Spellcraft

I do like the idea! However, to execute it properly one would need a larger set of initial setter and getter runes, or more versatile targeting.

For the former case, my general loadout involves:

•  Gap-Closer

 and, if necessary, a separate spell to turn off said gap-closer

• Defensive Movement Option

My favorite among these transcribes the distance between me and the nearest enemy to my y-vel. Paired with a spell that sets all vel to zero.

• Delete Spell

Uses any variation of a x,y,z pos getter to set as a target's y-velocity. I like to pair this with a delay and a var-mult of -1*y-velocity.

The amount and ability of setter runes are the limiting factor here. ~4 of the 12 setter runes do the same thing, and the other half are operators or evaluators. I honestly think operators and evaluators should have their own tab.

Another way to fix this would simply be to allow a spell (possibly through the use of a rune that accepts strings only, where the player must type the "true name" (object name) to target them. And it always chooses the closest objects with that name within an arbitrary radius) to target multiple objects. Because one cannot target multiple objects at once for a spell, the uses of recursive spell formula amount to setting variables faster.

Other reply was pretty long, and this is disconnected enough to warrant its own.

Recursive spells- or, recursive runes - would only ever be as complex as the enemies or level. As I have no reference for what other work may have been done on this game, I can only consider recursive spells (in this environment) to be of low utility. The bigger problem is that they would not act like functions. Spellcraft currently has effects and objects to apply these too (or in refence of, in the case of the x, y terms). It is currently missing the third category: effects to apply too. Or, what I would call Meta spells/meta runes. Meta spells would be effects that only applied to magic and, in my opinion, would fix a large hole (?) Spellcraft currently has. For example, a Mirror meta rune that can hold x mana (costing the player x mana plus the cost of the rune to cast initially) which, when activated, casts its own spell (using its given mana) composed of every rune preceding it (in the same front-back order), but in the opposite 'targeting' direction. This one meta rune already presents multiple different applications. 1) Preforming a 180 degree spin (assuming a metarune exists for that, or it is keyed to the character orientation) and a short delay before casting the mirror metarune would have it hit the desired target 2) Literal Raycasting. A beam of death (through arbitrary means) which uses the mirror metarune so it can count as an aoe attack. 3) Combat blink: A short range teleport with a delayed mirror metarune would be great for dodging. 4) would achieve multitargeting with certain set ups.