stuff. Optional means everyone wins!
Director of Games
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We discussed putting in code "words" for each effect, but really we would just be making something up and doing something pseudo-latin or some other system was not really acceptable.
In the end, we decided that the best way for this to work is for the spellcaster himself to name the particular combinations and effects, in whatever manner fits his concept. There will probably be a sidebar explaining how this might work, but I doubt we will codify it ourselves.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
I'd love to get a page of two of optional names for the stuff. Optional means everyone wins!
I'd love to get a page of two of optional names for the stuff. Optional means everyone wins!Here you go!
Man, this takes me back to high school. A bit too close to my native tongue not to be considered silly at our game table, but thanks for the sentiment!
Perhaps, at the end of the lest of spells for each word group, there could be a list of related (maybe pseudo-latin) words.
Latin's been around for a lot longer than Harry Potter.
I don't see what the problem with making an optional sidebar for the word names would be. It wouldn't "lock in" the names, the official names would still be "Large Cone", "Force Armor", and "Distant", etc. But it would be nice to lay the groundwork for RPers to have a few things to use in game without making up random gibberish.
Even a "Draconic" optional name sidebar would be nice, to avoid latin.
The problem is that you need more than a sidebar to be of any use. Do you really want an entire page used for absolutely nothing but fake words that have no meaning at all? You're on the internet; look up a Latin or Norse or Swahili or Arabic or Russian or Japanese or whatever dictionary. It takes about 30 seconds to get a whole bunch of cool-sounding words.
I'd love to get a page of two of optional names for the stuff. Optional means everyone wins!
*casts SANCT FLAM*
Oo, good idea. Here's a couple lists from another game:
*casts MADALTO on hogarth*