Powers
I shouldn't have to say this by now, but remember to keep your character's attacks or powers relevant to her element. If she's not the group's healer, your character probably shouldn't have a healing power. If you're playing the Warrior of Israfel, the angel of music, a fire power would be right out. Stick to your character's sphere of influence.
Oftentimes in an anime-based game, newbies will write out what the pretty magical attack looks like, detailing everything down to the last rainbow sparkle, and then neglect to mention just what the attack does. When the time comes for a villain to get hit by this attack, the player of said villain is at a distinct disadvantage- she has no idea what happens next! Is the bad guy supposed to explode into ash, freeze, collapse, or turn purple? There's also the other- if more minor- problem of a player listing what the attack does without describing it. This is less common, but can also be annoying.
Describe what your character does to use her magic. Does it require any special movements or words? How long does it take to charge up? Is it obvious that she's using SooperKewl Powerz, or is it more subtle?
What does the power do? Does it cause damage? What kind- burns, bruises, cuts? What blocks it? Can it be dodged? Does it work on multiple targets, or just one? Will it hurt the caster's allies? If it's a healing power, what WON'T it heal? If it's a shield, what does it block- physical, energy, or mental attacks? What won't it block? Does it shield all areas, or are there any openings? If the attacker is stronger than the caster, will he be able to get through? For psychic powers, can they be blocked or resisted by a strong-willed opponent? Can the powers make a character go against her code of honor or even against her instincts?
How long does the power's effect last? Remember that most fights are over in less than five minutes. Does the power require focus or concentration? If so, what happens if your character is distracted? Does she have to maintain eye or touch contact? How many times can your character use her magic before she's exhausted?
Don't make a power that can blow up the world- you'll never be able to use it, so why bother? Also, try to avoid making autokill powers (ones able to destroy an opponent immediately). These render the other characters pointless, which kind of makes for a boring game for everyone else.
Useful Power Links:
The Page of Generators
Here's a bunch of nice random generators, including an anime spell-name generator with
elemental options. Woo and yay!
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