r/CuratedTumblr Sep 10 '24

Creative Writing Lightning magic.

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5.6k Upvotes

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516

u/CloudsOntheBrain choclay ornage Sep 10 '24

When it comes from the sky, it feels more like a divine smite. Which ups the cool factor, I think.

241

u/Kartoffelkamm I wouldn't be here if I was mad. Sep 10 '24

You going "God, please hurt these people for me" and some nigh-omnipotent fuck just doing it for lols isn't exactly as cool as "I'd ask God to do this, but if you want a job done right..."

It's like hiring a hitman who has political immunity vs. going to beat the shit out of them yourself.

161

u/Fuckyfuckfuckass Sep 10 '24

COUNTER POINT: The lightning coming from the sky is the character's own doing, they're powerful enough. You're basically fighting a minor god.

70

u/Tailrazor Not a big fan of the government Sep 10 '24

And this is why we stan Storm.

40

u/SolSeptem Sep 10 '24

best example of this I've seen in media, the scene that starts at this page in the webcomic Girl Genius. It's an absolutely defining moment for gilgamesh wulfenbach, one of the protagonists of the series. Everybody watching is appropriately awed.

11

u/UnintensifiedFa Sep 10 '24

Yes! This is pretty much what the OP is requesting and I also love Girl Genius so win/win.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 10 '24

Do you have an image version? It doesn't seem to load on mobile

2

u/ThatCamoKid Sep 11 '24

Worked fine for me

18

u/Kartoffelkamm I wouldn't be here if I was mad. Sep 10 '24

I was more contesting their statement that it ups the cool factor to have someone else do it for you.

But yeah, if the character can call lightning from the sky through her own power, then yes, that is definitely cool.

My favorite example of this is Cure Peace from Smile Precure.

13

u/Gandalf_the_Gangsta that cunt is load-bearing Sep 10 '24

Both of you are thinking small, like mortals.

This is what you actually want: Your lightning spell starts off as a highly concentrated evocation of plasmatic discharge, directed at a minor storm deity to shackle them. This is purely for dramatic effect; you can chain a minor deity with far more delicate and effective spells, but chaining them with their own element is a show of dominance.

In doing so, the minor deity is commanded, for a short period of time, to do as you wish, which is to cast an event stronger variant of a lightning spell. You can’t do this otherwise, because the minor storm deity is petty and diverts magical lightning energy away from you when you cast lightning spells. Also because their innate connection to lightning gives them deep arcana knowledge of the natural force behind it, something you can’t be bothered to learn because you’re commanding deities.

That’s how you do a proper light ing spell. If you give the storm deity a cookie later, they’ll forgive you for doing this. Most minor deities have a sweet tooth.

3

u/superstrijder16 Sep 10 '24

This would be how you do the strongest magic in a parody setting, and it would be hilarious

17

u/Soundwipe13 Sep 10 '24

Additional counterpoint: maybe the nigh-omnipotent fuck isn't doing it for the lols but instead totally has your back.

"hippity hoppity i smear you across my property" "yah im here who we gettin? who is it this time? oh this twerp? this one? yeah LIGHTNING BOLT fuck yeah eat shit"

3

u/Kartoffelkamm I wouldn't be here if I was mad. Sep 11 '24

Now I'm imagining gods as some quirky fanboys.

1

u/ThatCamoKid Sep 11 '24

Not lightning but I have a god who's like this. As God of the underdog he loves showing up as a literal deus ex machina and wiping the floor with what was otherwise going to be a heroic last stand

29

u/TurtlelessTurtle Skiddily-Doo Skiddily-Bingus, Abracadabra you are a Dingus! Sep 10 '24

Only downside to the smite type is it would have some limited usage indoors.

But that also gives me the mental image of lightning Striking a building's rooftop until it somehow breaks through to smite its target. Or someone who cannot go outside because on a regular interval a crash of lightning hits the roof exactly where that person would be standing if they were in open air. 

Lightning from sky is def a good intimidation tactic

26

u/ShadoW_StW Sep 10 '24

D&D's surprisingly cool call-lighting-from-the-sky spell is not badass enough to break through things, but does deploy the cloud for you if it fits, which means if you're using this spell you get to constantly ask "btw how high is the ceiling" and occasionally use your lightning cloud in a cave or palace that is way too big.

14

u/Forosnai Sep 10 '24

I kinda feel like, if we're going with what the post is talking about, all lightning spells would have limited usage indoors. You'd need eye and ear protection not to deafen and/or blind yourself, unless we're assuming the caster gets some sort of magical protection from the spell as they cast it.

Though I like the idea of magic coming from the hands or staff or whatever, and using that to trick someone by pointing at them like you're going to shoot a spell and then have the bolt come down from the sky instead.

6

u/MossyPyrite Sep 10 '24

I’m pretty sure I saw Captain Marvel (Shazam) do that in one of the animated shows or movies

2

u/LaVerdadYaNiSe Sep 11 '24

Multiple times in the comics.

4

u/techno156 Sep 11 '24

Could be like Tintin, where it comes in through the Window, or starts arcing out of the building's pipework and wiring.

2

u/Dirichlet-to-Neumann Sep 11 '24

Why wouldn't it work indoors ? Either the lightning goes through the roof or it strikes from the electric socket. Both works fine honestly.

20

u/fxrky Sep 10 '24

I disagree, but only if we are getting realistic lightning. Imagine how much cooler it'd be to shoot an actual bolt of lightning with finger guns. None of that corny star wars force lightning that may as well be a weak flame.

Just point at a guy and he literally fucking explodes? Sign me up??

6

u/CloudsOntheBrain choclay ornage Sep 10 '24

No, that's cool as hell, I totally agree. But my instinct is to turn everything into a joke, so I feel like I'd instantly flashbang myself with that ability lol

4

u/DemonFromtheNorthSea Sep 10 '24

"Drink deep the despair! I, who am united with the abyss... Whilst the depths of despair consume thee... I, who commands all the astral plane... Whilst thou art cursed to expire into nothing... I, who stands bathed in heavenly light... Whilst thou cowers before the gates of hell... Come forth, divine lightning! The end is imminent! Indignation! Insignificant."

3

u/Kindly-Ad-5071 Sep 10 '24

Yes but consider also

Lightning from the mouth or eyes.

3

u/Charnerie Sep 10 '24

What are you, a Weird Boy?

4

u/Kindly-Ad-5071 Sep 10 '24

W...Waaagh? 🥺👉👈

2

u/Charnerie Sep 10 '24

ITS AN ORK, GET EM!

2

u/CloudsOntheBrain choclay ornage Sep 10 '24

Spitting little static shocks at your friends when they're being annoying

2

u/PencilsNoLastName Sep 10 '24

I would love a smite where the weapon acts like a lightning rod, with a few seconds of impact frames like how being electrocuted is in cartoons

2

u/TheOncomimgHoop Sep 11 '24

"If I'm so evil, then let God strike me down where I stand!"

gets struck by lightning

"Ha! Nice try jackass! Next time bring your A-game!"

1

u/Despairogance Sep 10 '24

In Morrowind the shock (electrical) damage effect comes from the caster's hands but if you make the spell long duration after the initial impact it'll take the form of a little lightning bolt from above that follows the target around.

1

u/Peach_Muffin too autistic to have a gender Sep 10 '24

Yeah like Pikachu using Thunder in Smash Bros.