Add Spell Skill

Name: Add Spell
Rating: 78
Author: stevenraines

Workflow for adding new spells to the game.

Steps

1. Create Spell JSON

Create data/spells/[school]/spell_name.json:

json

{
  "id": "flame_bolt",
  "name": "Flame Bolt",
  "description": "A bolt of fire streaks toward your target.",
  "school": "evocation",
  "level": 2,
  "mana_cost": 8,
  "requirements": {
    "character_level": 2,
    "intelligence": 9
  },
  "targeting": {
    "mode": "ranged",
    "range": 8,
    "requires_los": true
  },
  "effects": {
    "damage": {
      "type": "fire",
      "base": 12,
      "scaling": 4
    },
    "status_chance": 0.2,
    "status": "burning"
  },
  "duration": {
    "type": "instant"
  },
  "cast_message": "You hurl a bolt of flame!",
  "ascii_char": "*",
  "ascii_color": "#FF6600"
}

2. Schools of Magic

School	Focus	Data Path
Evocation	Direct damage	`data/spells/evocation/`
Conjuration	Summoning, healing	`data/spells/conjuration/`
Abjuration	Protection, dispelling	`data/spells/abjuration/`
Transmutation	Transformation	`data/spells/transmutation/`
Enchantment	Mind control, buffs	`data/spells/enchantment/`
Necromancy	Death, undead	`data/spells/necromancy/`
Divination	Detection, knowledge	`data/spells/divination/`
Illusion	Deception	`data/spells/illusion/`
Cantrips	Level 0 spells	`data/spells/cantrips/`

3. Targeting Modes

json

// Single target ranged
"targeting": {
  "mode": "ranged",
  "range": 8,
  "requires_los": true
}

// Self-cast
"targeting": {
  "mode": "self"
}

// Area of effect
"targeting": {
  "mode": "area",
  "range": 6,
  "radius": 3,
  "requires_los": true
}

// Touch
"targeting": {
  "mode": "touch"
}

4. Effect Types

Damage

json

"effects": {
  "damage": {
    "type": "fire",
    "base": 12,
    "scaling": 4
  }
}

Damage types: fire, ice, lightning, necrotic, poison, arcane

Healing

json

"effects": {
  "heal": {
    "base": 15,
    "scaling": 5
  }
}

Status Effect

json

"effects": {
  "status_chance": 0.3,
  "status": "burning",
  "status_duration": 5
}

Statuses: burning, frozen, poisoned, cursed, charmed, feared

Buff/Debuff

json

"effects": {
  "buff": {
    "stat": "armor",
    "modifier": 5,
    "duration": 10
  }
}

Summon

json

"effects": {
  "summon": {
    "creature_id": "wolf",
    "duration": 20,
    "count": 1
  }
}

5. Duration Types

json

// Instant (damage, healing)
"duration": {"type": "instant"}

// Timed (buffs, summons)
"duration": {"type": "turns", "value": 10}

// Concentration
"duration": {"type": "concentration", "max_turns": 20}

Verification

•Restart game (SpellManager loads on startup)
•Verify spell appears in spell list (K key)
•Check requirements are enforced
•Test casting and effects
•Verify mana consumption

Key Files

•data/spells/ - Spell definitions by school
•autoload/spell_manager.gd - Spell loading and validation
•magic/spell.gd - Spell data class
•docs/data/spells.md - Full format documentation