Greywander
2019-05-24, 02:24 AM
So I recently binge watched the first season of Goblin Slayer, and as with many anime some of the characters would call out their attacks. Except in that context, it was more that they were saying the incantations for their spells, which makes slightly more sense.
Obviously, calling out your attacks isn't a very sound battle strategy, but it can sure make things more dramatic. So I was wondering if anyone actually called their attacks or spoke an incantation when casting a spell, and if so, how often you did it. It would probably get old fast if you did it every time you used that attack or spell, and you don't want to hog the spotlight too much. But it seems like it could be a good way to sort of get into your character and RP without needing to actually socialize.
And really, something like:
"Wielder o' forge an' flame
Smelter o' silver an' steel
Purify this world o' wickedness
With thy Sacred Flame!"
sounds a lot cooler than:
"I cast Sacred Flame."
Although admittedly it could use some work. By the way, I've been working on building a cleric of Moradin for D&D 5e; did you know that every spell on the cleric list has verbal components?
I feel like it could be helpful to have some guidelines on how and when to do this, though, or, as I said, it will get old fast. You could have the longform chant (the full chant), the shortform chant (just the last line or the spell's/ability's name), and a nonform ("I cast [spell] again") for when calling out incantations is overused. As for when to use each form, perhaps something like the following:
Longform, the first time you use a new ability that you've never used before.
Shortform the first time during combat, then nonform thereafter, for spammable or not significant abilities (like spamming a regular attack, or, for D&D 5e, cantrips).
Longform the first time during combat, then shortform thereafter, for more powerful or rarely used abilities.
Longform, at dramatic moments, such as if the success of failure of the ability could dramatically shift the flow of battle.
Shortform or nonform, if you recently longformed or shortformed and it would feel excessive to longform or shortform again so soon.
Any form, out of combat, as appropriate for the flow of the narrative. More dramatic tends toward longform, more utilitarian tends toward nonform.
Thoughts? Anyone actually do this? Does it make the game more fun, both for you and for the others at the table, or does it just slow down the game and make you hog the spotlight?
Obviously, calling out your attacks isn't a very sound battle strategy, but it can sure make things more dramatic. So I was wondering if anyone actually called their attacks or spoke an incantation when casting a spell, and if so, how often you did it. It would probably get old fast if you did it every time you used that attack or spell, and you don't want to hog the spotlight too much. But it seems like it could be a good way to sort of get into your character and RP without needing to actually socialize.
And really, something like:
"Wielder o' forge an' flame
Smelter o' silver an' steel
Purify this world o' wickedness
With thy Sacred Flame!"
sounds a lot cooler than:
"I cast Sacred Flame."
Although admittedly it could use some work. By the way, I've been working on building a cleric of Moradin for D&D 5e; did you know that every spell on the cleric list has verbal components?
I feel like it could be helpful to have some guidelines on how and when to do this, though, or, as I said, it will get old fast. You could have the longform chant (the full chant), the shortform chant (just the last line or the spell's/ability's name), and a nonform ("I cast [spell] again") for when calling out incantations is overused. As for when to use each form, perhaps something like the following:
Longform, the first time you use a new ability that you've never used before.
Shortform the first time during combat, then nonform thereafter, for spammable or not significant abilities (like spamming a regular attack, or, for D&D 5e, cantrips).
Longform the first time during combat, then shortform thereafter, for more powerful or rarely used abilities.
Longform, at dramatic moments, such as if the success of failure of the ability could dramatically shift the flow of battle.
Shortform or nonform, if you recently longformed or shortformed and it would feel excessive to longform or shortform again so soon.
Any form, out of combat, as appropriate for the flow of the narrative. More dramatic tends toward longform, more utilitarian tends toward nonform.
Thoughts? Anyone actually do this? Does it make the game more fun, both for you and for the others at the table, or does it just slow down the game and make you hog the spotlight?