Video Game that turns Magic/Sorcery into More of a Science?

[KoolHndLuke]

Not where you gain experience and just "learn" a spell. What I mean is to actually try and break down spell types into logical categories needing proper components and incantations, etc. Also to classify people as adepts or not (the premise here being that only a very small, random group of people even have the ability to cast spells). I want to really dig my teeth into RPing the fuck out of magic with all it's implied mysteries. As to it's source(s), being able to possibly discover new sources or "conduits" and realistically portray the grind it would take to learn a very complex spell and the draining difficulty to even cast it.

 

Seen anything like this? Would be preferable in a setting of hack 'n slash with equally deep mechanics. And please don't suggest Skyrim mods. That magic "system" can't really give what I'm after no matter how much it's tweaked. No. This has to built from scratch in a separate title. Will look in the meantime for something and leave this thread here on the off chance that someone gives a fuck to read it, lol.

 

Edited July 11, 2024 by KoolHndLuke

[Alicious]

thinking about how skills in rpgs can be actual skills you can learn is rly cool, it's something i've always wanted too! but like, haven't really found many and none that go all in for that, i guess it's pretty hard to make.

even though it's not what you're asking for, PotionCraft is a game that i think does a good job of turning potion making into actual gameplay. maaaaaybe Magicka? though the magic system in that one isn't super deep.

[DocClox]

You might be interested in one called Cultist Simulator. It's set around the 1920s and you play a researcher from a variety of backgrounds that stumbles on a clue to Secrets Man Was Not Meant To Know. You spend the game trying to research  your leads, explore dreams, haunting odd bookshops and also to stay sane and not starve.

 

It's more of a deck/tile based game than an RPG, but the sense of learning the magic is very strong.

 

My second best recommendation would be Morrowind. You have to study the skills to advance in the magic factions, and the spell-making and enchanting systems let you get really creative with combinations of effects and modifiers. Unmodded, I might add

Edited July 15, 2024 by DocClox

[sila]

IIRC, Lichdom: Battlemage allows you to craft spells from components. Been a long time since I played it though so not sure if it fits what you are after exactly.

[FauxFurry]

What you described is less a Science as it is Rule Magic (specifically Vancian Magic). 

A game that turns more literally turns Magic into Science would be Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter or Xenosaga.

[sila]

20 minutes ago, FauxFurry said:

What you described is less a Science as it is Rule Magic (specifically Vancian Magic). 

A game that turns more literally turns Magic into Science would be Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter or Xenosaga.

Whoa, someone mentioned Dragon Quarter. I love that game, wish it had gotten more recognition.

[FauxFurry]

Have you tried Baldur's Gate 3 yet or for that matter, any other Dungeons and Dragons based video RPG? It might help to know which games you have already played with similar systems to use as a standard (or at least to avoid redundancy). 

[belegost]

11 hours ago, FauxFurry said:

Baldur's Gate 3

Everyone's talking BG3 while I still fondly recall all those hundreds of hours I sank into BG. Peak gaming right there, quarter century ago.

Edited July 24, 2024 by belegost

[KoolHndLuke]

On 7/23/2024 at 1:23 PM, FauxFurry said:

Baldur's Gate 3

About 800 hrs and counting,,, recently reinstalled it a few days ago to see what changes they've made. I loved it. But what I was trying to describe is such an involved experience with spell casting as to become intimately familiar with it (to feel that way I mean). Deities are a nice thing to structure magic around and I do enjoy that as a faith angle. But It's also kind of limiting. Outside of that, it would fall into more of a mechanical, chemical, tangible area more directly accessible perhaps? Though in no way "easy" to learn at all. Fuck, I don't know if I'm making any sense here...

 

But thank you and everyone so far that's responded with some titles for me to try out. What about Hogwarts Legacy? If any game should have deep, deep mechanics- this would be one I'd think.

 

Edited August 3, 2024 by KoolHndLuke

[porkybork]

One game that comes to mind is ARCANUM: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura. It uses a lot of elements familiar to TTRPG players and Fallout fans including highly customizable characters, various builds for different playstyles with their own consequences, rampant fantasy racism, and a dark setting with a rich backstory. It takes place in a high fantasy world following a violent war between magic users and tech users. The world is currently going through its industrial revolution and magic, while still very much present, appears to be falling out favor amongst the general populace.

 

The game is a bit older and has its own technical issues, but there are also a few QoL mods that you can install to mitigate the most annoying problems. Maybe this isn't exactly what you're talking about, but it's the closest thing I could think of and I think it's worth checking out.

 

Here's a couple reviews if you want to get a better idea of the game. The first is more general and the other is more in-depth and gets into heavy spoiler territory.

 

Edited August 8, 2024 by porkybork
Forgot to add the second review

[Neodarkside]

To me, Magic turned science-y, the games that come to mind are Bioshock 1, 2, Infinite. First person shooter with melee weapons, ranged weapons, and plasmids that function like spells. Fits the science theme due to it being a genetic splicing and recoding of your DNA. Great story too, spooky post disaster setting as well.