tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510920011443550663.post4755732774504523175..comments2024-03-28T10:18:05.213+00:00Comments on Inventory Full: I Got ClassBhagpusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03499162165023939880noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510920011443550663.post-48011393997380050682021-05-09T09:56:49.352+01:002021-05-09T09:56:49.352+01:00I think Guild Wars 2 is both an interesting case t...I think Guild Wars 2 is both an interesting case to examine this but also a real outlier. One of my abiding memories of the forums for Guild Wars 1 was the never-ending meta discussions (or should I write 'wars'). Build discussions and arguments were the bulk of the content. I would argue that ArenaNet never really bothered or cared that much about balancing the new elite skills as they were introduced, and it sounds like this approach carried over to elite specs in the second game. <br /><br />Not that ArenaNet really is alone here. Blizzard has struggled with balance with only up to 12 classes (or if I'm generous 36 spec class-variants) the entire lifetime of the game and still does. Again there are plenty in the more vocal parts of the community that press metas hard with new rebalancing and argue endlessly over what is OP or weak. <br /><br />I'm sure if a game only had 4 classes full stop, there'd still be pressure from those invested in metas and min-maxing to play the 'best class' for each role. As you yourself wrote it is perfectly possible to level to 80 in GW2 on any class, the inherent differences in soloability don't figure much (and as a Mesmer main I'm well aware of them! ;-) ). I suppose the strongest arguement against adding classes comes down to economics: the cost of doing so. GW2 is an instructive example in that regard, with the system of elite specs, adding a new class now bring extra costs that other game's do not face - if you add a new class now you have to bring the expected number of elite specs (one per expansion so far), so it isn't just the usual cost of designing the class abilities, weapon interactions, and unique animations for each playable race, but also the elite spec variations of the same. I imagine if they added a new class now with only one elite spec for the expansion in which it was added, it would be called out as inflexible or weak by the same elements in the community.Telwynhttps://gamingsf.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510920011443550663.post-38907862290482165902021-05-09T09:44:28.238+01:002021-05-09T09:44:28.238+01:00I think this is the biggest issue why I always bou...I think this is the biggest issue why I always bounce of ESO after trying to get into it yet again. I just get stuck on what to spend skill points on. If you're going to have a game with such complex and wide-ranging skills (where the default classes are almost irrelevant), you need skill build switching to be super easy and cost-free (or negligible). Having standard respec costs for such a complex system punishes the player too heavily for experimenting with new builds. I do not play a game with such customisability only to follow a cookie cutter build because my characters are too poor to respec.Telwynhttps://gamingsf.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510920011443550663.post-20367747353825278872021-05-08T20:38:27.050+01:002021-05-08T20:38:27.050+01:00Interesting post, as usual.
I've tried to sor...Interesting post, as usual.<br /><br />I've tried to sort my thoughts on this topic but it's hard. My favourite WoW class is Rogue. People say Monk should play a bit similar with their version of combo points, but it's one of my least favourite classes.<br /><br />My GW2 main was a Warrior (2h sword) and even when switching weapons he still felt very warrior-like and decidedly different from my Thief. In the end I also played a Guardian and liked it more, but it looked and felt like a WoW Paladin and that was my Paladin phase I guess, so it made sense. Not sure what to make of it in the end.<br /><br />I think in general I like to choose a class to have a framework but I don't want to be completely boxed in to one play style. That's also why I try to avoid pure DPS classes in WoW these days. And then there are games where class is more of a cosmetic choice and your play style trumps all. Borderlands 3 and Destiny 2 come to mind. If I want to play Sniper and avoid melee I can do that with most classes, some are just a lot better at it.Nogamarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03703565537132612133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510920011443550663.post-57049131728710149542021-05-07T21:18:14.350+01:002021-05-07T21:18:14.350+01:00I'd guess that players who aren't crazy ab...I'd guess that players who aren't crazy about alts would generally prefer skill trees while altoholics will tend to favor classes. Classes definitely make each character feel more individual to me, counter-intuitive though it sounds. <br /><br />I did deliberately sidestep the issue of too much choice in the post because one of the main things I like about a class-based system is the reduction in choices I have to make. I actually prefer it when it's literally one big choice at character creation and then just filling out all the skills over time. There aren't many games left that keep it that simple, though.Bhagpusshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499162165023939880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1510920011443550663.post-34669776950176670772021-05-07T20:15:46.820+01:002021-05-07T20:15:46.820+01:00I'm totally anti-class at this point. Skill tr...I'm totally anti-class at this point. Skill trees were once going to be the future, but they never caught on much as a mainstream mechanic. I still strongly prefer them.<br /><br />Of all the things EVE Online got right, their classless skill-tree time-based-advancement system was perhaps the best. Of course CCP, being CCP, is replacing time-based advancement with money-based advancement (these presumably being fungible) as fast as can. But the skill trees are still there, and still nice.Bart Masseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10490373418825679148noreply@blogger.com