Eternal Circle features four different types of magic:
All four types follow a given color scheme: offenive magic will be determined by red colors ingame, in icons, effects and so on. Defensive magic will be represented by blue colors, special magic will use purple colors, while interactive magic will use the color of green.
Offensive magic is, of course, about attacking enemies and deal damage to them. These attacks range from classic fireballs to more wired stuff like spiked vines grabbing a enemy from below the ground.
Defensive magic is used to heal or lower the damage dealt by enemy attacks and so on. There are also some quite special things found under the defensive magic, like the ability to slow down time in fight screen or to hinder enemies from recovering hitpoints.
In fact, most of the offensive and defensive magical abilities resemble to the commonly known elements system: earth, wind, fire, water and wood. For instance, Aiden uses the element of wood most of the time, while Cort is bound to the earth element and Gwynn to the fire element. All of the characters can of course use things from the other elements, but their strengths are focused on their special element type.
However, Iné is quite different. She can use all of the elements in equal mastery. But she only can summon ghosts, spirits and animals, a ability which comes quite handy, as the game progresses.
While offensive magic, defensive magic and even summon spells are quite common gameplay elements for fantasy games, the really cool and new thing in Eternal Circle is the interactive magic!
Interactive magic is special to all four characters. Aiden has the ability to interact with all wooden things, while Cort can interact with ground and rocks. Gwynn has the ability to interact with water or fire and Iné can interact with animals and air.
The special thing about interactive magic is the possibility to use it in the Strategy Screen as well as in the Fight Screen. Another great thing about interactive magic is that it is not, like all the other magic effects, limited to one player turn. For instance, it is possible to lay traps for enemies beforehand, interact with the environment to gather advantge in later turns or prepare things for the Fight Screen.
The third great thing about interactive magic is the possibility to share effects with other party members. For instance, if Iné summons a hawk, Gwynn can turn it into a phoenix when using her fire element. Or maybe Aiden shakes a tree and leaves fall down, Gwynn can cover them with ice and Cort can toss some stones to the given place. So, if Iné casts a hurricane spell at this spot, the whirlwind will pick up the stones and the icesharp leaves and inflict a bigger ammount of damage to the enemies, compared to the normal hurricane spell.
So, interactive magic is bount to the environment (hence the name), can change the surroundings and terrain effects and will stay over time.
offensive magic:
Offensive magic are attack spells of all kind. Contrary to physical attacks, magic attacks can affect several enemies at once. If possible on hardware side and if the models are not too complex the magic attack will hit all the affected enemies in the Fight Screen in one row. If not possible, the effect will take place on the affected enemies in succession, so only one enemy will be on screen at the time.
All party members share a pool of similar attacks which have a similar effect, like attacks on one enemy, attacks on several enemies and so on. But there are only a very few similar attacks. Besides that, each character has his special spells, which refer to their elementary skills (see characters).
After a attack is performed in the Strategy Screen, the player will be taken to the Fight Screen. Like for physical attacks the player can now interact on the magic attack via stylus gestures and movements (see control and gameplay) as long as his interaction meter is running out.
Besides that, all effects of interactive magic (even if caused by enemies or other party members) present in the Strategy Screen can be incorporated to the magic attack performed in the Fight Screen. The player can grab stones, weave fire in a wind attack and so on.
How to interact with the stylus for all the different attacks can be found in the magic guide, which is available for lecture in the items menu.
defensive magic:
Defensive magic is used to heal party members or to recover from curses or bad constitutions, like venomed. There are some spells to mimimize damage inflicted by enemies or to hinder a enemy to summon other creatures. There are also some spells that can be used in the Fight Screen, like slowing down the time to parry a physical attack more easily.
All party members share a pool of rather similar spells. All party members have a healing spell for example. Of course not everyone of them is as good as the other. Like for the offensive magic there are some spells special to the characters and bound to their elementary skills (see characters).
After a defensive spell is cast in the strategy screen, the player will be taken to the Fight Screen, even if he may be healing a party member. Like for physical or magical attacks the player can affect the outcome of the spell by the use of the stylus. So he might get the healing spell better or the defensive spell may really minimize the attack of a enemy. It's at the players hands.
How to interact with the stylus for all the different defensive spells can be found in the magic guide, which is available for lecture in the items menu.
interactive magic:
special magic:
Alchemic Clash!