So I was thinking about the ways various RPG's use spells and "mana".

Some games dole out mana like it's endangered. Only allowing you to use a few spells without having to refill with items (also limited) or rest up. Most of the time in these games, while the use of magic is limited by the game developers, it is also very powerful and usually flashy and useful in tough spots.

On the other hand, there are games that have a large variety of spells, some strong, most weak, and high amounts of MP to go around. Encouraging magic use just as much as swinging the sword.

I think both have their merits and can lead to very different battle and gameplay stratagies.

Which do you prefer?

Edit - I know it really depends on the overall game design, but which one do you personally prefer?

It depends on the design of the game

In a RPG like STAR OCEAN or TALES i would perfer they have enough MP..so i dont catch them just standing around bcause they lost in all after 2 spells ( Genis and Raine)

but in SRPG powerful but limited spells are great because it encourages real strategy on when to use them.

just a few xxamples it just depends

that.

Well I'd technically prefer to have no MP because it would make it less tedious but int erms of interest and wanting to see I want to see the FF8 magic system (drawing spells) again as it had sparks of genius, I would love this system if it were evolved and implemented in a better way.

Dragon Age Origins on hard got it right, IMO, as you had limited magic spells to do together, they might hurt your party if they were on the way and it made some serious damage if well executed.

Agreed. I loved the Drawing system in FF8. Good call.

While I'll play games that have any form of magic, I'm very picky about what kind of magic I like the most.  I prefer magic from such games as Chrono Trigger or Castlevania, which can be mixed with physical weapons.  I also prefer when characters don't have to recite a phrase or 'spell' to make magic work.  As well as magic that doesn't just focus on elemental styles (Ice, Water, Fire, Lightning, etc).

Basically, I like Magic that acts like the force, but is more based on traditional magic styles.

I agree, they should make a similar system to the Draw system.  Haters be damned, it was the most customization I've seen in a FF game to date and I loved it.

Yeah I'd love to see it evolved. I mean nowadays you could add things like objects within the battle system, the element of the object determines which spells you draw from it. Or say a lake in the background during the battle system could be added as an object from which you can draw magic of that element. Similarly during battle mode the background art will depend on the level, so many objects could be there that you could draw spells from...it would just make everything feel more relevant.

They could even add mini puzzles like having a fire enemy in the ice dungeon, you'll have to do a double draw from the fire monster and the background ice, this will combine to create water elemental magic by which you can defeat the fire monster!

These are just brief thoughts made on the spur of the moment on how it could be evolved, there are obviously many other ways too.

I really want the background environment to become interactive in a battle system in RPG's in the future and having a draw type magic system can aid in doing that.

Cool ideas. Some games have sort-of dipped into idea's like that. Like the Tales series has a few instances of using the elemental properties of the backround to determine certain bonus' and such (especiall Tales of Abyss). Adding drawing spells or casting spells straight from object in the battlefield backround though, i haven't seen. Seems like it could be cool.

Thats good, I hope Tales Of xillia will take that a step further then!

With regards to that idea of drawing spells straight from objects and the many things that could add to the gameplay who knows how much coding would have to go into that sort of stuff though, how would it affect the game difficulty balance, is it even practical etc.

But anyway thats my wish for how Magic could be implemented in future RPG's!