A Soldiers Life, New Spell Form - Charm/Mind Contribution
Added 2025-01-02 03:52:39 +0000 UTCSo the MC is getting ready to add to his spell forms and taking suggestions from the readers. Below is where I am starting. Three for each tier of affinity is the limit for the upcoming chapter.
CHARM/MIND LESSER (10-25 required affinity)
1- Mind Fortress - shield mind from mental attacks/influence
2-Influence Mind - make one person see what you want them to. can make them not see something as well, say, the castor for cheap invisibility
3-Telepathy
CHARM/MIND MAJOR (25-40 required affinity)
1-Beholden - charm a person or creature to think you are their friend
2-Sleep - an area of effect sleep that puts weak-willed people to sleep
3-Compel Truth-force one target to only speak the truth
CHARM/MIND APEX (40-70 required affinity)
1-Mass Charm - charm everyone who can see the mage casting the spell
2-Break Mind - earse a person's memories completely
3-Implant Memory - seed a memory in a person
Comments
Empathy is 24/26 he has a low score and should go with mind fortress
Karnnie
2025-01-23 08:37:02 +0000 UTCI haven't read to the latest release yet but, mind fortress would defense him from mind manipulation attacks. Since nobility exists and probably have this type of magic to use on commoner, and our guy is a literal walking treasure trove. But compel truth? Looks good as well, maybe he can get mind resistance artifact instead
Oeon
2025-01-06 02:37:26 +0000 UTCI rechecked his empathy score: 48/67. Average, I guess? Even so, Erik doesn’t seem like the type to engage in the long term mental manipulation. He’s generally too forthright.
C Morillo
2025-01-05 22:45:01 +0000 UTCMind fortress. He’s too low in empathy to fully take advantage of the subtleties of charm or influence. Also, he’s always seemed more about utility or defense magics with his non-major affinities.
C Morillo
2025-01-05 22:31:06 +0000 UTCMind fortress, though you could look for something that makes his thoughts hard to detect. Say "slippery mind" or mental invisibility.
Zaffre
2025-01-04 22:09:25 +0000 UTCwithout being too OP i think Influence Mind, Beholden. and Implant Memory would all allow for some fun narrative options
Jack Trance
2025-01-04 17:08:10 +0000 UTCMind Fortress is a decent option, but given his dealings and inability to trust anyone, Compel Truth would appeal to him wouldn't it?
Damien P
2025-01-03 10:11:06 +0000 UTCmind fortress, he's already got a lot of spells forms with a similar style in mind. He's resistant to poison and has a self heal, may as well be resistant to mind magic.
Adrian Engel
2025-01-03 03:47:01 +0000 UTCI think Mass Charm is to overpowered and should be something like Mass Influence. Subtly pushes an entire crowd to believe what you want them to believe. Can be used offensive or defensively but straight up charming is too OP. What I think he needs is something more like an overall upgrade to mind rather than charm or a specific trait. Something like "Improved Mind" which allows him subtly improve his minds defenses, split his focus, increase his concentration, and aides in his overall control which would help him defensively against mind magic, help his spell casting, and allow him to learn and improve more quickly adding to his already best trait
Jacob Garza
2025-01-03 03:06:08 +0000 UTCi know the power of forms is all over the place, from semi-useless to amazing (yes yes sometimes both), but this list seems a bit overpowered even at low skill levels. Maybe 'compel truth' could be a percentage? Telepathy might only work between ppl who both have it, etc. Most ppl won't be able to resist these things, i'm guessing.
Enk
2025-01-03 02:22:03 +0000 UTCFocus: lesser mind magic spell form. Let’s the caster focus all their mental abilities into a single task. At higher levels of attunement, it allows the caster to think faster and think multiple things.
Alexander
2025-01-03 02:13:32 +0000 UTCMindscape - spell form version of the amulet
Aiden Wilker
2025-01-03 00:00:42 +0000 UTCBeholden and mass charm depending on duration of effects and if active or passive would mean the relationships that Eryk forms would be hollow from this point on.
Owen Jones
2025-01-02 23:33:47 +0000 UTCMindfortres is the best one
Khress
2025-01-02 23:25:19 +0000 UTCImplant memory is evil. Erase mind if it can be targeted to a certain memory isn’t necessarily evil but it gets into series breaking like telepathy.
Owen Jones
2025-01-02 23:23:10 +0000 UTCTelepathy would break the series IMO.
Owen Jones
2025-01-02 23:21:06 +0000 UTCMind fortress!!!! Always shore up your own mental defenses before anything else.
Michael Neal
2025-01-02 20:29:36 +0000 UTCQuestion: would mind fortress work as a passive defense? Also would it help in any ways beyond defense. Not necessarily make him smarter but boost him some other way? I could see that being an interesting way for some of the imprinted spell forms to subtlety shape Eryk as he goes.
MavTech
2025-01-02 19:34:04 +0000 UTCMind fortress to sheer up his defenses.
Thomas Shaw
2025-01-02 19:09:44 +0000 UTCCompel truth. Could be fun. Also mass sleep...for when he takes on a ton of enemies and builds up his legend. 😆 🤣 😂
Mark Corwin
2025-01-02 18:11:35 +0000 UTCWell Mind Fortress is the obvious choice... but the character is already OP. I'd pick something else just for him to be less OP. I think Sleep or Compel Truth would be the best.
David Weller
2025-01-02 17:39:48 +0000 UTCBuddy trust me when I say I do, but that doesn't take away from the fact of the points I made. Eryk isn't the leader of an organization, nor is there any indication that this would be communication over large distances, and he simply doesn't have the reserves. What you're proposing is something he 'might' be able to do if he ever is able to be a full blown mage.
BubblyGhost
2025-01-02 17:38:07 +0000 UTCMind Fortress seems to be the best one so he doesn’t get influenced.
ReadAthon45
2025-01-02 17:11:59 +0000 UTCMind fortress: he has interacted with mind mages and he gave away the amplifier to get essences. And he should know it ended up with the female mind mage who was already strong. Plus losing mental faculties is frustrating for many readers.
MavTech
2025-01-02 15:10:56 +0000 UTCI believe he needs something that shores up his weaknesses, he already has a strong will, and mental attacks are magical so either resistance would help against them so mind fortress would be 3rd option for me Telepathy would be incredibly useful to subtly communicate with others, it would be even more useful if he could communicate with ginger and other animals so it would be my 2nd option. What he really lack is a way to deal with a large number of weak enemies, for example a swarm type monster, this is why i believe Sleep is the best spell.
1536539
2025-01-02 14:42:30 +0000 UTCTelepathy or Compel Truth would make for some fun interaction with characters.
Kim Simpson
2025-01-02 14:34:06 +0000 UTCahh, must be illusion, her charm is 5
Enk
2025-01-02 14:26:01 +0000 UTCCastille's nightmare dreamsleep spell wasn't 'mind/charm'?
Enk
2025-01-02 14:21:23 +0000 UTCThis would also make for great visualisations of his defence against intruders in his mind palace!
Nixo
2025-01-02 13:35:59 +0000 UTCMind fortress is number 1. Telepathy would also be great if it lets him overcome language barriers as he travels the world. I don’t see him investing in some kind of charm or mind control. To me that goes against his basic principles of wanting to be free. I don’t see him taking control of another’s mind unless in self-defense.
Shane clark
2025-01-02 12:57:32 +0000 UTCMind fortress, I agree with the others
Kallen23
2025-01-02 12:52:53 +0000 UTCYeah mind fortress seems like a no brainer. The only downside I can think of is how rare it is. Also if he gets high aether resistance won’t he be able to shrug it off regardless? However, I would like to put my hat I. The ring for giving Eryk an item that would let him tame a creature. Maybe something like a Wyvern hatchling when he returns to the elf city dungeon?
Gyatzilla
2025-01-02 12:32:05 +0000 UTCI think Mind Fortress is beat for Eryk considering that he has prior experience being near someone with high charm and even if he wasn't completely under her thrall I think it's enough for him to wish to be sound of mind. With a high enough affinity you could have it be that it improves his mind in small ways, less wondering thoughts, intensified focus when doing a task or better comprehension when studying outside and inside the amulet. I also suggest things like mild sliver or mind spike. The former being a spell to weaken the mind and the latter one to incapacitate someone. An eyebite spell could also work since Charm is manipulating the mind and your eyes are directly connected to it.
LogicalGay
2025-01-02 12:17:46 +0000 UTCYou really have no idea how far communication technology has revolutionized war in history, do you?
Gwalmeich
2025-01-02 12:09:05 +0000 UTCOut of the list I think mind fortress is best. 2 additional items on the list could be Mind trap/trick - this ability fires when someone tries to charm you. It convinces them they have successfully charmed you while letting you know they attempted it. Mind prison - locks someone trying to influence you into your mind for a time. This would make them seem like they were drunk as part of their Mind is locked away.
Laggmaster
2025-01-02 11:55:31 +0000 UTCSafeguarding his own mind before influencing others is best for Eryk's temperament and style.
Silver Beard
2025-01-02 11:42:10 +0000 UTCMind fortress of course. But it is to low for requirements.
Scientist Valci
2025-01-02 11:36:03 +0000 UTCMy vote with this on
Mach Laveiilan
2025-01-02 11:02:41 +0000 UTCSkill to provide extra subordinate minds would make Eryc a terror.
M van Dongen
2025-01-02 10:59:59 +0000 UTCHe is building himself to be a Lone Wolf that can live for ever, stay unseen, cure any disease and win any fight he gets into. So either something that helps him stay under the radar, or something that enhanced his defenses/survivability. My personal opinion is that as long as he have a small aether pool, then its mind fortress all the way. Especially since there is a very large chance we will run into that young female soon to be first citizens mind mage again. Remember, she have gotten that amulet since last so her power will be way up there now.
Kharas
2025-01-02 10:32:20 +0000 UTCI would have him discover a rare “Mind Palace” spell form which simultaneously protects his mind like the Fortress Spell Form, but Eyrk slowly uncovers that this also helps him with faster/more organized thinking and easier spell form implantation. This would also help him later down the line when he needs to do complex Aether shaping to cast true spells (see the Emperor POV where this is shown to be mind intensive and super difficult).
Alias
2025-01-02 10:27:30 +0000 UTCMind fortress seems most in line with the MC. I can’t really picture him charming people even if they do compliment some of his other abilities.
Brayden Bell
2025-01-02 10:19:54 +0000 UTCBut I think mind fortress should be in the major ones, in the minors you could add a "advance thinking", being able to think faster and more clearly
Asarius _
2025-01-02 09:28:57 +0000 UTCAs a suggestion, there should be a “soothing presence” style ability in there somewhere amongst the tiers. Something that basically reduces people’s discomfort, maybe something a performer or therapist might use. Offensively, it could be used to manipulate people who aren’t aware of the effects to make them comfortable around someone that they shouldn’t be. Not a charm, just a subtle nudge toward an emotional state of comfort or conversely anxiety.
Cameron C
2025-01-02 09:26:14 +0000 UTCWith the aether pool he currently have, mind fortress is the best one in my opinion
Asarius _
2025-01-02 09:24:17 +0000 UTCMind Fortress
tathen
2025-01-02 08:53:27 +0000 UTCBest suggestion I've seen for a spellform addition, mind palace could work very well as a pseudo sort of dreamscape.
BubblyGhost
2025-01-02 07:09:50 +0000 UTCI keep seeing this sentiment reiterated in the comments. Would it really? We already know Eryk has relatively low aether reserves (with his fighting style revolving around higher than norm stats/skill, with the trump card spellforms), he's more of a one man powerhouse than a strategist or commander, and his adventuring group is halved now that he sent most of them home.
BubblyGhost
2025-01-02 07:09:00 +0000 UTCI'm not sure that was ever attributed to dimensional affinity, it could've been anything from the shield artifact, high aether resistance, or even the belt.
BubblyGhost
2025-01-02 07:02:13 +0000 UTCMind fortress shores up a weakness he didn't know about.
John Donovan
2025-01-02 06:38:29 +0000 UTCMind fortress or telepathy.
tishane mcfarlane
2025-01-02 06:32:45 +0000 UTCMind fortress imo
Dragoon9
2025-01-02 06:29:52 +0000 UTCMass Hysteria for another apex skill
hasrul naim
2025-01-02 06:19:31 +0000 UTCDefinitely mind fortress unless your trying to add something with Ona controlling Eryk or better fight when he comes for Renna.
TheBum
2025-01-02 06:18:13 +0000 UTCPerhaps another low-cost one could be something like 'Pleasant' that just makes people more responsive and like the user; basically a charisma bump when it's running
PatronTurtle
2025-01-02 06:14:35 +0000 UTCTelepathy would be very good considering Eric is the leader of an adventuring group.
Gwalmeich
2025-01-02 06:08:32 +0000 UTCSomething like memory palace to store and review memories is missing. Yes, it would be useless for MC, but currently there is only one spell-form that targets user and that is protection from others. And biggest advantage of spell forms are self cast long term spells or those that need speed to function properly. With other spells on the list most of those don't fall into either category. Yes they can benefit from fast cast speed, but with a bit of planing they can be still used unlike shield spell or similar.
Skyra
2025-01-02 05:52:24 +0000 UTCBeholden
Eriach
2025-01-02 05:45:14 +0000 UTCHonestly as they stand Mind Fortress is too good for how low it is. Couple immediate ideas are Mind Shield for the minor affinity. Mental Fortress for Major affinity, and Psionic Ocean for Apex. Have the Shield protect vs external passive influences fairly well. The Fortress should be better and be able to resist direct attempts to attack and influence the Mind. Also make it so that it's a passive drain like Slow Aging, but the drain increases if being attacked/influenced. Also have Psionic Ocean be defensive but it works by expanding the Mind so to speak, so attacks against it act as if attacking the ocean. While the apex would be the highest drain it would also not increase drain under duress.
Ben Schmidt
2025-01-02 05:41:10 +0000 UTCMind fortress should require more affinity requirements for what it does. A lesser version as a cheap requirement but as currently written id put it in 40+ range. MC should choose it though
Fred Fontenot
2025-01-02 05:15:55 +0000 UTCMaybe you could make mind fortress have additional perks, such as enhanced thinking speed or being able to remain clearheaded and focused even while exhausted or in pain.
Justin Barnett
2025-01-02 05:08:51 +0000 UTCMind fortress is honestly the best bet. Or something defensive in nature. You could make it so that as he increases his charm the strength of the protection granted is increased and maybe he could project that protection to others nearby or maybe even use it to remove outside mental influence from others. If you did go the defence route I might move it to mid tier and just add some Utility/versatility. That seems to be the way Erik has been leaning so far anyway. All of his abilities seem to be multifunctional or help with defence/survival.
Ryan Oakes
2025-01-02 05:03:15 +0000 UTCMind fortress is more in line with his character and his current build which has by necessity been about making him tougher and more resilient.
Geoff R.
2025-01-02 04:54:47 +0000 UTCRe- read Eryks attempt to put Eleven Sorcerer into his dimensional space in the dungeon. That sorcerer has high dimensional affinity/ level which didn’t allow Eryk to kill him that way.
Alex
2025-01-02 04:52:42 +0000 UTCImplant memory has amazing possibilities. He would be able to pass on memories of Earth to crafters and scientists, possibly start a technology revolution.
Da Worst John
2025-01-02 04:52:24 +0000 UTCI’m torn between mind fortress and telepathy. Mind fortress patches a large weakness that has been used on Eryk before. But telepathy seems like it would have significant tactical uses, depending on range and its other limitations.
Justin Barnett
2025-01-02 04:49:35 +0000 UTCMind fortress
Dominic French
2025-01-02 04:48:03 +0000 UTCMind fortress is just too good of an option to ignore. It seems like his slow ageing spell form. Not the greatest as a cast spell, because it needs to be constantly active to really do anything, but perfect for an imprinted spellform. He can learn to cast telepathy and compel truth (my 2nd an 3rd picks) when he gets his aether shaping up to snuff.
Flusspferd
2025-01-02 04:47:59 +0000 UTCMind Fortress, he learned his lesson with the sister mage of the First Citizen
William C
2025-01-02 04:41:10 +0000 UTCI like mind fortress. You can make it a passive that just runs in the back. Less chance of mind magic getting so op that everyone is just a slave. Also Mc doesn't end up that way too
JollyRodger
2025-01-02 04:39:53 +0000 UTCmind fortress will most definitely be the most handy especially as a counter towards his enemies that use artifacts that enhance their abilities.
Chachi
2025-01-02 04:39:30 +0000 UTCI can‘t remember anything ever needing to overcome the other person‘s affinity. There is a magic stat that determines the resistance he has to overcome when enacting magic on another living being, usually his dimensional space. If my memory holds true, raising his charm affinity in the future does nothing defensively. It obviously empowers his spellform, but the effect of that depends on the spellform. That being said, your point is still somewhat valid, as he can raise the stat instead.
Flusspferd
2025-01-02 04:35:44 +0000 UTCBeguile influence/Inspire an emotion in an individual. Emotions which align with a creature’s basic psychological makeup are most effective: fight (anger), flight (fear), hunger (desire). Targets can be individuals or objects (charms, talismans, focii). The more a charm or focus aligns with a creature’s nature/weaknesses or their history, the more effective it will be in luring or inspiring them: a shiny object for the avaricious, a glass of wine for the alcoholic, a delicious meal for a glutton, a glass of water for the thirsty, a mouse for a snake, the shadow of a hawk for a mouse, a banner, evidence of a secret crime or shame, etc.
sdf
2025-01-02 04:34:17 +0000 UTCMind fortress will be a good counter for when he returns to Telha, but it seems a little OP. I’m kinda liking telepathy or beholden.
visigoth
2025-01-02 04:30:27 +0000 UTCparallel thoughts, resist mind attacks, use dream amulet and ride your horse at the same time, help with ambidextrous fighting and spell casting, like using earth speak to blind fight.
Salvo
2025-01-02 04:29:47 +0000 UTCBreak mind might be a tad too Powerful for only requiring 40-70
Matthew D
2025-01-02 04:29:01 +0000 UTCMental fortress, passive, always running
Ivan Kanewske
2025-01-02 04:24:58 +0000 UTCMental Fortress ftw, esp. after that Hound he later followed to the archives took him for a ride.
sdf
2025-01-02 04:22:08 +0000 UTCMind fortress is just a good foundation and when his aether shaping and core gets good enough in 1000 or so chapters he can expand from there.
Connor
2025-01-02 04:20:58 +0000 UTCI like Mind Fortress, Sleep and Implant Memory. I went for Sleep rather than Compel Truth because someone with a higher charm affinity maybe able to act like they are under the spell and still be able to lie.
NightRider
2025-01-02 04:19:17 +0000 UTCTelepathy is really limited since he’ll be the only one able to talk to others. If it was two way communication then yeah it would be useful for planning etc, but one way it’s just too niche. Every other use case can be mitigated by whispering, hand signs, coded phrases basically.
Sunto
2025-01-02 04:18:39 +0000 UTCIf he can use telepathy on people he is fighting and read their surface thoughts it could help in combat
shabbybook
2025-01-02 04:17:45 +0000 UTCI think Eryk would probably go the mind fortress route; I can’t see him using influence mind. He’d be okay using telepathy but given how long and hard the team works to be in sync in battle, I don’t know what additional real benefit they would get that still stays in character. Unless telepathy had a decent distance and not require line of sight I think he wouldn’t really use it. Chances are he could use telepathy as a distraction not just coordination… With the emperor dead I’m not sure how dangerous it is for Eryk to be an outworlder. He is pretty paranoid about his secrets though.
Brett
2025-01-02 04:17:43 +0000 UTCThere are a lot of really good options. Mind fortress is my vote as it’s a good defensive ability that shores up a significant weakness. He can get more offensive options when he gets what he needs to become a mage.
Jordan A
2025-01-02 04:16:29 +0000 UTCTelepathy can be used as temporary/short term debuff when he “screams” telepathically in someone head during combat… many applications too Both have to overcome individual resistance to charms
Alex
2025-01-02 04:12:06 +0000 UTCThats actually a good one . And Discern Truths- medium ability . Catch the truthfulness of a statement ( high aether cost). Time toggle
Alex
2025-01-02 04:10:07 +0000 UTCMind fortress is the obvious choice. It prioritizes his survivability
Eddie
2025-01-02 04:09:19 +0000 UTCTelepathy would we good for communication withh Raellia and her familiar in the air and over distances. Also can be used during duels when enemy can be distracted in opportune moment. This spell has more utility and use in the story and way higher potential long term. It is likely that higher charm affinity will result in natural mind protection as any charm spell will have to overcome targets affinity ( similar to dimension affinity). No need for mind fortress if Eryk keeps raising his charm affinity. Mind fortress is probably to put protection equivalent to 2x or 3x of current affinity level
Alex
2025-01-02 04:06:47 +0000 UTCMaybe a temporary debuff like feeble mind/cloud mind/hallucination. I think the true mind control stuff just gets rapey/gross fast. He already has earth sense so detect mind probably doesn’t help him, but detect hostile intent could be useful. Telepathy/silent message is a good utility as well.
william wallace
2025-01-02 04:01:53 +0000 UTCInfluenc mind sounds fun, but i think mind fortrss would fit better to the Charakter.
VincentMilde
2025-01-02 04:01:35 +0000 UTCMajor Surface Thoughts Have the ability to learn small amounts of internal dialog from an individual. Repeated exposure may render the target aware.
DominusIgnis
2025-01-02 03:58:52 +0000 UTCThat or telepathy as it would make operating in a small group much more effective so long as he can hear the thoughts of the people he is speaking to rather than it just being limited to sending
Aidan Coleman
2025-01-02 03:58:24 +0000 UTCMy vote would be for mind fortress
shabbybook
2025-01-02 03:57:27 +0000 UTCI mean come on now, need you even ask? Mind fortress is the only way to go
BubblyGhost
2025-01-02 03:56:03 +0000 UTCI don't have any recommendations but the way the rest of his selection has gone mind fortress seems like it would be his pick. He's basically immune to everything else and self healing
TheAlreds90
2025-01-02 03:55:20 +0000 UTC
