What is F.A.E.R.I.E?

F.A.E.R.I.E stands for " Fast And Exact Rules for Incantation Expression".

It`s a notation to be used to describe turn-based RPG spells in a brief, yet detailed fashion.

[]

Includes a change to an entity. What comes before it is the thing that is being changed about that entity. For example, 

Turn[-=1] 

uses up an entity’s turn. 

{}

Signifies what entity is being targeted by []. For example, 

Turn[-=1]{Self} 

means that Turn[-=1] is applied to {Self}.

_

Separates what changes happen to which entities. For example, 

Turn[-=1]{Self}_HP[+=20]{Any} 

means that Turn[-=1] is applied to {Self}, but HP[+=20] is applied to {Any}. 

?%?

Things that are in ?%? have a chance of happening signified by the number in between the first ? and the %. For example, 

?50%HP[-=20]? 

has a 50% chance to reduce HP by 20. 

You can also tie them together so that if one fails, the other must suceed. 

?50%HP[-=20]??50%MP[-=20]? 

The HP reduce and the MP reduce are seperate here. Both can fail together, and both can suceed together. 

?50%HP[-=20]?50%MP[-=20]? 

Here, the HP reduce and the MP reduce are linked, because they share the question mark in the middle. If the HP reduce isn’t chosen, then the MP reduce will be. 

()

Contains the spell’s element. Each part of the spell separated by _  can have a different element. For example, 

HP[-=20](Fire){Any}_HP[-=20](Ice){Any} 

The first part of the spell is Fire type, but the second part is Ice. You can also have multiple types in one section, separated by |. ;

HP[-=20](Fire|Ice){Any} 

~§~ 

Signifies a random number in between and including the first number and the second number. The first number is after the first ~ but before the §, and the second is after the § but before the second ~. For example: 

~0§100~ 

This signifies that it’s a random number from 0 to 100.

Balancing Spells 

A way of balancing spells is by using a “points” system. 

You start with 0 points. Ending with a total of 0 points means your spell is balanced. Random chances count for the average point equivalent of the action. 

You can adjust point costs to your liking depending on your game, but here are mine: 

(These values assume a base HP and MP of 100 each.)

+0.5 point = 25% burn chance 

+1 point = Increasing the HP or MP of an ally by 20, decreasing the HP or MP of an enemy by 20, giving an ally a turn, getting rid of an enemy’s turn, 50% burn chance, or having the {AllAllies/AllEnemies} targeting. 

-1 point = Reducing the HP or MP of an ally by 20, increasing the HP or MP of an enemy by 20, taking an ally’s turn, giving an enemy a turn, and for every 1 delay on the spell. 

Example Spells 

“Heal” 

Turn[-=1]MP[-=20]{Self}_HP[+=40]{Any} 

“HealAll” 

Turn[-=1]MP[-=20]{Self}_HP[+=20]{AllAllies/AllEnemies} 

“HealLater” 

Turn[-=1]MP[-=20]{Self}_HP[+=60]Delayed[1]{Any} 

“ShootingStar” 

Turn[-=1]MP[-=20]{Self}_HP[-=40]{Any} 

“Fire” 

Turn[-=1]MP[-=20]{Self}_HP[-=30]?25%Burn?{Any}