Take a look at Two World II’s modular spell system.

I had the chance at PAX 2010 to play a little more of SouthPeak Games’ open-world RPG Two Worlds II.  And though I am known to have a bit of a checkered past with this particular franchise, developer Reality Pump is going all out this time around to make Two World’s II leaps and bounds above the original.

Of particular interest is the modular spell creation system that Two Worlds II utilizes.  Something they call the DEMONS^TM technology. It works like this.  All spells are constructed by combining a number of spell-mod cards that you find throughout the world. All of these cards have their foundation in five mana sources, air, water, earth, fire and dark magic.  You simply take different cards, each of which have different spell effects, and join them together to make new spells.

In the demo I saw, the rep started controlling the magic user character and engaged the spell creation tool. The caster was originally using fireballs, and the player equipped the 3-spread spell mod card, making the character shoot three fireballs in a spread instead of just one.  They then equipped the ricochet card as well which made the fireballs bounce around world when they hit solid objects. Finally, the electricity mod card was equipped which now made electrically charged fireballs.

This character was shooting electrically charged fireballs in a three point spread that ricochet.  I have do admit, it was pretty awesome to see.

The modular spell system is just one of the game systems that Reality Pump has really been putting their heart into.  The alchemical, weapon mod and armor crafting systems are just as involved and interesting.  It will be great to see how it all comes together in these final weeks before release.