Regularisation of the EQ spells

[MonsterMotor]

Usually HQ spells come in sets of three, but not so the elf spells, which is a bit peculiar. In this thread, I am curious to hear what people generally think of the following idea I had some time ago:

When borrowing Mirror Magic from the chaos spells, one could sort 9 spells of this expansion into 3 new but quite meaningful categories. These might be exclusively for the elf or also be open for selection by all spellcasters, similar as in the Wizards of Morcar expansion. In particular, the sets would be:

Time: Flashback, Slow, Time Stop
Circumspection: Disappear, Mirror Image, Mirror Magic
Enchantment: Deep Sleep, Hypnotic Blaze, Twist Wood

I wonder if there is anybody here who would find it appealing to use these spells in the game this way (regardless of needs for amendments/clarifications on the individual card texts, which is a different topic)?

[SirRick]

I believe that may have been the original intent. There are some draft notes I keep hearing about. They seem to have a lot of interesting things in them. Perhaps there was something in there about it. I think Kurgan knows a lot about these draft notes if I recall correctly.

I do remember a similar topic came up before some time ago. It seems a bit of a waste for the Elf to get all these new spells, and can only pick 3. Dividing them in groups could be nice to let the Wizard or other spell caster have a chance to use them.

[wallydubbs]

Some of us have already designated groups for these spells:
Time Spells consist of Flashback, Slow & Time Stop
Illusion Spells are Disappear, Double Image & Hypnotic Blaze
Nature Spells of Deep Sleep, Twist Wood & Faerie (Which is just another Healing Spell).

[MonsterMotor]

Sure, the idea is completely straight-forward and I would have been surprised if something like this had not been thought about before, if not already by the original designers. Of course, one can define several spell sets, depending on the additional spell chosen. The above sorting indeed sounds quite neat, too. It must have been done rather recently, as the Faerie came only with the reprint of HQ, as far as I know. Any links to discussions, posts, etc. by the "some of us"?

[Kurgan]

The third nature spell (from the first draft by Kathryn L. Connors) was "Moon Time" which allowed a hero to be transformed into a "wolf" for three turns. You drop your gear with an equipment tile that anyone who moves over the tile could grab.

If you picture them as being grouped into sets of 3, it makes sense to just pick a set, rather than drawing 3 randomly or purposely from the pile each quest.

Presumably the "wolf" was meant to be a Giant Wolf miniature here.

[wallydubbs]

I think the Faerie concept was thought up beforehand, not necessarily from the Druid's Pixie, but as a nod to Legend of Zelda as Link (Elfkind) was often saved by faerie just before death. Although the fan's conceptualization of the adverse Faerie effects range from that of the standard and original 4 Body Points (Heal Body, Water of Healing & Lifeforce); to newer ideas like 2 Body Points or Trap search (Pixie); or even 2 Body Points for all heroes in the room (Healing Song); some might even suggest a complete restoration of health.

[wallydubbs]

The third nature spell (from the first draft by Kathryn L. Connors) was "Moon Time" which allowed a hero to be transformed into a "wolf" for three turns. You drop your gear with an equipment tile that anyone who moves over the tile could grab.

If you picture them as being grouped into sets of 3, it makes sense to just pick a set, rather than drawing 3 randomly or purposely from the pile each quest.

Presumably the "wolf" was meant to be a Giant Wolf miniature here.

I hadn't heard about that. Implementation would completely undermine the Druid's Shapeshift ability. I'd stick with a healing spell, you could never have too many of those.