[Comartemis]

Alright so for Hayate we have a basic plan of simple melee mixed with an emphasis on ranged combat, probably ample amounts of beamspam. Now how do we differentiate this from Nanoha's shtick to give Hayate her own unique combat style?

I'm inclined to give Hayate a lot of unique spells, probably with an arcane/ice elemental bent to them, which nobody else would be able to pull off without a lot of mana and a great deal of skill with spellcraft. Rather than straight-up beamspam, make her a tricky fighter who relies more on her brains than on her immense power.

Example: a shooting-type spell which scatters hundreds of magic spheres over about a half-mile in every direction. These hold a static position and home in on any mana signatures different from the one that spawned them, basically turning the battlefield into a minefield. This would only be useful in solo fights since the spheres don't distinguish between friend and foe. Additional thoughts/spell ideas?