So I've been thinking a lot about Marcus, particularly his Rift Magic. At the time when I made him, his Rift Magic I thought it was a pretty neat little concept even though I stole it from a game. Whenever I look at it now though I can't help but feel how little effort I actually put into explaining it or how the magic isn't as versatile as I imagined it to be.
So I spent some time reworking the explanation of Rift Magic and redesigning a few of Marcus' spells and adding new ones that give him more offensive options even when he is not inside the rift, but still reward him for fighting on his own turf so to speak. So I thought I'd add them here and see what the GM's think about the new spells and whether or not I can go with them.
Rift Magic Sometimes referred to as Dimensional Magic, Rift Magic is a rare but not lost form of Magic that allows the wielder complete control over their own personal pocket dimension. Mages who utilize Rift Magic are able to freely enter and exist in their own dimension, leaving their current plane of existence and becoming impervious to attacks on the outside but cannot interfere with anything happening outside of the rift.
The rift is not a never ending space and is a dimension that is defined by physical boundaries. Think of the rift space that the user has control over as a large sphere with the Rift Mage at the center of it. The size and shape of the rift can be altered at the user’s whim to various effects. When outside of the rift, the physical boundaries of the rift have no effect on you. Inside, however, the boundaries are impassable. Additionally, the rift can be weaponized to be used offensively even if the user isn’t inside the rift, although such spells are only a fraction of their power whilst used outside of the rift.
Rift Magic Spells
Dimensional AwarenessPassive ability that grants the user complete knowledge of whatever is happening inside of the rift. This is only to the extent of sensory awareness. RiftwalkThe user enters the rift for a moderate duration. The user moves significantly faster whilst inside the rift. BanishBanishes a target to the rift. Can only be used when the caster is inside the rift themselves and has to be standing within arm’s reach of their target. Banished targets only remain inside the rift for a short duration and Marcus can banish up to 3 people overall. Banished PrisonThe user emits a small orb of Rift Magic that travels at a moderate speed and expands to swallow a single person and place them inside the rift. The prison’s boundaries are impassable once inside, successfully trapping someone inside the rift for a longer period of time than Banish. If Banished Prison is cast within the rift, the velocity of the spell is vastly increased. This spell is one of the few instances where the user is able to place someone in the rift without being in it themselves. Rift ExtractionViolently rips all Banished targets from the rift, damaging them and causing an explosion of Rift Magic upon their exit. Rift PolarityThe user is able to alter the dimensional boundaries of the rift in one direction momentarily, pushing or pulling all banished targets in any direction they desire for a brief moment. Dimensional BladeShaping the physical boundaries of the rift, the user is able to create an ornately crafted blade of rift magic that they can fire at their target to impale them. When cast within the rift, Dimension Blade can be cast multiple times in quick succession from any angle within the rift. Dimensional SkewerCreates thin tendrils made from the physical boundaries of the rift, appearing from underneath the caster. These tendrils have a short range but can pierce and slash anything that comes near the caster. The tendrils can be shattered by a strong enough attack. When cast from within the rift plane, Dimensional Skewer can be cast from any surface on the Rift Plane and have significantly increased range and durability. Dimensional HammerCreates a large geometric shape from the physical boundaries of the rift with the intent of using it to smash something. The construct shatters after one attack. Inside the rift, Dimensional Hammer is much sturdier and is capable of remaining intact even after several attacks with it. Invisible FloorThe user brings part of the rift plane into their current plane of existence, creating a solid floor for allies to stand on. Can be used to break falls but the floor isn’t quite as sturdy as solid ground and is capable of shattering. Dimensional ForceBy altering the size of the rift, the user shrinks the space that encompasses the rift to create a small orb of condensed rift energy around them. Bringing this orb into the user’s current plane creates a temporary barrier around the caster and pushes everything away from them. When cast inside the rift, Dimensional Force pulls all banished targets inside the rift towards the caster, placing them in melee range as the physical boundaries of the rift are decreased. This spell is great for separating targets from their allies or deflecting an attack. Be wary of powerful attacks, as the physical boundaries of the rift are much weaker when brought into another plane of existence and are capable of crumbling: rendering the rift unusable for a brief period of time so it may repair itself. Worm HoleThe user reshapes the rift plane, tightening it and creating a harmless worm hole in which anyone can use for quick travel. Once they enter the event horizon, they travel through the rift instantaneously and appear out at the desired location. This spell can be used to quickly travel through an obstacle or sneak by enemies undetected. The distance travelled by the Worm Hole is significant, but not absurd. As a rule of thumb, it can’t be any longer than the radius of the Rift Plane (about 15 meters at best). Secret Art of the Rift: CataclysmOne of the powerful Rift Magic’s created by Henryk the Magnificent: Master of the Rift. Cataclysm creates multiple tears in the boundaries of the Rift Plane, causing the rift to lose its form and become raw dimensional energy. A large dome of this energy surrounds the caster, placing any who are near them inside the rift plane temporarily. The boundaries of the rift swirl around uncontrollably, the rift energy desperately trying to reform its shape. This creates razor sharps strands of rift energy that completely surround the dome, eviscerating anything that comes into contact with it. After a few moments, the rift stabilizes and the dome collapses upon itself, violently pushing everyone inside the rift out of it. This is a great defensive spell but comes at the price of a great deal of Magic Power as well as overworking the physical boundaries of the rift. After the spell is over, the Rift Space is significantly smaller than usual and will take a few days to retain its original shape and size.
So far I'm not really liking Dimensional Force as much as I did when I wrote it a day or two ago. It's a neat little defense spell, but I can't help but think why a character who has the ability to phase out of existence to avoid attacks needs a shield spell. Cataclysm is different because that's more for protecting multiple people at once. I liked the aspect of it that pulls whoever is inside the Rift towards Marcus when he uses it, but I feel like the same result could be achieved with Rift Polarity. Idk though.
Any opinions are appreciated because I really just haven't been feeling Marcus' magic. It just feels very lackluster, especially for a B Rank character.
Okay so hi. I'm Demon Shinobi. One of the co-gms. Maybe not labeled here, but I help with decision making. Anyway... I kind of... Don't understand the rift magic too much. One thing I wanna ask it, does Marcus have any upper limits? How big is the rift? Will they still be seen? Can the pocket dimension be seen?
It it like Marcus creates a field around himself and controls everything in that area? If so, like I asked above, how big is it? You can answer here or in PM. Sorry it's taken so long for anyone to comment, I'm partially to blame along with select others. but I can't help make a decision or comment much on it, because I personally read it over and got a little confuzzled. I can be an idiot sometimes. Which is bad for a college student, but whatever. Good talkin to ya regardless though ^.^
@Demon Shinobi personally I think the problem is that I am not explaining it properly. At the moment I'm at a friend's place but when I get home I will try to explain it.
@Leslie HallWell it was pretty in depth. I think you just need to add a few key specifications. You know? But overall I got the gist of most of it. But I am still a bit confused. So take your time. There is no rush.
Partially my fault(mostly my fault) and I;ll try to finish up my half tonight. if that fails than @Lmpkio, please just skip over that and move on to the next day. Sorry for the delay, just some problems in my plans that have to be re written.
We may move to the next day, but honestly I don't think there should be much of a rush. If we're going for quality over quantity then this is pretty good in my opinion. Yes a bit slow but it works.
I didn't end up posting today because there might be a time skip soon so I figure it might be best to just wait and continue the interactions that are currently happening with my characters after the skip.
Also I'm salty because I spent 30 bucks on Steam to purchase Blazblue Continuum Shift Extend and I just found out I could have just bought the newest game: Blazblue Chrono Phantasma Extend on PS4. And I am god damn certain of the fact that when payday arrives I WILL buy the newer one because I have no self control.
