Generally in RPGs I find that fire spells are better against groups, whereas lightning spells do more individual damage. That said, the type of monsters being thrown at you generally dictates your magic policy. If you're entering the EPONYMOUS GLACIER MOUNTAIN REGION OF FROSTY DOOM you'd be a muppet not to take fire spells, right?

Status spells are also pretty pointless. Most fights don't last long enough for it to be worth poisoning the enemy and those that do, boss fights generally, the enemy is immune to status changes.

In fact, the only rpg I've played where you need to put even the slightest bit of thought into your spell selection is Shin Megami Tensei, where picking the right spells often means the difference between making it to the next save point or not.

In real life? I'd go for thunder based magic and dress like Raiden off of Mortal Kombat (The game mind you, not Christopher Lambert).

Ah, but if you did look like Mr. Lambert, you could run around frying people going "there can only be ONE!".

Eh, on second thought, I'll retract that thought.

Black mages can learn white magic, no? Yeah I get your point that this should be Black exclusive spells, but I think Holy is the only white magic that does damage, therefore I included it in the poll as well.

I've never found Holy spells to be particularly useful as spells themselves, but rather more useful as a status on a weapon, so I'd rule out Holy for myself.

Non-elemental magic definitely strikes a chord with me. Something like Force Push from Fable would be tremendous fun to have.

"Howdy stranger. BAM!"
"Owwwwww!"
I point and laugh at your misfortune.

If I were going to restrict myself to elemental magic, though, I'd have to say Wind magic. Offensively, Wind magic could be used for increasing agility, speed, and evasion. Defensively, one could create a wind shield and deflect projectiles and perhaps other spells.

Also, wind has lots of offensive uses -- directed tornadoes, speeding up thrown weapons like spears and daggers, etc. I could also use it to make all attractive ladies pose like Marilyn Monroe. <3

Thanks to Suikoden, I'm a BIG fan of Fire and Lightning spells. Those are my favorite attacks to use. Especially when they can be combined.

However, of the two, I'd say I rely on Lightning more than I do on Fire. Those are the elemental ones.

As for non-elemental, my favorite to use is Holy.

I rarely use spells like Haste unless the enemy has cast "slow" or something like that.

I usually use fire/ lightning spells in rpgs. Bio spells are pretty fun to use too. If I were a Black Mage I would use lightning type spells. My lightning would be extremely quick and unpredictable that nothing would be able to see my attacks. My lightning would even set fires and cause a magnetic charge that will pull all metallic weapons away from my foes.

I like the Water and Earth stuff myself. As I think I said somewhere on here before, the way Fire Runes are handled in Suikoden 3 causes me to dislike them.

I use Ice and Water type spells in games if they have it available. Blizzaga is at the top of my list in FF12.

I'm sure I would use those as well. Earth and Water Runes for me, with maybe an occasional Wind Rune.

to be able to speed up, slow, and stop time is mind bogglingly useful to me.
always has been.



voted. time.

Same here. Haste or Slow/Stop are usually the first spells I cast during a battle! Wouldn't that make us Time Mages, though? :eye:

A close runner-up would be Dark spells or those that doesn't easily fit into a category. Dispel, Drain, Rasp, and other spells of that nature proven to be quite useful.

Out of sheer usefulness I'd love to be a Time Mage. Following FF5's example, a Time Mage has wicked spells like Haste, Stop, PROTECT AND SHELL and even Meteo for destructive, non-elemental damage!

However, following the rules here, I think Wind would be best as well. Throughout the FF series, Wind (along with Earth and Water) are the only elements you rarely get to use. They're usually pretty damn offensive when you do get to use them, though. ;)

and i was also unaware that casting holy magic made us dark mages as well. :D

exactly, completely agreed.

but as you said, that would kinda make it a time mage

but either way, on the poll i voted time. hah.