Some simple methods to generate ideas.
The first 25 magic system ideas.
This weeks lesson was mainly about idea generation, I who as a person has a over a million ideas every day, often finds it hard to execute the better ones and actually made polished designs and products from them. I learnt in this lesson how to avoid bad ideas and focus on the ones which are worth putting lots of effort into.
I made a list of about 115 or so ideas on word on different ways to produce/create a new magic system, I used red to highlight the simple ideas, blue to highlight the clever ideas and green to narrow down 10 excellent ideas.
Some interesting and clever ideas here too.
Lots of red (bad) ideas here.
The last couple of ideas.
Some extra ideas for a new magic system and a key for colour highlights.
As I was sorting out the 1115 or so ideas, I highlighted the best ones green and then sorted those ones out.
It was a tough decision, but the remaining ten were: Magic when you eat a lollypop (different flavours have different powers). Magic when you visit your own memories (Retracing your steps), Magic when you model with clay (Certain shapes made make certian spells), Knitting Magic, Magic is created whenever you sneeze (For someone like me who around dust all the time, I always hope there would be benefits to sneezing so often).
Magic that when used it will take part of your soul away (Your own body and mind is a finite resource), Magic when you disect animals (Each animal has different magical powers but it must be done in a scientific lab, otherwise there will be consequences for unessarary harm.) Magic when you eat certain fruits and vegetables, Drawing symbols of spells to create magic (Drawn fire symbol cretes fire magic).
And lastly Ressurrecting certain dead people to create spells for you. (More information detailed below).
This is some idea generation and development of my final idea. "Resurrection or Restoration".
This last picture showcases my development for the winning idea "Resurrection or Restoration". I continued to jot down notes and gameplay mechanics as well as one of the many level scenarios that would take place in this game.
This game idea basically lets the player play in a post horror dying game-world, some ideas I had for this title was that the player would be a Resurrection Detective or patroller of some sorts. As you explore your once loved city, a shadow unfamiliar to you pairs onto your body. You will be able to use this shadow to track down murder suspects and crime scenes. With this new power, you have the ability to resurrect the murder victim and ask them about their last moments and if they have any clues on the suspect in action.
The story I have created involves a shadow creature from an alternate reality and in that reality your characters world was destroyed by the Shadow Soldiers. This shadow has now come to our world and is trying to overrule this world too, you must track down this rogue shadow and destroy it for good.
Along your journey, you the player will learn to fight with your own shadow and solve puzzles and clues to track down the enemy. The rogue shadow has killed 24 people and only needs one more to complete his sacrificial conquest. The title of the game suggest either Resurrection or restoration, meaning if you don't resurrect the murder victims, you world will be restored to the apocalyptic vision of the Shadow Soldiers ideal world.
The main gameplay mechanic listed on my notes page, tell how one of the many murder victims you will find lies at a fast food restaurant. A worker there has served his last meal and has perished on the spot right in-front of the rogue shadow. You in this level will use your shadow and detective powers to resurrect the food worker and ask him questions. You will ask him about the last 24 hours and try to ask him what he knows, what he has seen and how he died. With the last hour you have, you will try to find clues to unlock more questions.
If you do not find any clues, you will only be able to ask one or two questions and then be asked to collect more stamina for your shadow powers.