Forcefield VFX

[Culach]

     I've been playing around on a few characters with Force Field, realized that the customization is lacking, and thought maybe there might be a way to improve them.

 

     Currently the forcefields have an oily film appearance, and I was wondering if there might be a way to reskin them to have different appearances such as:

     - Geometric shapes, similar to the hexagon shields the Praetorian Police have. Great for tech based heroes

     -Rune Circles floating magic circles for that really magical feel. Maybe steal the floaty runes from Rune of Protection and use some of them here.

     -Atomic Blobs to keep in theme with anyone running an Energy Blast secondary.

 

     I'm thinking this is workable as skins on the forcefields, giving them a new texture, and I was looking at appearances that could possibly be ported in from other powers already in game. I will admit to not being aware of all the technical difficulties involved, but I tried to address some of it by keeping to assets already available and just porting skins over.

 

     Others may have good ideas that could be added to this list of possibilities, and someone may understand the tech limitations to explain how the could be done, or why it couldn't.

[gameboy1234]

2 hours ago, Culach said:

-Rune Circles floating magic circles for that really magical feel. Maybe steal the floaty runes from Rune of Protection and use some of them here.

 

I second this, and I'd like to see Circle of Thorns' Ruin Mages get this SFX, especially for the big bubble.  There's at least one "rune" aura in game that's used in a couple of places, this could be repurposed into an SFX for FF.

 

[Oubliette_Red]

Excluding one specific character, I tend to make the 'soap bubbles' as unobtrusive as possible as they can be migraine-inducing.

I could go for some d12 shield bubbles or mystic runes.

[PoptartsNinja]

Even just a generic, non-animating bubble with a defined "outer ring" and no swirling pattern or pulsing would be nice, too. A "minimal effects" forcefield for use during Mothership raids and etc.

[Techwright]

On 3/7/2025 at 8:17 PM, Culach said:

     -Atomic Blobs to keep in theme with anyone running an Energy Blast secondary.

 

Maybe I just need more coffee, but I'm having trouble picturing what an "Atomic Blob" would look like.  Can you clarify or give example?

 

I'm fine for the overall reskinning concept, it's actually interesting, though I'd emphasize that whatever options are added, make it easy to see through.   I'm concerned that the runes added to a bubble, or defining edges to a hexagon pattern might create visual obstructions if the wrong colors are used.  Even with what's available now, I often encounter players who use strong colors, which creates visual impairment, especially with multiple bubblers.  Less is more when it comes to bubbles.

[TheMoneyMaker]

18 hours ago, PoptartsNinja said:

Even just a generic, non-animating bubble with a defined "outer ring" and no swirling pattern or pulsing would be nice, too. A "minimal effects" forcefield for use during Mothership raids and etc.

There's a lot to be said for the minimalist approach.

 

Some other options:  auras from the Energy Aura set, the atomic aura with the enrgy balls orbiting you, floating runes for the wizardy types, and a barely visible effect for those who want their force fields to present as some kind of invisible telekinetic effect