I'm not sure if this has been brought up before (ok, probably, but I couldn't find anything in the forums so far), and I'm also not sure what the names of spells in the pre-alpha version currently are named, but ...
One thing I loved about the original EverQuest was that spell names were so creatively named; as if there were a history to many of the spells, or the names of the spells gave you the idea that someone had put some thought into their creation (both from a roleplaying as well as from a game developer perspective).
So, as a druid, I got stinging swarm, creeping crud, drones of doom, and winged death. My enchanter animations were named after their creators (maybe?) -- who is Boltran? Even healing spells gave you a sense of their power, starting with minor healing, then light healing, then healing, greater healing, superior healing, etc. Dyn's Dizzying Draught was a lot more fun to cast than Air Stun I.
Perhaps spells like Fire I, Fire II, Fire III, Fire IV, etc., have the same effects as Ignite, Firestrike, Fire, and Wildfire, but the latter sure spark my imagination, regardless of the on-screen particle effects or the numbers attached to them. I really couldn't wait to get Starfire when I played my first druid. I'm sure I would have been excited about Magic Bolt 2, but maybe not as much. Getting Careless Lightning was a blast, partly because of its name.
I kind of assume that Pantheon will take the same approach, but maybe not. Thoughts?
From what we've seen so far, each spell has its own unique name. You may want to join the discussion in these threads:
https://www.pantheonmmo.com/content/forums/topic/4539/spells-ranks-and-garbage-cans/view/page/1
https://www.pantheonmmo.com/content/forums/topic/3619/spell-ability-ranks-and-their-look
https://www.pantheonmmo.com/content/forums/topic/2864/spell-effects-particle-graphics
Haha I believe you - the search function is not always very user friendly. But here's an applicable quote from Joppa that I probably should have included in my first post:
"...every spell and ability will have a unique name in Pantheon - there will be no Fireball Rank 1-8. However, there will certainly be ways to make spells more potent. Sometimes the environments themselves will do that. Also, to use EQ1's framework, it's possible that simply having a higher Evocation skill may make your Direct Damage spells more powerful, instantly adding power and prestige to a system as simple as skill-ups."
(Source: https://www.pantheonmmo.com/content/forums/topic/1617/spell-teirs ;)
I saw that once I clicked the first link you posted.
I'm so glad they're not going with ranks.
Even though I loved Vanguard, even with its terrible release and all its flaws, one thing I remember being really disappointed by was seeing "Simulacrum II" as an upgrade to "Simulacrum".
