Curse

Claymore · Jul 31, 2007, 01:52 PM // 13:52

My idea is not so much for a new primary class, but more along the idea of specialization. At some point during the story line instead of being to switch your secondary to whatever you wanted, you get the chance to specialize into a subclass of your primary. For a example, Warrior primary, beserker secondary, with the specialize class, new skills become available.
This gives those that like to run pure class, the chance to really specialize their class.
I havne't though out all the details yet, but thats why its a concept right?

Any thoughts?

B Nothing · Jul 31, 2007, 02:31 PM // 14:31

In a way, you can do this already. You can put all your points in 1 or 2 attrib, buy the skills specific, cap the elites to that attribute and go from there.
You can also see these things in the insignias .. fi: MM signia

I like the fact that you don't have to chose a specific way to play/build. That you can mix everything up and try out new idea's (not that the're always that great, but still). I think by specifying char's even more, you might also limit them.
Would this also meen more specific runes? If so, you'll need more armor etc. .

so all in all not to keep on the idea

Claymore · Jul 31, 2007, 02:50 PM // 14:50

Like I said it was only a concept, the idea of specializing has always been a give and take concept. The bonus of the idea are great, but so can the negatives, like anything else it comes down to how the player wants to approach the Character.
With specialization, you are right, there would have to be new runes, armor weapons possibly, quests, perhaps even additional attibute points quest.
But this is no more or less than adding any new class to the game.

quickmonty · Jul 31, 2007, 03:15 PM // 15:15

Since it would be optional it would allow more choices for those who are interested. There are a couple professions that I now run "pure". That is, without using the secondary skills. I think it would be a nice option to allow more specialization in the primary profession.

Mordakai · Jul 31, 2007, 04:16 PM // 16:16

It will be interesting to see how GW2 handles Professions.

My guess is we'll have 1 Race and 1 Profession, so that the races replace one of the Professions.

IDK, thought, that could kill a major part of the game: ie, different builds with secondary classes.

Claymore · Jul 31, 2007, 04:20 PM // 16:20

The hard part is coming up with the specialized sub classes of the primaries, warrior could be as I said a berserker class, the magic users would be harder I believe to come up with a specialized subclass. Unless we did something like taking a fire elementalist, and as a subclass they become a fire bender of sorts. Gaining access to more fire spells than the normal ele gets. As well as an inherent bonus to fire magic bringing max attribute to say 18 after runes and such, but as a counter balance they cannot switch to another element and as fire is considered offenseive, they become reliant of the tanks and monks for more protection.
Just quick thoughts, if there is not enough intrest in this I won't spend to much time figuring out details.

Div · Jul 31, 2007, 05:33 PM // 17:33

Look for that in GW2. Won't be added for GW.

Darkhell153 · Aug 01, 2007, 01:22 PM // 13:22

It'd be better if you could adjust your character to have specializations in Melee, Ranged, or magic combat. Giving your skills in your specialization a power boost. That way it is, even if just a little, a bit more of our own personality inside the game (we should be able to make our character like our own alter-ego in-game).

Phoenix Tears · Aug 02, 2007, 11:25 AM // 11:25

this is the simple and imo much better Ragnarok Online characte evolution system, i'd love to see somehow with a GW typical kind in GW2

This 2 class system allows the player much different possibilities of mixing - sure - but the results r ever boring because it makes for example in kind of ur armors absolutely no difference if ur secondary class is warrior, or elementalist... and in fact of attributes and skills those mix classes will end up ever as wannabe's ...
When u want to make a paladin, u get ever said here only: Make a stupid W/Mo, but imo W/Mo's r only wannabe paladins ...

- they don't act realy like paladins...
- warriors have no real holylike armors that let them look like paladins or the player itself has simple no possibilities for that to do it..
- warriors weapons have no skins, that look like good holy weapons that fit to a paladin...

in the end u have only a dumb wannabe ...

same with rogues, u get said ever: "Make u a Me/A", give it armor x and let it fight with daggers oO"
But a mesmer looks like **** like a rogue and fighting with daggers only will make it not better, because assains skills r in the end skills for an assasin how a sin would act, but NO rogue ...

What i miss extreme for GW2 is the massive individuality, that u can have with ur characters only with evolution systems and without 2 class system.
U must specialize in things, to be good and when u want to be a certain profession, than u must evolutionize from ur core profession and not learn a second class....
Anet had only chosen this stupid 2 class system, because it means in the end lesser classes, that need different character models = lesser work > lesser different armors for different professions ..., thats the reason and no other and thats imo sad, when there exist better character profession systems of older games ..
even the older LineAge 2 which is from Anet/NCSoft too has a better character profession system, then GW1, that produces not only wannabe classes.

Core Classes are simple:

Warrior, Magician, Thief, Merchant, Archer, Monk

Warrior gets now a first evolution branch and can choice between:
- Swordsman
- Barbarian
- Soldier

When uve chosen one path, and when u got good enough, then u can choose ur next path of evolution:

As Swordsman u can choose between:
- Knight
- Crusader
- Fencer

As Barbarian u can choose between:
- Berserker
- Gladiator
- Warmonger

As Soldier u can choose between:
- Guardian
- Army Commander (Paragon)
- Legionaire

To stop here, before it gets too much - as u can see, the branches raises after evolution to evolution, giving the players more choices to specialize thwir characters EXACTLY into the way, U WANT TO BE.
Imo only an evolution system is a good solution to give the players ENOUGH INDIVIDUALITY and it sure costs more work to make something like this for Anet, but the work will be remunerating in the end, having a great system, that gives the players NO BORDERS in creating their absolute individual characters that can become anything the players want, where nobody can say to someone else:

"Ur character is a wannabe xyz ...."

because when i want to make me a samurai, #m able the to evolutionize my character into one by the warrior core class ...
when i want instead have a paladin, im then able to make one, that looks and act like a real one ... when i want to have a rogue, i evolutionize a thief into one, oh i made a mistake, wanted an assasin, no regoe .. no problem, we reset the evolution at an NPC and take the other evolution path, as if we had changed only our secondary class -.-
However, im sure Anet will stay with GW2 at this not well thought out 2 class system and their wannabe factory, i find it only sad, that developers like those from Anet prefer more Game Idividuality in the point of professions, only to be a bit different than other games, then prefering to give their players the most possible idividuality in creating the professions, a player wants to be without any borders of creation ...
then wil we have professions, like other games have too, especially the so much feared (it seems) WoW -.- ... i say only : WHO CARES ... i want only as much individuality in profession creation, than possible ...

I for example wish me badly as hell to create a Dragoon Profession character and i'd die for such a character in GW2. With GW2's new engine such a profession would be possible.

To bring al my written stuff into 1 sentence:

The profession system of GW needs a BIG IMPROVEMENT and best way to do this would be implementing the good ol' evolution system.

silence.renegade · Aug 02, 2007, 03:50 PM // 15:50

Phoenix Tears, what a great idea. Character evolution is exactly what we need. Take adventure quest for example. (www.battleon.com) they have several classes and there are a few base classes and more secondary classes. There are also a few classes that dont 'evolve' into anything or evolve from anything. Battleon is a free online game too, they have nearly no budget. Guild Wars has a huge budget, surely they can add in up to four levels of the tree easily in GW2?

Phoenix Tears · Aug 03, 2007, 01:07 AM // 01:07

u can keep ur bad sarcasm for urself

, if i understood u now right

fact is, GW's 2-class system offers for the players how it is in the moment no real individuality.
Every x th. player with the same class like me can look like a 100th clone of my character. thats sad...
In the end u have with the evolution system much more individuality, then u'll ever have with this 2 class system and fixed 10 classes around.

Would ive done my example list here till the end of the evolution branches, then u would see, that there is nothing better, then this system, because it would offer for nearly every taste a evolution branch and with this system u'll be free to evolutionize ur character, in whatever u want it to be.
In this 2 class system u'll crush ever only sooner or later into massive borders that will stop ur individuality.

Alicendre · Aug 03, 2007, 09:22 AM // 09:22

Personnally, I would hate it.
There are so much games which have this system. If you want it, go play it. GW is not an "I like this thing on a game but it has a monthly fee, let's whine for it in GW !"
I don't want lots of classes that basically are the same, except that some tank and some are DD... If you want your warrior to look "holy", get him/her some templar or platemail armor and dye it white. Or play a Paragon who fights with a sword. Or even better, go play a game where there actually are Paladins.

And why does this system give more individuality to players ? Basically, if you're a Guardian that runs into another Guardian, you are both the same...

Phoenix Tears · Aug 03, 2007, 11:47 AM // 11:47

U have simple more individuality, because u have lots more of different pathes, u can choose from, to become as different proffesion out of a same core class, with different style of looking, acting, fighting, ect pp. The finetuning is much bigger, because u have a lot more steps, that u can choose, before u reach ur end of evolution:

In GW ur evolutions ends when u reach lvl 20 and u have ur secondary class.
Wow, that i call a huge evolution, what a big career u made then.
Thats what u can call the evolution system too > a career.
In GW1 u have with ur character no careers, ur career in GW1 with any profession is only to save the world 3 times ..wow soon 4 times, our characters have no personalities, they would receive by having a carrer with their profession evolving into higher forms of their core class.
With evolution system, theres no need of the dumb 2 class system, because u would simple evolve into the proffession, u want to be at the end over time.
With evolution system the professions receive again their names, how they get called, a Paladin is then called paladin, looks like one, acts like one and not W/Mo, which looks only like a dumb big warrior, and acts like a mix out of warrior and monk and has no holy stuff as sword and shield and no holy auras as skills that work like real auras like a kind of barrier.
Why do u think, here exists a whole area just for concept classes ?
The answer is simple: because GW has much to less individuality in fact of professions and people r sick of those wannabe professions with this dumb 2 class system, or how do u explain, why there exist CC's for classes like rogue, paladin, different sorts of mages and summoners, like Runologists, Chronomancers ect. or CC's for kinds of merchant like classes, like Blacksmith and Alchemists ... it are all known good old proffesions from older games, that people like and would love to play in the GW universum too, but they can't, because those classes don't exist in the game, people are not able to create such charas with the 2 class system, and when they try to do it, they end up only with wannabes, like W/MO's, Me/A's, W/A's, E/N's and so on (E/N = wannabe Black mage).
Thats a thing, i really hope, that it disappears with GW2 and that Anet will allow their players with GW2 more freedom in creating professions, that don't look or act in the end then like wannabes... when i create a character, then i want too, that this chara looks and acts trustworthy like the profession that it should be. Then i won't see wannabe rogues, which act like assasins and look like rich snobs... thats just weird and simple not trustworthy with other words: its just not realistic and well thought out the 2 class system in my opinion.
Or would u like to see a priest, which acts like a monk, because the character is a Mo/R, with the exception, that both classes act only like wannabe priests and that monks should be for me personally martial artist fighters and no healing/buffing 24/7 spammers.
Im not whining about having not an evolution system, its a new experience, (but for me personally a bad one)
I feel in this game simple no real individuality until today, i feel only the fear of the developers not to be a WoW Clone. But i think too, GW has much potencial - but potencial for PvE, that this game can't use with this stupid 2 class system, that gives no real individuality.

Patrick Smit · Aug 03, 2007, 12:27 PM // 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix Tears

..In GW ur evolutions ends when u reach lvl 20 and u have ur secondary class..

Nah you evolve by using skillbars with more skill, not by having more grind, this is what GW is good at, and should excel in

Alicendre · Aug 03, 2007, 12:37 PM // 12:37

You just want RO without the fee.

I played a game with "evolution" (Rappelz), but I wasn't any different than all the people who had the same profession than me and I can't count how much times I saw people who had the same skills and looks than me...
GW gives you individuality, because you can actually have a build which is only yours and not copied from a forum, and be effective. Of course if you play a water ele (for example) PUG's might kick you, but you can finish the game easily. I don't know any other games where it's true.

And your characters don't need to be the exact stereotype of your profession. I have an alcoholic Ele and a foolish Paragon.

Phoenix Tears · Aug 04, 2007, 12:45 PM // 12:45

lol ... i know RAPPELZ, i've it too on my Comp and u can't compare this free MMORPG wit GW, because RAPPELZ is not near to be finished. The game's still like on beta 3 or so and lots of stuff will come in over time per updates only ... u have not to pay there anything *no monthly fee, no need to buy a game, just install a programm with the client and installer* and u get a free game, that looks a bit similar to GW in kind of graphics...
Especially in proffessions, RAPPELZ has lots of work to do in future, new evolution paths will come with epic4 ...
RAPPELZ has some nice features, some really nice things and concepts id love to see in GW2, like for example a wonderful way to handle mounts or to receive pets that u can tame and let fight for u like little summons, which can evolve over time too, when they get older and stronger and the style of those creatures is very nice *personally likes Salamander ...so cute and HOT^^*

I want not RO without fee, i want only ro like character evolution system (careers), because i simple find it a much better system, that offers more individuality, because u can decide step for step the direction into that ur character should go. How it is in the moment, u can only decide ur primare, and then ur secondary which u can change whenever u want, then u have nothing to decide anymore for ur character, u character can't specialize into anything to that people can see, "oh ur character looks and acts like a ...."

Ill make some profession example i want to hear now from U, how u would create them in GW with its 2 class wannabe system:

- Blacksmith
- Dragoon
- Samurai
- Alchemist
- Minstrel
- Rogue
- Dancer
- Seer (Fortune Teller)/Runologist
- Priest
- Summoner (no stupid undeads/ghosts, real demons FF style like)

I want see, how u want create in GW characters, that should look like those proffession, and especially ACT like them, wearing a correct weapon that those professions would wear and at this point u'll crush 100% into problems because of non existing things for this ....

Im interested now in ur tries and what u suggest for mixings with the 2 class system, what armors they should wear and what skills they should wear, so that the characters will act like those professions. i want not see a try where a wannabe rogue ends up in acting like a assasin oO...

gl * im very interested now*

when u can show me a way of creating those professions in GW1, that look like those professions and ACT like those, then ur GOOD and i've nothing complained here XD

Alicendre · Aug 04, 2007, 02:17 PM // 14:17

I don't see why GW should be a mix of things people like in other games... Sure a little inspiration doesn't hurt anyone, but GW isn't about grinding, and I've never seen any game with this system and no grind (and I don't see how it could be implanted without it)
Go play RO really, as GW seems to suck so much...

And Anet can adapt their "wannabe system" to your classes. But most wouldn't fit to GW :
-Blacksmith : GW is PvP oriented so it's useless
-Dragoon : There aren't any mounts in GW, so they are Warriors or Paragons (for the army system) with a muskeet...
-Samurai : Make a Factions Warrior and get him/her a Katana
-Alchemist : Potions don't exist in GW, useless
-Minstrel = Paragon that play music instead of songs
-Rogue : Oh, please. Gold-stealing sucks...
-Dancer = Paragon that knows how to dance
-Seer/Runologist : For the mind-magic, there are already Mesmers and Ritualists. Plus what could they see, enemy's skillbar ? If you're talented enough you can guess it easily
-Priest = Monks with a robe
-Summoner = Overpowered necros

You think about PvE but GW is PvP-oriented. Sure the PvE is nice to play but the ultimate goal is PvP. Anet won't change the entire game system after 2 years -_-. Plus there aren't any game that gives people a real individuality : even if there are lots of specialisations there will always be someone who's like you. If you want your character to be really special, give him/her a rp personnality.

Phoenix Tears · Aug 04, 2007, 04:39 PM // 16:39

weak weak weak arguments ^^, i've thought, there would come better examples, but i think its simple too hard ...

Who thinks, Blacksmiths dont fit to GW, because the game is more pvp oriented, has simple imo no fantasy. A blacksmith could be a good addition to the classes, giving them a 1H Hammer or Maces and we would have a fine class, that would bringt into the game direct 2 new kinds of weapons. A class that could be specialized in doing the new cracked armor ailment and that can "heal" this ailment with repairing skills ... dont u think its weird, when monks heal ur cracked armor and its repaired then again oO as if nothing happened !!
No i really think, thats THE JOB for a blacksmith and no one else.
Dont tell me, blacksmiths are to dumb to fight with maces or 1H hammers ..., when even such rich snobs of mesmers can fight with their little illusions in this game, then can a blacksmith fight in this game x times more ...

Dragoon, k, in GW1 its impossible, but with the new graphic engine it GW2 they will be possible, because then we'll have real 3D graphics, where the y- angle will exist and it will be possible to make real flying things in GW2, and who knows, if it will give no mounts in GW2 And Dragoons r no horse riding boring musketeers, they wear lances/polearms or halberds and ride on dragons (wyverns > dragon species: look at dragons from "Reign of Fire", that r wyverns)

lol, katana wielding warriors, the weapon is not everything, and with 2 katanas u cant fight as warriors, but samurais fight very often with 2 katanas simultanously, with other swords, they have a dual sword fighting style, now dont tell me "ok, then we take the assasin and fight with daggers ROFL"
Its not possible to take dagger mastery and fight then instead of daggers with 2 swords (katanas) or with a large katana in 2H style because the katana gets handled only ingame as simple 1 hand sword.
Then u have another problem. the dumb warrior has no single armor set, that lets him really look 100% as a samurai that u expect, when u've seen certain animes, u can make u only a dumb huge bully something, but an agile looking samurai, which fights with 2 katanas and acts like one? ..lol forget it

Alchemist: lol, again, u've no fantasy, only while it exists not in the moment, doesn't mean, that its useless, potions could be handled, like ashes of the ritualist, or like simple healing touching skills. potions have not to be like usable items, like on normal MMORPG's

Minstrel: lol paragons .. ugly wannabe minstrel, when i want play a Minstrel, then i want to LOOK like one and not like a wannabe angel that knows only white ugly armors that look like soldier armors and that can only scream and shout ... a Minstrel SINGS and not shouts. A Minstrel has SONGS, not ANTHEMS, Anthems r something for soldiers. and the most difference, what lets paragons look ever like wannabes:
A ****** Minstrel PLAYS AN INSTRUMENT, like a harp, a flute, a guitar or a violin, and this instrument would be then its weapon, not a spear -.-
Harps for example could be used like bows, and BAM, we would have a new distance fighter beneath the ranger, what this game really needs.

Rogue: oO lol, u've not said, how u would create one with GW's wannabe system ^^ but i think, u would have written so or so Me/A or A/ME ...
Nobody expects from the rogue in GW gold stealing ...this would be a: unfair and b: boring over time. But what we could expect from a good rogue concept is shown atm by the CCC of rogue in this subforum, for example a good competion as distance fighter for the ranger, a class the specializes on agility and semi distance fighting too with throwing daggers or on absolutely melee fights with claws so that rogies become some sort of martial artists, that much players wish. A rogue steals no money, he could lower for some time the enemies defense by stripping enemies stuff (not stealing, only deequipping the enemy for a certain duration) or the rogue specializes in interruption of meleefighters, so warriors, assasins and whatever will come in future.
the magical word here is called again: fantasy, when Anet would make a rogue, it would be for sure no 0815-Model.

Dancer: lol paragons again XD paragons are the biggest wannabes of all classes, when i read only the name of this profession "paragon" lol, a totally thought out name paragons dont even exist in the real life, unlike Dervishs and all other proffesions, which have existed in RL somehow, whith the exception of Elementalists, which are a absolutely fantasy class, that exists in every RPG somehow, because the human is fascinated my "magic" and the "elements"
Again, when i want to play a character, that should be a dancer, then it should look like one, wearing dance clothes and no white soldier like armors with stupid little wings for a wannabe angel, then this character has skills that r DANCES and as weapon something exotic, like a whip, a blade-fan or a chain sickle, something that goes in rhythm with the dances.
and what can our dumb wannabe angel again ? right screaming and throwing spears oO 1 single dance that is somehow a fighting skill ?? Not that i knew, only than the emote, with that everyone can dance -.-

Seer/Fortune Teller/Runologist: rofl, again ..u've no fantasy
This class would fight for example with tarot cards as "Skills" or fight with Rune Magic. then this class has as weapon its large crystall ball, which could be used like a rod/staff weapon, shooting out lightnings. This ball weapon would be handles like a ritualist ash item, so it would be a class, that runs around ever with its ball in its hands for example or it throws magical sharp cards which will cut their enemies. They dont use mind magic like mesmers, they could use the magic of the sun, moon and the stars to see the "future"
this could result in skills whihc will deactive skills or do things like throwing enemies to the ground, letting them bleed and so on. Something what a fortune teller can prophecy for its enemy, what will come to him in near future.
That means, the prophecy skills of the fortune teller will have long delays for example, like those enchantments of the dervish ,where 30 seconds long nothing happens, but then ... skils of the fortune telelr would be something like tha then, but with the difference, that it will be hexes, that need first some time, until they work ...

Priest: ya, ur right, monks r wannabe priest only without robes XD
When i want play a priest, then i expect a bit more, then a Monk that weasrs simple no priest robe, its the head gear too, monks wear no crucifixes or crosses, fight not with long 2H holy maces and when i want to play as a priest, then i sure want to wear tatoos on my body oO lol or such dumb body paintings like the NF version of the monks got them automatically without being able as player to remove this when u dont want this....but want to begin in Elona... priests also do something, what gw's monks not do.
They use holy water, cruxifixes and other things to do exorcism ...
Imo monks in GW r only in there, because priests r strongly put together with the christian religion, when u think on religion and people should think on persons ,which embody this religion, people will automatically say in the most cases priests or the pope, because even when its by far not the oldest religion, its one of the most known religions of the world and especially something like standart for much rpg players in their fantasy.
I personally think only, priests were not put into the game as healers what they should be, because Anet wanted only not put in a well known religion into their game .. but what is with monks .. what is with hinduism and bhudism and whatever there exists too beneath those 2, those 2 r religions too, the 2 most old ones which exist and which are mostly represented by monks, which live in their monasteries. so in the end we have there our rl religions in the game, so why not put in priests too, the game could need for more individuality more different kinds of healers, the priest could bring in a new kind how he heals into the game

Summoner: lol is by far not overpowered necro, and i said, they should not be like necros ...or ritualists, when u want see a good concept for a summoner like class, look into the occultist CC ...
=============

Sure, PvP is the great goal, but that means absolutely not, that those classes listened there are useless or senseless... each of them can have good different new styles of fighting/healign ect. they can bring into the game new kinds of weapons that r missing in GW like: whips, lances, claws, fighting with bare hands, 2H swords/axes, 1H hammers/ maces/ magical instruments and other sorts of more exotic weapons like the dervishs scythe is one or they can bring into the game new fight styles, like fighting with 2 swords together or 2 different kinds of weapons like an axe and a 1H mace ...thats really something i miss in GW and i hope all this gets improved with GW2 ...

Changing only the character system doesn't mean/result in changing the entire game system. the character system is only a part of the game, not the game itself XD
I dont expect 100% individuality, but GW is atm only like 20%, what is a reason too cause of too less hairstyles, no friseur, too less faces, not the ability to set eyes, nose and ears alone, no u set only direct the full face. ..what is when u like only the eyes of one face, but u want mouth and the rest of some other ? bingo ..its impossible = lesser indiduality > lots of individuality potencial wasted !! that r things, there helps a rp personality not much, when ur character looks not after that, what u want to play ...
try to play in the game an old man or so with an age of over 50 or so...impossible because ur charas will ever look only like 20-25 year olds

However, let us end this, it brings nothing, because i can not good enough explain in english, what i exactly want and ur stubborn XD *jokes*
Drink tea and wait, let us simple see, what happens with GW2

[M]agna_[C]arta · Aug 04, 2007, 10:13 PM // 22:13

My Version of CCs:
- Blacksmith - Cabalist, Weapon Maker except they can only make their weapons and it's caused by magic.
- Dragoon - None
- Samurai - None
- Alchemist - My Alchemist, Homonculi Summoners, Transmutators and Potion user(Condition Spells^^)
- Minstrel - My Minstrel, Uses Dances, Plays and Songs, Instead of this happening after casting things happen while casting. But yeah it may seem a little paragonish, Team-Buff and a little shutdown.
- Rogue - My Rouge, They can Steal Health, Energy, Weapons, Armor, They can Strip Armors, Weapons, Insignias, Weapon Mods etc. Also they can trick enemies even in PvP^^.
- Dancer - My Minstrel, .....
- Seer (Fortune Teller)/Runologist - Sage, Well for the Runoligist they Specializes in Signets, Artifacts and So.
- Priest - Cleric, Angel and Valkyrie Summoners(Living Enchantments)

- Summoner
Alchemist, Homculi Summoners, Flesh Golem with Skills.
Mechanist, Armor/Engine Core, Vehicles, Summoned Enchanment works when you ride it. Core/Sentinel, Weapon and Pet.
Sage, Magical Pets, Maintained Pets like the Ranger's Pet but casts Spells.
Cleric, ......
Puppeteer, Mobber, MM with Minions with Spells
Vanguard, Nature Spirit Summons, Living Self-Enchantment. Nature Ritual, DoI have to say it?

System_Crush · Aug 05, 2007, 06:07 PM // 18:07

Ok, time for me to jump in the proverbial lion pit.

I don't think GW should have an evolution system.
My greatest argument for this is that evolution systems require you to take time to specialize your character, while the second Prof system allows you to take a large part of personality before even being halfway through n00by island.

The identity of your character lies withing what you make of it, using skills, abilities, equipment and a RP identity(is a.t.m. useless without RP districts).
I agree this is limiting, but an evolution system will have what?

6base classes? each with 3 evolutions = 18 with each 3 elite evolutions = 54
So out of every 54 players 1 would be similar to you.
The 2 class system thus far has
10 classes
That can be combined fully
10 * 10 = 100
Now I'm fully aware many combinations are cr*p reducing the variety by 40% or something to 60, not that impressive a difference, and an evolution system would have equipment better attuned to the differences.
But an evolution is based on a path the class can take, IM(I)O such a path is represented by an attribute.
So each evolution is an enhancement of 1 or 2 attributes of the base class, or exchanging 1 attribute for another.
This means you took the evolution for the attributes it affects, so every one with that evolution has to have points in that attribute(or they just took the evolution for it's looks)

A secondary prof char has at least 7 attributes, and is not committed to spending attribute points in a certain attribute, not even the primary(because your profession decides your runes, which is never not a reason)
Making the difference between 2 Mo/Me's as just big as 2 evolutions of Monk.

My second argument is the equipment switching, I switch second prof at least once per hour because I want to offer what my team needs; If my armor would become unusable by me whenever I switched evolution I'd go nuts.

Instead I opt to increase the identity by dynamic equipment appearances.
Similar to the dynamic character appearance fable offers(there your face and body are affected instead of your armor, but the idea is the same)

It's actually reasonably simple, current armor is made up out of textured parts, when dyed some parts texture changes other stays the same.

Dynamic equipment would chance the texture of certain undyble parts of the armor based on your attributes.
(note: texture, not color)
Also the orientation, size or part will change according to your attributes.
Especially attributes form secondary classes will have notable effects.

So apart from the obvious: a warrior with high strength having larger muscles, and a ranger has a increasingly good looking quiver(arrow holder) the higher his marksmanship.

A mesmer with at least 3 in shadow arts will receive a belt with a few lockpicks on it.
At 12 shadow arts all the undyable parts of his armor will be black, he'll have a hood under his mask, a long black scarf that waves behind him as he runs. and a shoulder strap with a gold pouch, more picks and perhaps (parts of) traps.
Not instantly at 3 and 12 but gradually transitioning in the darkness of the armor and the additions added to it.
The armor he is wearing also changes the shape placement and look of the belts and scarf, while the head item would affect how the hood looks, as these will be premade to fit together nicely.

Anyone with at least 12 in protection prayers that is wielding a shield will have a intricate gold leaf pattern adorning it.

16 blood magic will have your hands constantly dripping with blood, and cause it to splatter into the air when casting a spell.
16 divine favor would have a beam of light shining on you from out of nowhere all the time.

This won't change a warriors skills into those of a paladin but at least it will have him look the part.
And aside from that it would just increase the identity of everyone based on their attributes, especially really specializing would have impressive effect on your appearance.
Many attributes might affect you animations, but animations hare harder to just change than armor is; so I don't think it is a good idea, inorder to not overwork Anet's devs.

On not being able to use rogue or paladin skills with Me/A or W/Mo builds is true, We already have plenty of skills that seem pretty useless in the overall.
I see no problem with adding a little more that allow for people taking the profession as a secondary to do something special with it.
25 energy skills for the warrior for example, if your warrior doesn't like it then don't use it, Rt/W might think them to be very useful.

Lastly, just want to get this off my heart.

I don't play a N/Rt because I want to be a Shaman, I do it because I would never be able to have a 'Raise Body and Soul' or 'Blood Fountain' build without it.

And I would not do without that, it basically turns any melee user into a reasonable tank.(by giving them a constant 6 health regen, increasing up to 15 if situation permits)
In 2 years of GW I've NEVER seen anyone else use something similar. A interesting build = a interesting identity.
It isn't useful all the time, only in places 3-4 tanks is an advantage;

In any logical evolution system I won't be able to recreate this, having a mage that changes into a shaman or into a necro will not offer something specific of both. I think the versitality offered by the secondary profession system is wonderful.