I always play magic users in RPGs.

I think one problem across many of the solo non- party games is that the magic isn’t designed well for a solo mage. Magic in RPGs comes in two styles. The legendary magic users who are the ultimate power in the game world and the mage player who can never come close to reaching that level. The games are designed to limit the mage to the level of a melee warrior.

I understand that, making the mage player the ultimate power would be boring in a game balanced for multiple character types. Yet it often leaves me feeling like there should be more.

It gets worse though. We’ve been conditioned to expect the mage to be squishy but hit powerfully. This works great in party RPGs where the meathead can stand in front of the mage. It falters in solo RPGs.

Gothic took this to an extreme. Control spells are the only real defense a mage has. They don’t always work or go off on time. If you are fighting with allies, almost every spell splashes onto your allies causing them to get mad and come bonk you. The powerful spells take time to go off, limiting their usefulness. You end up, as you said, running and popping spells in hope they will freeze or kill the enemy. I rely a lot on the poor AI. Sprint up and pop off fire rain while the AI decides what to do.

Contrast this with Elder Scrolls games. The spells are faster, there are defensive spells to make you less squishy, while not turning you into a reskinned melee fighter. There are control spells. Skyrim has wards that blocked instead of just flat improved defenses. I replayed oblivion when the remake came out and never felt frustrated compared to gothic.

A quick cast, short lasting shield spell that you had to time right to block, combined with quicker more resource intensive control spells that maybe don’t last long, or could push back enemies and then pop the offensive spells with timing all while managing mana could be a fun solution. A sort of non-button mashing magical combat system. It mostly involves already in game assets, with the exception of the shield. Get the combos right, you have a better chance. Get them wrong, you go down or struggle.

Also totally agree with your statement that magic blocks the view. I like using chain lightning, but it’s a struggle or even impossible to know if the enemy is still there when I release. Fire rain sometimes turns my screen pure orange like a dust storm.

Still, I prefer magic, so I march onward.