I'm that person who likes magic and now to think of it.... maybe Spiral Knights should invent scrolls! There can be a new stranger who sells scrolls at the bazaar. There are also stars on the scrolls(kind of like weapons). The maximum is 1*-5*. They all have an element. For example, Fire Storm scroll, the whole screen goes on fire and every monster dies. There are also prices. 1* scroll: 50ce, 2*scroll: 100ce, 3*scroll: 200ce, 4* scroll: 400ce, 5* scroll: 800ce. And there is no limit. The scrolls also doesn't bound to you, unless you want it to. Also, in order to use the scroll, you need the right equipment. For example, the equipment needed to summon the fire storm scroll is a vog cub cap or vog cub coat. It wouldn't work if your wearing a skolver cap... it doesn't make sense! to use the scroll while battling, u need to set the scroll in your keyboard and then you press it on your keyboard and u can now use the scroll. Also there is now magic energy. you cannot buy it... the only way to get more is to wait for it to generate. Some scrolls need magic energy to enable you to use it. For example, the fire storm scroll needs 20 magic energy to work. Well leave more suggestions on scroll names and what it does down BELOW.
Scrolls!
... and this is what I depicted as magic; the vials.
Tier one status spells (regular vials), tier two status spells (super vials) and tier three status spells (ultra vials*).
Fire vials would be fireballs, poison vials would be venom bolts, stun vials would be force blasts etc.. I can name the rest if you want me to.
Likewise, health capsules would be weak, moderate and strong healing spells and remedies would be a refresh spell of sorts.
I think it would be much more entertaining (in my view) to replace the vials with small one-time use spells, but give them the same effect, just different visuals. It also works with the getting hit and dropping your vial concept, as the holding animation would be a spell-charge instead which would discharge when you're attacked due to loss of focus.
I could go on and on about this, but as much as I would love for magic to be implemented, the way the game works right now the best course of action would be replacing the vials with spells.
(*) Tier three vials are actually named "super" vials, but seeing as the health capsule got an "ultra" with tier three, I'm giving the vials the same title.
For example, Fire Storm scroll, the whole screen goes on fire and every monster dies
No.
Not so much the suggestion itself but your example:
Fire Storm scroll, the whole screen goes on fire and every monster dies.
Kinda takes all the skill out if you can just buy a spell that instantly kills everything in sight. Imagine just taking that into, say, the 3rd room of an arena or the Royal Jelly fight.
I must admit though that I don't really see what spells would bring that the current weapons don't. From what I'm thinking spells are generally designed to be ranged techniques that require casting. So basically the equivalent of charging a gun or bomb and using them?
I suppose there could be buff style spells but these could easily be worked into the bomb lines without having to work in a totally separate weapon type that seemingly has more awkward usable conditions.