When cards are only usable by Mage X it limits spellbook construction creativity. I understand the limitations, both from a design perspective and a thematic perspective, but I've always felt like outright dissallowance is not a good method of design. Choices breed creativity and interest. This game already has plenty of Mage X only cards.
-nihil
I have to disagree with you. Mage only spells limit creativity, but there are only few of such spells and I think it is great. It is like giving each mage some optional unique abilities - similar to leveling in RPGs.
Your suggestion is ok (I am not crazy about it and I would be perfectly fine if it would be never included in Mage Wars), but as an addition to current system.
I would even dare to say, something like that is already in game - think of Ring of Curses - instead of it, we could have "this spell costs 1 mana less if you are playing Warlock" on every curse spell. I like Ring of Curses more, because it is optional, thematic and it is clearer solution.
You'll forgive me, but I can't find an argument in your post.
First you say you disagree with me, then you say Mage only spells do limit creativity, then you start talking about RPGs, then you rag on my idea some, then you start talking about the Ring of Curses, then you imply that there's a problem and identify said ring as a solution to said problem without actually identifying the problem, outright.
The word "coherent" does not apply.
So...I'm having difficulty forming a rebuttal.
-nihil
I'm sorry - I'm not a perfect english speaker. What I meant:
- I dissagree that Mage Only spells are bad design.
- I do not love your idea of "better when used by certain mage" spells.
- I agree that they limit creativity, but there are enough not-exlusive spells to be very creative.
- I like Mage Only spells, because they are like optional unique abilities for those mages - and I like more uniqness for Mages.
- you proposed spells like Familiar that is better when used by some kind of mage - I pointed out that we already have such system in Mage Wars - curses are cheaper for Warlock - if he uses Ring of Curses.
Okay, thanks for breaking that down. Now...
1) When I say "bad design" I should clarify: From my experience, when it comes to customized games, when a card can only be used by X, it
usually means that the design team sat down and created it for X, but then realized that it would be too powerful for Y and Z, so rather than invest time and resources into balancing it for Y and Z they take the lazy-man's route of simply restricting it to X. Staking that to Mage Wars was unfairly assumptive of me, and I therefore committed a fallacy, and will have to reposition that argument.
2) You do not love my idea of making certain spells better for certain mages, or providing penalties against for other mages, yet you don't explain your reasonings. I don't like the color magenta. Same argument. W-H-Y don't you like the idea?
3) Argument 3 is...well I forget the form, but it's a fallacy for damn sure. Substitutional proof turns your argument into: "I agree that
Slave trading is bad, but since the majority of people in the world aren't subjugated by the slave trade, it's not really a problem." When you admit an identified evil, then defend the evil, you are being circuitous, and not providing a defensible argument...you're just skirting the issue. Downplaying a wrong doesn't make it less wrong...it just distracts from the wrong.
4) What I take from this is that you like that certain Mages are unique in certain ways. I understand your argument, but my counter-argument would be that Mages are unique by merit of their spell schools, special abilities, and status points. Mages are already very unique to themselves...it is not necessary to limit the creativity of spellbook design to make them "more so." This is an actual debate.
5) No, that's missing the point. I say I want "X." You counter by saying "X exists through a secondary process of Y." That's not what I want. I want X. Not YX.
-nihil