• The Dramatic Effects of Magic in Final Fantasy XV

    In the recent Final Fantasy XV Active Time Report we learned more about the magic system. All the way back in 2014 we learned that the weather system will affect the spells we cast and it was just mentioned in the Jump article last week. We got more details and some footage of this in the new ATR.

    There is going to be a focus on fewer spells in this Final Fantasy entry, they are going for quality over quantity. The spells they focused on in this active time report were: Fire, Thunder, and Blizzard. Our first look was with the spell Fire. In the ATR, we witnessed Noctis cast fire on a shed surrounded by tall grass. The fire takes over a large area, shed included, and then starts spreading out, catching more grass on fire. The game engine detects if any of the nearby environment is flammable and the spells affects it appropriately. Noctis and the gang reel from the heat. Director Hajime Tabata explained that spells can cause friendly damage. You'll need to be more careful when casting spells as to not hurt your party members.

    As mentioned in 2014, weather will affect the potency of spells as well. Marketing Manager Akio Ofuji inquired about how a fire spell would react in a raining situation. Tabata explained further that it wouldn't spread and wouldn't be as dangerous in that situation due to the weather conditions. They went on to explain more about the spell reactions when environmental conditions are different such as when it's raining, thunder will be more potent and that if there's water in the area, blizzard will freeze that watery surface. Spells can also affect the actual environment for long periods of time after you cast it. So the black scorched earth will remain so for a long period of time but eventually a "strange force" will cause it to go back to its original state.

    Magic itself is connected to the power of the Astrals, such as Ramuh that we saw in the Final Fantasy XV Episode Duscae demo. The lore involved with the magic is that there are natural energies in the world and you'll be able to use that energy to cast spells. In the gameplay, magic is a type of item, in a sense. It's an element and the energy you can gather in the world is used to create the elemental item. It's stored into your inventory as any other usable item would be. It can also be equipped to a weapon in battle.

    Outside of the natural elements; that allow you to use fire, thunder, and blizzard; there will be another type of magic known as Ring Magic. Those spells can only be used by the bearer of the royal ring of Lucis, which is passed down the royal line. While the elemental magic will be available from the beginning, ring magic will only available after certain parts of the story are reached, making them plot relevant spells.

    Nothing was explained on what the Ring Magic spells would be but we were advised of a spell that can affect the players via enemies: Toad! That's right, they've got a fully programmed frog you'll be able to hop about as when you're hit with this magical spell.

    Don't forget that we get to see some of the fire magic in the new character Aranea Highwind's introduction.

    What do you think of this magic system in Final Fantasy XV? Will you make Noctis a jerk and just sap all your friends constantly with magical friendly fire? Will you intentionally get yourself turned into a frog so you can experience the game in the best way possible, as a small tiny squish-able creature? These are important questions, Eyes on Final Fantasy readers!
    This article was originally published in forum thread: The Dramatic Effects of Magic in Final Fantasy XV started by Freya View original post
    Comments 12 Comments
    1. Skyblade's Avatar
      Skyblade -
      This looks quite interesting. I'm really curious to see other forms of magic as well. Will Quake and Demi come back? And, if so, how big of an effect will they have?
    1. Freya's Avatar
      Freya -
      It sounds like there wont be too many actual spells in the game. Maybe in the Ring Magic stuff that's plot relevant but we don't have enough info there.
    1. Skyblade's Avatar
      Skyblade -
      When you said "quality over quantity", I did get that impression. I do hope that they didn't stop at three, though. I think five or six would be ideal. Enough for variety and some choice, but not enough to overwhelm the system.

      Were there any comments about healing spells? I've always preferred Cure to Potions.
    1. Freya's Avatar
      Freya -
      Well I think it's just the three elemental stuff. No Blizzardga or anything since the spells interact with the environment, they really can be better or worse in whatever situations. I think they probably thought all the interactions with those three was enough to code haha.

      They didn't mention any cures or anything of that note but I think if I recall Stella Lunafreya was supposed to be some type of priestess kind of lady so maybe she'll have healing things?
    1. Formalhaut's Avatar
      Formalhaut -
      There's got to be a cure spell in there somewhere, and having only three spells seems rather thin on the ground for a Final Fantasy game. I'd expect at least two or three more spells, personally.
    1. Freya's Avatar
      Freya -
      Well there ARE more but only three elemental ones. The Ring magic stuff hasn't been revealed yet.
    1. Formalhaut's Avatar
      Formalhaut -
      It could work, as long as there were some slightly fancier magic. I could see a magnet/gravity spell working.
    1. Freya's Avatar
      Freya -
      I think we'll get more ethereal spells with the plot. Since everyone is named something like stars or darkness and light so I could see the Lucis family having spells like that. Since as how Ring Magic is Lucis only that would make sense, I think.
    1. Del Murder's Avatar
      Del Murder -
      I hate friendly fire. Hopefully it's not so cumbersome that it makes it annoying to use spells.
    1. Formalhaut's Avatar
      Formalhaut -
      Quote Originally Posted by Del Murder View Post
      I hate friendly fire. Hopefully it's not so cumbersome that it makes it annoying to use spells.
      I can see it working with the more traditional, tactical system they were saying we could choose, but yes, the thought of accidentally flinging a fireball in a fast-paced battle is a real one. If things are slowed down, then it works better.
    1. Freya's Avatar
      Freya -
      Well they said there would be two modes a fast and slower paced one so I'm sure you'll be able to use it that way too.


      From what i'm understanding is that magic is going to be seen as more rare as you have to collect energy to make it into an element and then it's used as an item. So maybe they're going for a more thoughtful, conservative approach to magic.
    1. Formalhaut's Avatar
      Formalhaut -
      Quote Originally Posted by Freya View Post
      Well they said there would be two modes a fast and slower paced one so I'm sure you'll be able to use it that way too.


      From what i'm understanding is that magic is going to be seen as more rare as you have to collect energy to make it into an element and then it's used as an item. So maybe they're going for a more thoughtful, conservative approach to magic.
      I hope they make magic more useful. While the FFXIII saga made magic very viable, in FFXII, outside of curative spells and the buffing magick, offensive magick was very questionable. Even magic in FFX doesn't really work in the late-game with someone just spamming 'quick hit' at maximum strength.
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