Following some feedback exchange with one of the enthusiastic supporters of Underlair, under the alias of 'shoTgun', I've restructured the psycrum pool into, what I believe to be, a better approach for representing the levels of psycrym (mana) of each psycrum pool available.
The dark spheres are psycrum pools that haven't been unlocked yet, while the colored ones are unlocked pools. The large dented "sphere" or general psycrum pool, indicates the psycrum available in the character's body, which is the combined score of all unlocked psycrum pools.
The general psycrum pool, is also the representation of the psycrum available for executing actions requiring no affiliated psycrum, these are called neutral psycrum actions. For example, executing a power attack with a melee weapon, will force the general psycrum pool to draw psycrum randomly from one of the 3 unlocked pools.
The general psycrum pool is always unlocked and available for executing neutral psycrum actions. In order for characters to access other psycrum pools, they will need to find NPCs that can provide the appropriate training.
Lore
"In the world of Underlair, most living creatures have psychic abilities, this includes wildlife, monsters, and even plants. All characters in the game (both PC and NPCS) are capable psycasters and can train any skill or ability. However, some may emphasize a physical approach instead of a psychic one."
Nice.
ReplyDeleteSo the magic in your world is essentially psionics (and alchemy for potions/items)?
I guess that would have some consequences beyond just a different name for magic. What would you say they are?
That's correct. The 8 psycrum pools are: Sun, Stone, Lotus, Moon, Comet, Eclipse, Leech and Heart, each pool providing a unique set of abilities. Psycrum also has a criteria to function. For example, to use Sun abilities, you will need to be close to a fire source; having a lit torch is the perfect solution for that.
ReplyDeletePotions on the other hand, take advantage of the existing psycrum in plants. But unlike animals, which loose most of their psycrum upon death (which can be harvest with the right skill, btw), plants can retain psycrum for long periods of time after being collected, for as long they do not dry. Hence, best being stored in water flasks.
Items can be "enchanted" using psycrum and will be one major key point in crafting. In order to enchant an item, the artifact of '_psycrum_pool_name_' needs to be learned. There is an artifact ability for each of the 8 psycrum pools, each one providing particular bonuses. For exsample, the Sun Artifact will provide fire damage (for weapons) and fire protection (for armor) items; using the Stone Artirfact, items have extended durability (for weapons) and additional protection (for armor).