Original Spellcards Anonymous

[Nyoko]

Ever had an idea for a spell card for an official/fan/own character yet lack the tools and/or experience to make it a reality? Then this post is for you.

As a type of sister post to Original Characters Anonymous, but purely for spellcards. It's fine with me if you created a spellcard for Daiyousei and described how it went or created a spellcard for your Mary Sue-type OC and described it here. All are welcome to create any spellcard here. And hey, maybe your idea might be breathed into life by someone who does if you post here.

Ground Rules
As would be expected of a spellcard, it must follow the spellcard rules. I'll list them here so you don't have to go far when checking if it follows the rules.

1. Give a name and a meaning to the elegance of the duel.
2.Meaning is equivalent to power.

Those are the two rules that apply to any spellcard here.

Additional Rules
As there are some unspoken rules and general rules due to the limitations of writing, I'm going to outline them here.

1. The spellcard must draw from your character's ability/abilities.
2. A description of the meaning of the attack is necessary.
3. A general outline of the attack in question.

Bonus Points
Giving your spellcard variations depending on the difficulty.

For the rest you're free to let your imagination go wild.
Now go forth and create that spellcard you've always been dreaming of!

[Hikiko Hime]

Well there's no "examples" here so I hope the format I used here encompasses all the "rules" set up. I'll amend accordingly, leaving it up to Nyoko, who set up this topic to decide.

Felt I should be very brief about my OC Hime (Who I am still working on) to get a feel for my reasoning behind the names, abilities etc. so here goes:

 

Hime's concept: Being someone shunned for being 'different' in the outside world, she develops an ability to "counter" or "defend" herself from prosecution and judgement. As such, the spell cards should have a "revenge" motif.

If one would see Danmaku battles as a "conversation through combat and skill" then Hime would be "negating" the "conversation" by finding ways to counter, rather than accept. "Excuses rather than solutions". Like a negative person in a conversation going "Yea but..." to any and every potential solution, becoming increasingly upset when the "positive" person in the conversation has an air tight argument.

Strength: Theoretically, could devise a plan/ability to counter any spellcard

Weakness: Would be predictable and limited to the opponent they face. The Spellcards would be more to create openings for basic danmaku shots and technical rather than brute strength and as such could simply be overpowered by stronger opponents.

Spellcard:

Spite: Stalking Desire- Shoots several "satellite" danmaku that observe the opponent's movement, eventually locking on, suddenly shooting lasers that become incredibly rapid and go straight toward the direction they last locked into, piercing through any barriers or shields that may seek to deter them. During their "stationary" phase, they are more like deterrents that serve as roadblocks rather than an actual attack (although they can still cause damage if one is foolish enough to touch them). The idea is that they would force the opponent into a cramped area where all the "satellites" would home into the only direction the opponent has left to move into (ideally a literal corner)

"Contain, Control, Suffocate" are key words for what this spell card is trying to express.

 

 

Meaning: Since Hime's character is someone who brings resentment from the outside world, I felt the name fit for someone who is obsessed (stalking) their prey out of a grudge (spite). The "grudge" is internal and is in fact a projection toward the opponent.

The stalking is a VERY deep-seated yearning to be understood (one they deny and internally rationalize), but due to her upbringing and difficulty in expressing herself, it instead comes out in the most negative, spiteful way as a type of 'mask' and 'defense'.

 

Difficulty

Easy Mode: Danmaku amount less than Normal. Only mode where the "speed shot" phase is the same size as the 'satelite" and is not a "laser".

Normal: Standard as described. Satellites are stationary, but their ability to "face" the opponent to prepare for the Laser phase improves. The Laser size is about the same as the size of an average character.

Hard: Danmaku amount increases as does Laser Hitbox, X2 of original. "Facing" speed up slightly" The Stationary Satellites move very slowly (slower than 'focus' speed) with the intent of cornering the foe. Satellites now slow down opposing danmaku. Laser Speed up.

Lunatic: Danmku amount increases further, Laser Hitbox now X3 of standard Size. Facing speed up. Stationary Satellites move roughly at "Focus" speed. Satellites now absorb "weak, basic danmaku shots", making the satellite size increase in size but also slows them down which is the 'key' to avoiding them. Laser speed is not affected by this and is slightly buffed from Hard mode)

 

The overall crudeness of the Spellcard and it's intent should express a "diamond in the rough" with a potential elegance that has yet to properly manifest within the caster.

 

Edited January 7, 2024 by Hikiko Hime

[Nyoko]

So, as this incarnation of Nyoko Hakui is a previous version dragged back from the past into the present who Hikiko incorporated in their story, any dissonance you find between the version you see here and my OC's in OCA is explained with the character evolution that happened between then and now.

With the forewarning given, let's begin.

Nyoko Hakui is a Nekomata with the ability to manipulate vengeance, thus all cards are related to the clause.

Spellcard 1:

"Grudge: -New Enemy-" Her first spell. She throws kunai in a circle as she forms a ball that follows you until the end of the spell. That's it.

meaning: The ball symbolizes a vengeful person and you the person who needs to be vindicated.

Difficulty:

Easy (spell is named Grudge: -new opponent-): The kunai amount is less than normal and the ball lazily strolls to your position.

Normal: The kunai amount is average and the ball runs to your position.

Hard: The kunai amount is the same as normal but the ball fires a bullet at you once every 10 seconds and goes at a speed between easy and normal.

Lunatic (Spell is named Vendetta: -New Nemesis-): The kunai amount doubles compared to normal and the ball fires four bullets at, away and to the sides of you once every 8 seconds, going at a speed comparable to normal.

Spellcard 2:

"Enmity: -Discord-" Her second spell. She shoots tiny red bullets in a fan shape in front of her that get bigger the more you shoot through them.

meaning: As you show your enmity to her, she will respond in kind.

Difficulty:

Easy: Danmaku density is lower and the bullets grow slower than in Normal.

Normal: Danmaku density is average and the bullets grow in at a normal pace.

Hard (Spell is named Hostility: -Strife-): Danmaku density is slightly higher and the growing pace is 1 and a half times faster than normal.

Lunatic (Spell is named Animosity: -Schism-): Danmaku density is high and the growing pace of the bullets is twice Hard.

Spellcard 3:

"Vindicator" Her last spell is a survival one. One must survive for 90 seconds as she throws red bullets that don't bounce and kunai that bounce twice from the high center of the screen.

Meaning: She is one.

Difficulty:

Easy: Danmaku density is average, kunai bounce once.

Normal: Danmaku density is average, kunai bounce twice.

Hard: Danmaku density is higher, kunai bounce three times.

Lunatic: Danmaku density is average, Kunai may only exit from the top of the field and bounce a minimum of four times.

[Juuni]

As someone who has essentially planned out an entire shmup game, I’ve got a few ideas. For now, I’ll outline one from one of my OCs. 
 

Violet Raha: A satori youkai with the ability to manipulate senses and sensory information. Though not as heavily shunned as satori and Koishi, she has a friendship with each and acts as an errands runner for them every now and then. She wears a purple dress and has short bluish hair. She wears a black ribbon in her hair that has an eye on the middle. Her third eye connects and floats around her in one closed circle, unattached to her. She also holds a rapier she uses as a hobby to keep busy. Now with her character set, next is the card idea I had.

 

As a stage four boss, she will have three cards. I however only have the idea for one currently, relating to her ability. To manipulate sense, she creates a “psychic wind” which then effects the target when hit. Thus, her final card mirrors that ability.

 

Psychic Wind: Suffocating Darkness - A card where Violet uses her psychic wind to blind the player. This card starts with her firing a undodgeable wave, where it temporarily blinds the player. As their vision comes back, the pattern is set up and fires as soon as the player can see a little. It has two waves of lasers, one on left and one on the right. They shoot diagonally down, crossing over to create the holes the player must stand in. The blindness essentially is there to make the holes harder to find, as you have less time to read the directions of the lasers to find the holes. After wards, a wave of seeking lasers come and fire at the players, converging on their location when they appear. After this wave, it repeats phases. On average, you should have to do the darkness phase twice and seeking lasers once.

[Yumetou]

I know I headlined the Original Characters Anonymous with a character I had a name, backstory and lore for. But Hope Black I never actually set up any spellcards for. Which is odd; the ttrpg I made her for is meant to imitate a bullethell. But I never got far enough to plan that out. I have an idea she would throw her wood hatchets during the fight. These would manifest as two spinning axes, which could either spin forward or bounce against the 'screen' for some more chaos. She might also make small flowers blossom on the screen, making numerous small danmaku sprout across the screen.

 

Illusionary Nirvana didn't have any spellcards planned for it. Mostly because magic is meant to be fading in this setting, with simple projectiles still being very impressive. Sanguine Rose didn't have any kind of magic attacks. If she had a set, they would be focused on short-range attacks with big damage. Very direct. No focus on beauty or complex death mages, just sword+face=dead. Probably gaining speed and power every time an ally of hers is killed on the screen, befitting her 'vampiric' powers.

Oscar Diggs would be an interesting character to design in a Touhou game. He's definitely Stage 1 material, despite being the leader of Otherworldly Ventures. His attacks would be focused less on damage and more on disorienting the players. Throwing a lot of attacks at the player with only a few being dangerous. I had a scene in mind where a fake Yukari would confront him. He would proclaim his magical prowess by shooting fireworks from his sleeves to disorient the crowd. Something like that, where he shoots fast-moving corkscrews or sparkles would be interesting. Maybe firing danmaku in seven colors, but only one is dangerous at a given time, which he cycles through. He's a Wizard of Oz reference, so having a giant flaming head spellcard would be fitting.

There is also Agappa-chan, a character I barely got to introduce, but had fun ideas for. She's a one-eyed yokai girl in a raincoat. The best shot in Gensokyo, she uses the best firearms Otherworldly Ventures can find. Which sounds impressive, until you remember even in IN they are struggling to scrounge enough ammo for a single gun. She would be focused on attacking from a distance, probably cycling through several weapons. Her spellcards would be boring though, especially since she is designed for a game where magic is fading. They would have to be focused on imitating firearms. Burst fire option, a strong long range attack, maybe something like flashbang or frag grenades. Very dry. Probably paired with her boss, letting Oscar distract the player while she focuses on damage.