I think that a weak spell of another affinity should exert you the same amount as a incredibly strong one from your own. So that yes I can make a fire but in the process of making a little flame I'll knock myself out.

I prefer the idea that you can only use the element that s your affinaity... Just makes it simpliet (And so all of our people are more unique)

yeah lets stick with that on second thought.

Or just let Ecurt decide...

He did say the affinity system was like Chrono Cross... where affinity meant 1.5x damage for spells of your affinity .5x damage for spells of an opposing element, and 1x damage for everything else. (I'm pretty sure those numbers are right... I used to have a table on what percent of damage was per point of magic/affinity etc. that I made myself, but I lost it when I had to get a new C Drive.)

But, I like the idea of only using spells from you affinity as well... elemental mages are more interesting.

So, let's all stick to only our own affinity for now... until we find out what Ecurt has to say about it.

Ahem, the weaknesses describe the energies. Say two spells of pure Fire and Water energies have exactly the same power level. The Water would 'extinguish' the Fire energy, since Fire is weakened in the presence of Water energy. For something like Lightning and Fire, the energies of the spells would cancel each other out, if they were of equal strength.

Sort of anyway.

And for that same reason, it is much more beneficial (and easier) to use spells of your own element. Focusing the Vera Energies of another element is harder and more draining. Using magic...it tires you out, both mentally and physically, and use it too much...well, you die.

The Vera Stones aid in the spellcasting process, but other than greatly aiding in the focusing spells they do not have any special effects to the user.

Now, for spell users.

Fire: Spellcasting tends to be more powerful.
Lightning: Spellcasting tends to be less tiring.
Earth: Higher magical defense.
Wind: Concentrating is easier, and therefore quicker spellcasting.
Water: Balanced. Not weak in any aspect, nor outstanding.

So, if, let's say Biran's character, tried using a fireball, it would basically drain her to much to be worth even trying to use that spell at all.

Actually, the way I see it, Biran's character could use a few fireballs, because lightning and fire don't conflict directly, and lightning is the element that should allow her to cast the most spells (regardless of if they're in her sphere)... but Rena (celes's character), could cast maybe one or two low level fire spells, Kith could cast maybe one low level earth spell (if he could cast any spells other than a haste using wind vera), etc. And any element that they aren't in, they can cast maybe like... half the spells before it drains them too much to cast anything else period.

That's just the way I see it though.

What I really wonder is if someone could charge up the ability that their element goes with. For instance: could a fire character summon up a major burst of strength for a moment?

I have to go with krylo here. This seems highly remiscent of "The Wheel of Time". Each person has affinities but casting outside of them isn't harder actually, it's just easier not to. Moraine makes the earth erupt beneath the feet of the white cloaks and Rand makes rain. The Asha'man can heal sometimes. It's all just a matter of ease with which we can do it.

Although I do think that there should be more severe penalties for weaving across affinities like I suggested earlier. Such as to discourage everybody throwing around the same shit. But I would like to put a new idea on the table.

What about weaving different elements together?
Like heating water to boiling with a weave of fire thrown in there, or adding different elements to your own. What if we made it so that everything had to be based in your affinity but you could throw together things from others? This would allow for waters flexibility to remain. Fire's potency but single profile would remain. Wind would be allowed to make like storms and such as would water and it would also fit in very nicely with sandstorms or such.Lightning and Earth would be the hardest hit, But unless I'm mistaken aren't the characters with those elements aren't big channelers.

Okay, I change my mind. About casting other elements, that is, because I think this better explains everything. I hope.

The magic that is used plays off of your own energy. Each person's spirit is made up of five elements, Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, and Lightning. Affinity is the most amount of what element there is in your spirit.

The more you cast your spells, the more it drains your spirit of that element's energy. When you're out of that elements energy, you cannot use it anymore. Out of all energy, and you're dead.

Lightning generally has the most spirit, and that's why they can cast more spells than usual.

Spirit does regenerate, but it takes time. Also, the Spirit Maximum is not unlimited, just like skills are to be improved Spirit also has to be strengthened as well.

Magic Strength is not based upon how much energy you use (well, it does affect what spell is used, but that's beside the point), say Lightning and Fire could use the same spell. For the same amount of energy as Lightning, Fire could cast a more powerful spell.

There is a limit to how powerful one can create a spell. Too much energy at a time, and the spell dissolves. That's the biggest difference between Lightning and Fire.

So, lightning can't use too much at a time, but can cast for longer periods and more often? Like, I could have my staff charged at all times during a long battle?

Well, I'm guessing it would act as an enchantment, so it would last quite a while. It just depends on whether or not you're actively charging the staff, or casting a spell on it to keep it active for (X) amount of time.

yeah, I'm thinking it's something of a passive enchantment, whose potency is directly proportional to my own fatigue while fighting, something I can improve upon as I get more experienced.

That sounds just about right.

I have to admit, the lightningrod-in-a-stick is a cool idea. Having it be connected to your stamina would be a good idea, as well. I'd like to see it in action :D

If you have any questions, though, PM the E-man (Ecurt).

I'm just happy I can cross-weave now. This'll open up a whole new realm of possibilities for weaves. This character is simply a incredible set of possibilities. I say be creative. I'm thinking about cross-weaving earth and water to create sort of a rust spell any thoughts on that? Or perhaps liquefying the earth beneath them by diluting it with water, but I could do that before. Or sending electricity through a passive bit of water like a lake thereby allowing me to more easily channel the electricity and turning it into a range!

Any other spell ideas pm me.