What are some cool ways to cast spells?

[ergeheilalt]

When my characters cast spells, I tend to ignore the incantations, but rather focus on the somantic parts of the spells.

Since I play on line, I write alot of my spell dicriptions down for copy/pasting... this one is a acid synergy lightning bolt from my Dwarven Wizard/Druid/Geomancer:
--
Using his remaining action, Rodgar crouches near to the ground, assuming a cat-like position. Slowly the syllables form on his lips, his left hand rests lightly on the ground while his right is extended, fingers tracing a delicate, glowing green pattern in the air. Once the last syllable slips off his tongue, a small tendril of green acid rises from the ground. The tendril swirls up his left arm, snakes around his back and cascades down his right. Upon reaching the stubby-figured hand, the bolt launches with lightning speed. (acid synergy lightning bolt).
--
The only problem is when your descriptions get too big for the window lol

Erge

 

[RangerWickett]

I encountered a villain who loved fire spells. Every time he cast a spell, he'd take a suck on a cigarette, and if it was an offensive spell, he'd toss the cigarette at you, then mutter the spell components as he spent his round lighting another cigarette. It's a bit hard to do that in game unless you're a chainsmoking sonuvagun who doesn't like searing his carpet, though.

 

[NiTessine]

Well, my gnome rogue/wizard casts true strike by throwing the small wooden archery target that is the material component into the air, and then shooting his bullet through it. His interpretation of magic missile is similar, in that he throws the bullets at the enemy.

 

[s/LaSH]

We never really flashed it up when we were playing, but now that I'm putting our campaign into a webcomic, I've found a reader who speaks ancient Greek and can give me some quick translations. And they're always fun.

They're actually written in greek symbols, which I can't do here, but I can link you to the two places where they've been used (accurately): http://dungeondamage.keenspace.com/d/20021106.html and http://dungeondamage.keenspace.com/d/20021215.html. It makes it look that bit cooler. (To find the English equivalents to put through Symbol font, look under the comics in the History section.)

And for other coolness: Anybody remember Gargoyles, that cartoon a few years ago where every second voice actor was from Star Trek? All the spells in that were in Latin, and they were very cool. The only one I can remember is 'Fulmenos penite!' (punish my foes) for a magical bolt attack, but there were plenty. I think there are sites that catalog the spells out there, too.

 

[dave_o]

I usually use Latin, as it's easily the coolest sounding language ever.

It'd be cool to have them write the spell on a stone, piece of steel, etc. and break it upon casting.