Skill Set

Designing the skills have proven to be very tricky indeed.

I started from the traditional MMO approach, designing lots of unique classes with their own playstyle. I copied old ones like Barbarian and Weapon Masters, or newer ones such as Alchemist. Obviously such an approach failed to impress even myself, because it promotes rigid content and play, which are what I'm against. Moreover, players would have their own expectations of a class names, where would then again, complain at everything so that their expectations are met.

The next way I go about it, is to blend all class' skills into a universal race tree. Every player starts off classless, and they have the choice to learn every class' basic skills. From the combination of learnt basic skills, they could then branch out into more powerful abilities as they go up the tree, defining their own class along the way.

I started off designing it to allow for the probability that an archer could also have very good melee skills. However, such a design proved to be too hard for a person alone to do. Not only do I have to think up skills, I have to make sure that the combinations make sense, the balance is there and most important of all that a player could really 'design' their own class.

I ditched that approach after a few weeks. The effort would not be worth the rewards, because I still felt that there are several big holes left to patch even after it is done.

Now I am on a new approach, this time would be to allow more customization for the player's benefit. It is currently in the final stages of completion after weeks of work. Thie "Skill Set", would be able to achieve my objective to allow a classless game, shine brightly. Every player would be able o create their own skill, which helps them to have control over their 'class'. Moreover, they can be tied and be used as an incentive for players to conduct more PvP or borrowing from Mythic, RvR battles.

I have been receving favorable feedback so far. Thanks. That lets me know that I'm on the right path and motivates me to go ahead with more confidence and boldness.