Awesome, thanks for the reply!

Thanks for the feedback! I agree that using Water and Wind as training makes more sense than adding a new school. You're completely correct that the elemental schools are pretty weak by themselves, so maybe something like water/arcane makes more sense.

I also agree that the Frostbite condition is a little confusing and hard to keep track of. That said, I really want the ice conditions to be different than burns (which don't have any interaction with other burns at all). I like the idea of ice spells having synergy with each other. Currently, they all apply stacks of a weak condition that eventually becomes something useful. The idea is that she has to continue chilling her enemies or they'll thaw out.

I think it fits with the theme of ice really well, but I'm having trouble thinking of a good way to represent it.

So it attacks mana channeling objects and drains the mana for its own spells? I like that idea a lot.

My vote for type is... Mage!

Just kidding.

I'd be most happy with a Creature, since there's more details we can decide about it as opposed to something like an incantation with one effect. Hey, maybe the Dark Mind creature is like the Psylok's Red Claw Alpha Male?

I've read about some interesting parallels between Mage Wars and games such as Go. I went to a friend's game night today and played a game called Power Grid. While we didn't have enough time to make to the later stages of the game, I was instantly enthused with the game's similarity to Mage Wars: Domination.

In Power Grid, there's a huge focus on how you make investments/balance costs while trying to earn enough points to pull ahead each round. Turn order also has a big significance, since it determines when each person gets to make these investments. This reminded me of how in Domination, you spend each round contemplating how you'll spend resources (mana and actions) to ensure you either tie in V'tar or gain an advantage. While Mage Wars provides you with more tools to achieve these goals, I had the same feeling of a round per round need to make smart investments to either tie or surpass my opponents. One difference I did notice is that Mage Wars offers more alternative ways to still win from behind, such as the ability to kill the enemy mage or gain a big advantage in one turn with a well set up play. Additionally, the cost of different items in Power Grid are more consistently variable, so long terms plans are a little less possible.

I really like making connections between Mage Wars and similar games. Has anyone else seen any interesting parallels with other games? Does anyone with more experience playing Power Grid have any interesting insights?

Yeah, Dark and Mind could make a pretty awesome spell.

//edit: I moved my type discussion until later. It kind of undermines the organization of this if I jump ahead.

The Gateway, Beginnings, Mage Wars: Genesis, Mage Wars: Awakening, The Illumination, Gate to Voltari, Gate to Hell, etc.

Most of these sound like Move Titles, but I think a few are neat.

I think Gateway to Voltari is my favorite.

Training Day is a really good one too. Or how about something totally original like... Mage Wars: Academy.

I could see an Epic Time incantation for the alternate wizard (or whoever would use time) that allowed one to see the opponent's planned cards. Maybe even at a special time like just before the first quickcast. It could really give you an edge, but I'm not sure if the sacrificed action would be worth it. Who knows though, maybe a familiar could cast it.