I, for one, really don't like the spellcasting system in the elder scrolls (from 3-5, I have never played arena or daggerfall). I'm fine with the actual magic system, between skills and perks and such. But I don't like equipping a spell just like a weapon or a shield. For one: Its too similar to wielding a weapon for my taste, I like to think magic should feel different than swinging a sword. For two: It forces out the majority of the spells you can use in a fight, because you can only ever have two equipped at one time (without opening up at least the favorites menu, if not the full menu). For three: Every time I cast a spell, it's exactly the same. Even swinging weapons you get more dynamic swings; altering between forehand and backhand sings, with special attacks that let you spin. I'd like magic to feature a bit more engaging variety than Cast-Cast-Cast-Cast out of magicka.
That said, I've been thinking about this ever since I first tried playing a mage and got bored out of my gourd with the repetitiveness. I feel like a complete overhaul of casting is necessary and I have a suggestion (albeit a somewhat radical change to the TES spellcasting systerm).
First, you have to have either an empty hand or some kind of magically inclined implement (I'm thinking like a staff, but maybe other stuff too) so no keeping your sword and board out while throwing fireballs willy nilly. Second, all the other magic stuff remains the same: Skills, skill progression, spell acquisition (with spellbooks), perks, and trainers. I don't want to touch that stuff, I like it fine as is. So, here is my suggested spellcasting mechanic.
1. While you have an empty hand or an implement (staff, holy symbol) you press the Cast button (either a keybind or mouse-click attacking with the empty hand).
2. Once the Cast button is pressed (or the empty hand used to attack), you enter casting mode. A few things happen:
- Game speed down by 75%, degrading over 3.5 seconds back to full speed.
- You stop being able to do anything other than move (WASD) and jump (space). Maybe certain perks grant you extra options while casting.
- An aesthetically pleasing blur effect limits vision to the central 1/2 of the screen. Maybe certain perks increase vision while casting.
- The six symbols which represent the different schools of magic (i.e. the Burning Hand of destruction or the Phoenix of restoration) appear in a hexagonal ring at the inner edge of the colored blur.
3. You move your cursor (made to look appropriately magical) to one of these school symbols.
4. That symbol zooms in (.25 second zoom speed) to a second ring of symbols, representing metadata groups of spells (i.e. Lightning Spells, Fire Spells, Cold Spells, Physical Spells for destruction)
5. You move your cursor to a metadata group
6. The metadata group symbol zooms in (.25 second zoom speed) to a third ring of symbols, this time representing known spells with that metadata tag (ex: Lightning Spells).
7. You move your cursor to a specific spell symbol
8. Casting mode ends
9. The spell is cast towards the target in the center of your screen (maybe some perks provide a degree of auto aim) or on yourself.
If the formatting makes the process seem too long (as a direct result of my technical writing profession) let me describe the process from the point of view of a first timer, a practiced player, and an experienced mage player (I'll assumed the default Cast keybind is Q):
First Timer: Presses Q, looks at the ring and moves to destruction. Looks at the new ring, finds lightning, and moves to lightning. Looks at the new ring, finds lightning bolt, and moves to Lightning Bolt. Lightning bolt is cast
Practiced Player: Presses Q, moves to destruction. Looks at metadata ring and moves to lightning. Looks at spell ring and moves to lightning bold. Lightning bolt is cast
Experienced Mage Player: Presses Q, moves mouse three times in a pattern. Lightning bolt is cast.
Some small aesthetic improvements could be made, like strategically positioning the symbols such that casting a specific spell makes a certain line pattern, or refining the spell symbols and metadata group symbols for clarity and beauty. But the idea goes like this. I should note that I think the symbols should be static, so you don't have to spend the extra thought hunting for the Destruction school and accidentally casting from the alteration school instead. This way as the player becomes a more proficient mage they can zip off a variety of spells without having to open menus and break immersion. Even though, honestly, the whole idea is nothing but an immersive menu. If someone prefers the old way, you build spell quick slots into the system which, when equipped, function as spells have always functioned. No one loses but, in my opinion, every gains.
As an addendum: I think allowing spells to combo based on secondary or meta effects would add even more adaptability to the system. A target recently hit by a lightning spell gains the invisible "Shocked" effect. While shocked does nothing on it's own, when hit with a spell with riders that trigger on Shocked, you benefit from an additional effect. For example, you target an enemy with a Damage Magicka spell and they gain the invisible "Damaged Magicka" effect. Follow it with a lightning spell and they lose x1.5 more magicka from the lightning effect than normal. Here is an area where we could get really creative. Even allow comboing into melee combat skills (Following frost spell with a knockdown power attack drains the target's stamina or makes them get back up slower). Following an illusion spell (like rage) with a charging power attack confuses the enemy, making them walk around dazed for a second.