Flare

Ramifications

What's the trick with Cataclysms?
When triggered, Cataclysms impart spell experience, a learning system similar to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. They also refund 50% of the MP used to cast spells back to the mages who cast them. Since Cataclysms can be triggered up to 3 times, this means a mage can receive 150% of the MP she used to cast spells.

How is this balanced?
The timer is the key. Once you cast a spell, you must make it stick and cast the next one within 30 seconds. When you reach a Cataclysm, you only have 30 seconds to use all three triggers. If time runs out, the entire spell structure disappears and you must start again. A mage can only receive this large refund if her spells stick the first time, or are hammered into place quickly.

What use are the fighters?
They serve the same function as "tanks" in a massively multiplayer game such as World of Warcraft: soaking up damage. Monsters have an aggro system that encourages them to attack whoever has inflicted the most damage. Mages like Sara and Nadia can't survive a direct assault for long, so it's paramount that fighters: hammer spells to make them stick, taunt monsters, and trigger Cataclysms. This will keep the heat off the mages.

What about debuffs?
Spells like Poison, Stone, and Slow are historically worthless against strong enemies. In Flare, these effects are attached to the third Cataclysm trigger. If you're fast enough to trigger a Cataclysm three times on a monster, you will successfully inflict the status ailment attached to that spell. Even against bosses. Note: the October 1 prototype does not feature debuffs.

How does this change combat?
Normal encounters are chances to refill your MP rather than watch it slowly drain. Encounters against bosses have a distinct ramp-up and combat cycle. You start a fight by buffing your characters: increasing move speed, defense, and status effect resistance. Then you begin your assault against the boss, trying to trigger as many Cataclysms as you can. If you're nimble, this will bring you back to 100% MP. You're then free to heal your party with magic and fight again until you need to heal more.