(from Eiji)

ok..I'm putting some info down on the totem system for the magick users.. as far as "opposing" elements, we'll take care of that later..but I think we could also have "complementry" elements as well (like Iron and Fire can merge into "Steel". As with the opposing elements, we'll deal with that later...)

(from dbacher)

I want to treat Magic, Melee and Ranged very much the same way. I believe if you have three completely separate systems, there is no way that the three systems can ever reach a balance. I believe, conversely, if you have only a single system that it is far more likely that you will tend to be balanced from the get go.

I very much want to have limiting factors of some variety -- if you look at Magic: the Gathering, some suits are strong against some other suits, but no suit is strong against everything. The limited number of cards, the need to have a certain number of lands in play, etc. all factor in to how it balances the different suits.

I am not saying we need "land cards" to play, but rather that it is important to have a similar "limiting factor." The "limiting factor" is central to a balanced game. Spell ammunition and reverse mana are a start, but they aren't the end by themselves. They are just part of the tool to get there.

Fire

types of spells: direct damage, DoT, damage shields, "cleanser" spells (if you get "corrupted" you could use this to "cure" the corruption, but it would take a long time to get rid of it all...if thats even possible)

Water

types of spells: "cleanser", Shields (absoption),

Wood

types of spells:

Iron

types of spells: Absorption shields, Summon golem/drone, direct damage?, melee damage enhancers.

Wind

-speed boosts, increase powerplant output/efficiency. (this should go one way or the other... neither should stack)

Aethyr (say "ee-thur")

(might consider putting Daemon summons in this totem...at least maybe the gray-faction ones...Black factions should require their own totems.)