Nexus Star
All of Cradle is connected...
-This star allows your sprite to change ONE of its abilities to ONE of another sprite's abilities. (the sprite's ability is cloned, not taken...keep in mind). But there are limitations and rules, in a system I now propose:
-Reset Star usage can reset these changes.
-A sprite must be level 100 before it can consume a Nexus Star. It can only consume two of these really. Resetting allows it to eat two again, of course.
-A player would need to have unlocked the ability on their own sprites in order to use a nexus star, or scanned them at least (see my dex/archive idea).
-This has to be a same-slot cloning - like if you change ability one, it will only change to the first ability of the other sprite. so you can't have a seraphynx with cloak+heart attack.
-This is also limited by sprite form. The regular forms cannot change their abilities, but alternate ones can, IF they seem like they would...this depends on subspecies, see below....... (black kat with maskwraith, for example. The black kat would be able to have the default mask's abilities. But this isn't the same for the maskwraith...). So far, we only have one of these, the Seraphynx (Black Kat). Thus, my inspiration for this idea.
-The ultimate form of an ability is not available for any sprites that don't use that ability by default. This would mean that aesthetics are limited.
-Sprite Abilities and Sprite Forms would be given a subspecies/Identification, as part of the Mineral Nexus. If two subspecies link up, a Nexus Star can be used to select an ability to change between the two subspecies. Pure, or default sprites, are not part of the Nexus, and cannot have their abilities changed via the Nexus. So our three initial drakon/sera/mask cannot ever change their abilities.
-This system would function for future sprites and their abilities. I've seen many excellent suggestions for future sprites, and sprite skins/reskins. I wonder what's in the future for blue/green minerals...
-You can copyswap at most two abilities at once. Must keep some sort of spiritual ID, otherwise it would be better to "equip Seraphynx (Black Kat) as a costume for Maskeraith"
-you do NOT physically switch abilities with this, it's more like a copy/paste, with the paste replacing the default slot for the sprite eating the Nexus Star. Like you wouldn't feed your Seraphynx (Black Kat) a Nexus star, choose Caustic Quills, and then suddenly your maskeraith has ray of light. No.
Classifying Things:
Abilities:
Caustic Quills/Shadow Cloak /Hexing Haze - Dusky
Firebolt/Flame Barrier/Firestorm - Toasty
rayOlight/Heart Attack/Angelic Aura - Lovely
Future Abilities: ???
Sprites:
Drakon: Pure
Maskeraith: Pure
Seraphynx: Pure
Seraphynx (Black Kat): Dusky
Future Sprites: ???
!!! so the Seraphynx (Black Kat) would be able to copy the Maskeraith's abilities, cool.
Pros:
-would give an opportunity for certain attacks to be of a different attack type, like a piercing fireball for seraphynx instead of a ray (I envision that it just hacks up flaming plegm with a lot of razorsharp bits in it, for piercing) - if a firey-colored feline is ever released.
- would give loadouts an interesting twist for many scenarios
-Would give a decent reason for players to level up "reskins"
-would emphasize how everything in the clockworks is connected
Cons:
-players would be able to have special sprite abilities, but in one sprite. Perhaps OP? The most OP thing I can think of: heart attack, cloak, and quills. But this wouldn't be possible with the system I've proposed.
-Loss of sprite identity/specific function/feeling speshul
What I would do (with what we have so far):
caustic quills on my Seraphynx (black kat).
What I would want (currently nonexistant):
For function: a drakon (black lizard? lol) with caustic quills, Barrier, and Hexing Haze.
For fun: a seraphynx ( toasty kat? lol) with firebolt, Heart Attack, and Angelic Aura
Thoughts?
Also, have the various alternate forms of sprites (I'm sure there will be many) be able to eat a mineral food related to their color to a greater effect. Like, the black kat sera will still PREFER luminite-based food, but Dark Matter based food would fill it up a little bit more significantly than it currently does.
Why not make each 'class' a little more customizable rather than just splicing other Sprites into one? Right now, skill points are an illusion, since you're going to max everything anyway. You only get some sort of mechanical difference once you get an ult, and even then it's not that gamechanging most of the time.
In a gigantic thread way back when, I suggested that Sprites' skill points be made more important. I'll skip the nonsense about how ultimate evo mats would be fit into this, because nobody cares about that right now.
It'd be a system where you'd be able to pick two modifiers to each of your skills out of 3 different choices, all doing different things.
Here's what I thought up for Drakon:
Firebolt (Improved base damage, on-hit delay removed)
-Excessive Firepower: Boosts the Firebolt's damage by X% each level. Also boosts the power of its Fire status.
-Concussive Impact: Adds a chance to cause Stun, and increases the odds of causing Fire. Boosts both chances further with additional levels.
-Meteoric Blast: Increases the distance the Firebolt can travel, and gives it a larger explosion radius. Distance and explosion size even more with more levels.
Flame Barrier (MSI boost [albeit lower than Backfire] is now part of the base skill, uses overshield [Context edit: in this same thread I suggested that defense boosts were replaced with an "overshield" mechanic, in which you get temporary "HP" instead of boosting your defense])
-Afterburner: Increases the amount of movement speed you get, and how long it lasts.
-Dragon Armor: Boosts the amount of shielding you get.
-Overheat: Increases the amount of orbs to 3 and boosts their offensive power. Further levels don't add more orbs, but increase their size and power more.
Firestorm (Flat damage on creation of each circle of fire)
-Spontaneous Combustion: Increases the power of the Fire status and adds explosions. Higher levels mean more explosions!
-Burning Anger: On activation and for a short time after the Firestorm ends, you and your teammates gain ASI and X% damage. Higher levels increase the ASI and duration of the buff.
-Scorching Winds: Increases the range of the Firestorm and sucks in enemies near the edges not resistant to knockback.
For instance, CI/MB Firebolts would deal some decent statuses over a wide range, AB/DA Flame Barrier would be perfect for positioning, and BA/SC Firestorm would be the perfect supplement to a Vortex.
Something like this would increase the value of Sprites without totally destroying what they're meant to be- 'classes'. Drakon is the fast-moving or hard-hitting Striker, Maskeraith is the debuffer/assassin Recon, and Seraphynx is the offense-or-defense supportive Guardian.
I really don't want to just see Quills/Heart Attack/Angelic Aura everywhere. That'd be boring.