Start with some foundational spells, traditionally that would be elemental spells but one could imagine those spell based on the physics engine to manipulate objects. For example, the three first spells could be Force, Mass, and Acceleration(perhaps having some cryptic word associated with them). Just using a keyword might apply a "buff" to your character, making it "stronger", "heavier", or "faster". The fun part of course would be to compose them e.g. `acceleration . mass` to inflict damage by ramming into an opponent.
I imagine the skill tree to be divided into language features and "spells"(those being associated with elements of the underlying engine). As an example, the player could unlock "variables" on one side and "Other", the ability to apply effects to objects other than yourself, on the other side. Everything limited by the resources of the player. Maybe a "magic book" system with limited space forcing you to golf your spells to put more of them in one book (therefore having more spell available out of your workshop). Engine-related spells would be limited by the player's mana. Spells could scale via the level of fundamental spells composing them. Self-applying spells could have a constant cost, while "other-applying" spells could raise the amount of mana required depending on the distance.
Actually, I don't think I would even want to fight in that game so there should be a way to level up by creating spells alone. Maybe link "XP" to an in-game object, "mana stone"-like, and make it available by fighting monsters and quests or merchants Building some kind of github-like market of spells outside of the game would create a nice community feel. The game could perhaps be multiplayer, making an in-game spell market more relevant, but the potential to break the game (figuratively and literally) makes that very hard to imagine.
I'd make that but I have to start "finishing" side projects instead of just starting new ones. Also I don't know anything about game dev
Start with some foundational spells, traditionally that would be elemental spells but one could imagine those spell based on the physics engine to manipulate objects. For example, the three first spells could be Force, Mass, and Acceleration(perhaps having some cryptic word associated with them). Just using a keyword might apply a "buff" to your character, making it "stronger", "heavier", or "faster". The fun part of course would be to compose them e.g. `acceleration . mass` to inflict damage by ramming into an opponent.
I imagine the skill tree to be divided into language features and "spells"(those being associated with elements of the underlying engine). As an example, the player could unlock "variables" on one side and "Other", the ability to apply effects to objects other than yourself, on the other side. Everything limited by the resources of the player. Maybe a "magic book" system with limited space forcing you to golf your spells to put more of them in one book (therefore having more spell available out of your workshop). Engine-related spells would be limited by the player's mana. Spells could scale via the level of fundamental spells composing them. Self-applying spells could have a constant cost, while "other-applying" spells could raise the amount of mana required depending on the distance.
Actually, I don't think I would even want to fight in that game so there should be a way to level up by creating spells alone. Maybe link "XP" to an in-game object, "mana stone"-like, and make it available by fighting monsters and quests or merchants Building some kind of github-like market of spells outside of the game would create a nice community feel. The game could perhaps be multiplayer, making an in-game spell market more relevant, but the potential to break the game (figuratively and literally) makes that very hard to imagine.
I'd make that but I have to start "finishing" side projects instead of just starting new ones. Also I don't know anything about game dev