Cadence Concept: The First Hero in Deadlock Who Creates Abilities with NOTES

[1432]

Concept: Ability Creation Through Three Musical Notes (True “Invoker-Style” System)

Cadence is a unique hybrid support/DPS hero who creates abilities by combining three musical notes, similar to how Invoker forms spells using three elemental orbs.
Instead of casting fixed abilities, she “composes” them on the fly.





The weapon is designed in the shape of a microphone (using the Dynamo weapon model).

Core Mechanic — Three Notes (Three Spheres)​

Cadence has three distinct Notes, each mapped to her basic buttons:

Q = Note C (Crescendo_​

“Crescendo” is a musical term meaning a gradual increase in intensity or volume.
In Cadence’s kit, this note represents power, damage, and explosive force.

W = Note D (Dolce)​

“Dolce” means soft, sweet, gentle in music notation.
This note symbolizes healing, harmony, and supportive sound.

E = Note E (Echo)​

“Echo” refers to repeated or reflected sound.

Pressing Q/W/E adds that note to the melody bar, which holds exactly 3 notes (just like Invoker’s three spheres).

Example:

• Press Q → C
• Press W → C D
• Press E → C D E

When the bar is full, pressing R (Invoke) creates a spell based on the 3-note combination.

Spell Creation Rules:​

-- Cadence has two ability slots, just like Invoker.
-- When she Invokes a new spell (R), it fills the first empty slot, or replaces the older one.

The ability list is fully diverse, ranging from support to damage-dealing.

 

[nathanieljbrill]

Your ability buttons are Q W and E? What the frick?

 

[1432]

Your ability buttons are Q W and E? What the frick?

I use the arrow keys. But most people use 1, 2, 3, 4.

 

[1432]

View attachment 1335570440.mp4

 

[1432]

Bring Cadence back / up. Let her abilities be tied to musical notes — that would be cool.

 

[Aer]

As someone who really hopes Valve will revisit Cadence as a playable character, I love your idea of her playing similarly to Invoker but as a bard/songstress.

I've only thought of her as already having four songs as her abilities like she did before, but her being able to weave notes together to "create" (combo into) a myriad of songs (abilities) that do different things is an even better idea.

 

[maxkaibarreto]

I like this dress on Invoker. Gun? The dot’s drawn, I say snap to from-nowhere the shaderblot from just past where they’d be pointing

 

[1432]

As someone who really hopes Valve will revisit Cadence as a playable character, I love your idea of her playing similarly to Invoker but as a bard/songstress.

I've only thought of her as already having four songs as her abilities like she did before, but her being able to weave notes together to "create" (combo into) a myriad of songs (abilities) that do different things is an even better idea.

Let’s hope that someday we’ll see a character whose abilities are powered by musical notes.

 

[maxkaibarreto]

Couplets of two from a wheel stepped through is more apropro harmony balancing IMHO so let me pitch you: A wheel in the UI indexes through 5 ‘notes’ one active indexes through, the next picking that index to set a third, this third clearing itself when used & final fourth copying whatever that third will cast. [An upgrade for the first ability enabling one to swap its direction by holding it & buffing them for trying would be an ult moment] - WDYT?