I just watched (for the first time) the EQN Panel on Classes, and I was sorely disappointed when I saw that they were making it so people can basically turn your character into an "all class hybrid" eventually with enough leveling and customization. This is bascially making EQN a mix of Guild Wars 2 and RIFT. Are you kidding?
If when I start an MMO and pick my first class, I pick a Cleric because clearly I am interested in being a HEALER and I enjoy healing, rezzing, and buffing players. Sure maybe I can customize that healer to being more of an "offensive healer" where the heals aren't as good but I get some offensive spells, but still I am a HEALER.
If I wanted that healer to be a stealthy rogue that can hide in shadows, or be a warrior that can leap 50 feet in the air and do a huge whirlwind attack, THEN I WOULD HAVE PICKED THOSE GODDAMN CLASSES FROM THE START.
I just don't understand how these devs work these days.
Is this what the MMO community really wants? They don't want "dedicated healers" or "dedicated wizards" anymore? They want their class to be able to do everything?
This really pisses me off.
It's the new one game fits majority of players concept. The more "anything goes" they add to the genre the more shitty and watered down it becomes. Let's be real, while they can advertise flexibility, the truth is that we all know that certain audiences love being able to do anything they want. They don't want factions, they don't want to be limited on who they can kill, and they want to have all the spells and abilities that everyone else has so that they never feel slighted.
It's the industry catering to children and folks who really should just stick with other games. Shame we have to see something potentially so great as this, cater to a mass audience.
Every class can heal, every class has great mitigation, every class has ranged and melee potential...and in the end, it's just a game of mage tanks running around (ala Rift).
If these developers knew how important community was (like, it's the people that bring me back to an mmorpg...not always the graphics or content quantity)...then they'd make us all dependent on each other for leveling and so forth. Full groups of players would abound, there would be group XP rewards for filling all the slots in a group...instead of the gazillion soloers we see in pve and pvp in nearly every title. And these guys wonder why free to play is the demise of most mmoRPGs.
It's nonsense. At some point, a pure old school MMORPG will arrive. Still waiting on that. This McDonald's mega size game design is just terrible.
So your saying Ultima Online the first graphical mmo was catering to children? And when it comes to mmos it doesnt get more pure old school than that.
Originally posted by MaxisDB From my understanding, you still pick a main class.. say Cleric. The cleric is given 2 weapon choices and you get 4 abilites for each of those weapons. Then you are given 4 class slots. Those 4 slots allow you to pick abilities from any other class you have collected. This link explains it in alot more detail.
You also can still level up other classes though as they stated in the Panel. It's not just one class and then you decide on weapon abilities, etc. through tiers. They specifically stated that you can level up a Warrior to level 20 or whatever, and then do a mage and use those weapon abilities as well.
We're not even getting into the 4 max weapon ability system that is directly copied from GW2. In fact, almost the entire class system is what GW2 has.
Ok lets see if I can make my post a little more clear. There is up to 40 classes in the game, you can collect all 40 of those. You choose a "main" class out of all of the classes you've collected. That class determines your weapons allowed and your armor. Your weapon skills are themed towards that main class. Each class also has 4 class abilites. These are broken down into offensive, defensive, utility and movement. You can put any ability into those slots from any class, as long as it matches the type.
So lets say you pick a Cleric.. You can use a 2 handed hammer or a hammer and shield. The weapon abilities are Cleric focused.. They haven't listed the armor allowed yet, but lets say you're allowed to wear plate, so you'll have some defense. Then you have 4 ability slots (which they haven't announced what these slots will be yet) Lets just say for example they are Utility, Utility, Defense, Movement. You can pull any ability from any other class you have that matches those slots. Now can you pull some defense stuff from a Warrior, sure but you won't have the weapon abilities to back it up. Your weapon abilities will be Cleric themed.
Also like they said there won't be a required "Trinity" but each class will have a role to fill, it's just that groups should be able to function with any set up, or any player can change his main class to fit what the group may need. So I don't really seeing you being able to "Everything" but you will have a variety of things to chose from.
OK, awesome thanks for the info. I totally think this is a great system and am excited to try it out.
Cool.Thanks you for the clear explanation.
~The only opinion that matters is your own.Everything else is just advice,~
Most of you are entirely missing the point of this thread.
Why not let players experiment with different classes / combos? You can start as a healer / tank / dps and keep your role, you are not forced to multiclass.
OP, from someone who was AT that panel, you honestly are lost. You cannot do EVERYTHING if you multi class, you have your main class, cleric in your example, with its specific weapon skills, then you can pick 4 class abilities from any classes you have available for your class slots, someone multi classing CANNOT have all 4 cleric class spells, or they're not multi classing, so if you take all your cleric class spells and someone has 1 of yours, 1 from war, and 2 from rogue, they will not be healing nearly as well as you. Get it yet? You're not handicapped for sticking to a cleric, or a warrior, or w/e. You will be far better at that role than someone who is just dabbling in multiple different roles.
Originally posted by Aderew Originally posted by joejccva71Most of you are entirely missing the point of this thread.
Why not let players experiment with different classes / combos? You can start as a healer / tank / dps and keep your role, you are not forced to multiclass.
That's fine, but from what I understood from the SOE Panel those that multiclass will have the same ability and powers of those that just use one role and stick to that role. There isn't a "well because he's multi-classing, his powers aren't as strong as someone that focused on one role". All roles regardless if you multi-class or not will have equal strength.
What ever happened to the good old days when players where forced to do things the way they always were done. These new people trying new stuff...BAH! Nothing good ever came from changing the way things where done...ever!
Originally posted by TheBlackWolf OP, from someone who was AT that panel, you honestly are lost. You cannot do EVERYTHING if you multi class, you have your main class, cleric in your example, with its specific weapon skills, then you can pick 4 class abilities from any classes you have available for your class slots, someone multi classing CANNOT have all 4 cleric class spells, or they're not multi classing, so if you take all your cleric class spells and someone has 1 of yours, 1 from war, and 2 from rogue, they will not be healing nearly as well as you. Get it yet? You're not handicapped for sticking to a cleric, or a warrior, or w/e. You will be far better at that role than someone who is just dabbling in multiple different roles.
I hear you, but when someone asked about playing one of the 10 classes and just playing that or multiclassing this was the panel's response:
"You can absolutely start out with 1 of the 10 classes, and then you can go find the other 9 classes in the world and be all of them if you want to..."
No where in that entire video did they ever state that a multiclassed character of let's say a Cleric and Warrior will be ANY weaker than someone that just wanted to play a Cleric. Meaning, they will have the same ability. Multiclassing is the way to go because you're just as strong.
I watched the hour long video twice now regarding it and not once did they state it.
I don't understand OP. Are you annoyed cause there are options now, and you don't like options? You don't like when things are different? Are you averse to change? You don't have to multiclass if you don't want to.
"For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed: And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!" ~Lord George Gordon Byron
Originally posted by TheBlackWolf OP, from someone who was AT that panel, you honestly are lost. You cannot do EVERYTHING if you multi class, you have your main class, cleric in your example, with its specific weapon skills, then you can pick 4 class abilities from any classes you have available for your class slots, someone multi classing CANNOT have all 4 cleric class spells, or they're not multi classing, so if you take all your cleric class spells and someone has 1 of yours, 1 from war, and 2 from rogue, they will not be healing nearly as well as you. Get it yet? You're not handicapped for sticking to a cleric, or a warrior, or w/e. You will be far better at that role than someone who is just dabbling in multiple different roles.
I hear you, but when someone asked about playing one of the 10 classes and just playing that or multiclassing this was the panel's response:
"You can absolutely start out with 1 of the 10 classes, and then you can go find the other 9 classes in the world and be all of them if you want to..."
No where in that entire video did they ever state that a multiclassed character of let's say a Cleric and Warrior will be ANY weaker than someone that just wanted to play a Cleric. Meaning, they will have the same ability. Multiclassing is the way to go because you're just as strong.
I watched the hour long video twice now regarding it and not once did they state it.
Lets say you picked warrior as your main class, which determines your weapon, weapon skills and armor.. that gives you 4 slots for class abilities where you can put your cleric/mage/rogue ect skills if they fit in the type of slots available. That is how they are weaker than a straight cleric or warrior build.. your weapon skills will be mostly damage/defense with maybe 1 heal or buff, depending on which class abilities you've picked from other classes.
Originally posted by TheBlackWolf OP, from someone who was AT that panel, you honestly are lost. You cannot do EVERYTHING if you multi class, you have your main class, cleric in your example, with its specific weapon skills, then you can pick 4 class abilities from any classes you have available for your class slots, someone multi classing CANNOT have all 4 cleric class spells, or they're not multi classing, so if you take all your cleric class spells and someone has 1 of yours, 1 from war, and 2 from rogue, they will not be healing nearly as well as you. Get it yet? You're not handicapped for sticking to a cleric, or a warrior, or w/e. You will be far better at that role than someone who is just dabbling in multiple different roles.
I hear you, but when someone asked about playing one of the 10 classes and just playing that or multiclassing this was the panel's response:
"You can absolutely start out with 1 of the 10 classes, and then you can go find the other 9 classes in the world and be all of them if you want to..."
No where in that entire video did they ever state that a multiclassed character of let's say a Cleric and Warrior will be ANY weaker than someone that just wanted to play a Cleric. Meaning, they will have the same ability. Multiclassing is the way to go because you're just as strong.
I watched the hour long video twice now regarding it and not once did they state it.
Lets say you picked warrior as your main class, which determines your weapon, weapon skills and armor.. that gives you 4 slots for class abilities where you can put your cleric/mage/rogue ect skills if they fit in the type of slots available. That is how they are weaker than a straight cleric or warrior build.. your weapon skills will be mostly damage/defense with maybe 1 heal or buff, depending on which class abilities you've picked from other classes.
With over 40 classes it will be cookie cutter heaven. The odds of you running into a single class toon at higher levels will be nonexistant.
I'm not sure what about this you're not getting OP, not trying to be rude but i really don't. You have a total of 8 abilities in EQN, 4 are based off your main class you've selected, those are your weapon abilities, you cannot multi class those, you have to pick a main class, then your other 4 class abilities can be pulled from any combimation of classes you have unlocked throughout the game, you can ONLY adjust the 4 weapon skill abilities by switching main class, you can adjust your class abilities from any class you have open, if you are a cleric, and have all 4 cleric abilities,then say a warrior, with lets say 2 cleric abilities, will obviously not be as potent as you in that role, nor will he be as potent as a straight dps built character as he has sacrificed 2 class skills for healing, its a give and take, whats not to get about this, the only thing i can imagine is maybe they did not stream the entire panel, as it was pretty clear at the event.
They also stated at one of the panels that you won't be able to just push a button and instantly switch main classes, so you can't change weapon abilities(i'm talking about weapons your current main class cannot equip btw) mid fight or any nonsense like that.
The OP is pretty blind if he watched the class panel. I am going to love playing a warrior class that can port, root, and slow my target and then open up with large 2 hand strikes. Basically create my own Spellsword.
Please go here and skip to 12:35 and listen very carefully.
You will be able to collect ALL the classes and be a master at all of them. You can swap to each of them outside of combat. So basically, every single player in the game (eventually) will be able to be EVERY SINGLE CLASS IN THE GAME.
It does not matter what class you pick at the start because you can collect them all. This is separate from just multi-classing because you can swap to them.
"The Freedom of Choice.."
For the love of god....also notice at 13:58 where the panel asked if being able to get points in one class to distribute to another class was "exciting", and maybe 5 people clapped....
OP, just trying to help you out. You don't have to multiclass, those who do multi-class will not be stronger, and may even be weaker, than just a pure cleric., at best they will be equal
If I get 100 exp and I am a multi-classer, I might put 20 exp into 5 classes, where you will put all 100 into your cleric class, therefore you will be stronger faster than me.
now you might find 1 skill that you really think is cool that you want to experiment and mix into your main cleric build, you can then go out and unlock that class, level it up seperately and try it out.
of course there will be balance issues, but this is true even in class based games. me personally, I am an altaholic RP player, and just because my character can have every class, doesnt mean I am going to make my Ogre Warrior also into a Necromancer, but I will build him as a tank/heavy armor dps, looking for shadowknight, paladin type classes to mix in. I might make a heavy evasion rogue style ratonga, that I will search for monk, brawler, and assassin types. But if I do build 1 way it could effect my overall dps.
The great thing about this system, is that you can play however you want, and I can play however I want, and others can play every class on 1 character if thats what they want. Thats what makes it a sandbox, nobody is directing you in only 1 way to play your character
hell knowing myself, I will have 1 character that is just my dedicated crafter/trader, and all my adventurers will be gatherers for him. Its just the way I like it
I agree with the OP about this jack of all trades thing....But what I find funny is all this sandbox talk....in my opinion, people like sandboxes because of the freedom to do what they want, which brings a sense of realism to the game....a realistic virtual world...but when I start to think about a sandbox, and doing what I want, I think it should be difficult to master anything you do, because it is difficult to master anything in life...What makes my character feel unique in game is the adventure and trials of becoming the best mage, warrior, etc....I don't like this jack-of-all-trades thing because it trivializes to an extent the path of a chosen class, profession, etc...is it really that easy in "insert game" to master being a mage or a warlock or a rogue...It should take dedication to master your choses class/profession...if you can master all the classes with a single character, well, that just seems silly to me from a sandbox perspective...I like being able to do whatever I want in a game, but don't make things so simple to learn that you can learn them all...I mean, from the standpoint of having a land of adventurers who all know everything kind of takes away from the feeling of accomplishment when you master one class.
I understand that I can focus on one class if I want to, but the demographic will be skewed towards people that want to learn everything....and it kind of takes away from the immersion of the game...for all those that endure SWG in the beginning, it was no joke to become a Jedi, it was hard...you had such an immersive/ deep environment that it was hard enough to master one class, let alone if you would have been able to master everything.
For the nerd ragers out there, this is just my opinion....I respect yours if it differs...please don't tear me to shreds.
also another thing is, that who knows maybe the exp gain will be so tedious on your 3rd or 4th class, that you may never level it up. Check out Horizons/Istaria's system, it is basically what EQN is striving to do, yet very few people (less than .5% ever mastered every class)
people still built for the way they wanted to play. people still had alts. and if I needed a dps, I wasnt going to get a cleric/druid dps, I was going to look for a Mage/Battlemage dps
Nothing is stopping people from limiting themselves and only playing a Cleric, Warrior, Bard, Wizard, etc. Some will just have the option to use 1-4 (OMG 4!) abilities from other classes. These 4 abilities also have to fall within a set type of ability as well.
I'm going to assume that you can't be a warrior + stealth + rez + portal + throwing fireballs, etc. The 4 secondary abilities are there to enhance the main class, not turn it into something completely different.
As an altaholic, I can't wait. I hate rerolling or having multiple characters to play how I want when I want. I still hope each class takes effort/time to unlock, develop, progress, but I want that option. I highly doubt it will be GW2 style where every class/build can DPS/CC/Tank/Heal/Rez, etc.
Roles will still be very important and they have made that clear. They are just removing the requirement to have XYZ class in every single encounter. Doesn't mean a group of all Wizards will be as effective as a mixed group, just the option is there, where usually it isn't even remotely worth while.
Pick the class/role you want and enjoy. That's the beauty, you can do what you want. Not everyone wants to play the samething for 5-10-15 years. Nor have to make multiple characters, manage friends/guilds/inventory yadda yadda for each.
I can't wait for EQN and all it has to bring.
Even if someone manages to unlock 40+ classes, gear them all, progress them all, doesn't mean a player will be good with everything. I'd imagine many will stick to classes that fall within a sub-group or role (healers, tanks, dps, etc). There won't be jacks-of-all-trades in an individual class, just the potential within a character. But again, if someone wants to limit themselves and really enjoys playing a Druid, go for it. Play it to its max potential. They've said that individual classes will be just as effective as those "multi-classed". The limitation and freedom is in our hands.
Please go here and skip to 12:35 and listen very carefully.
You will be able to collect ALL the classes and be a master at all of them. You can swap to each of them outside of combat. So basically, every single player in the game (eventually) will be able to be EVERY SINGLE CLASS IN THE GAME.
It does not matter what class you pick at the start because you can collect them all. This is separate from just multi-classing because you can swap to them.
"The Freedom of Choice.."
For the love of god....also notice at 13:58 where the panel asked if being able to get points in one class to distribute to another class was "exciting", and maybe 5 people clapped....
I dont think anyone here doesnt know that. We know we can mqster every class in the game. So? In eve I can learn every skill and train into every ship BUT I can only fly one ship per character at a time. I have to choose which ship is active out of the multitude of roles for any given figjt before it happens. So in EQ it is the same I must choose what abilities and therefore what role I want to play before hand for any engagement.
Comments
So your saying Ultima Online the first graphical mmo was catering to children? And when it comes to mmos it doesnt get more pure old school than that.
Cool.Thanks you for the clear explanation.
~The only opinion that matters is your own.Everything else is just advice,~
Most of you are entirely missing the point of this thread.
Why not let players experiment with different classes / combos? You can start as a healer / tank / dps and keep your role, you are not forced to multiclass.
That's fine, but from what I understood from the SOE Panel those that multiclass will have the same ability and powers of those that just use one role and stick to that role. There isn't a "well because he's multi-classing, his powers aren't as strong as someone that focused on one role". All roles regardless if you multi-class or not will have equal strength.
This whole multiclass system sounds like a recipe for disaster.
I hear you, but when someone asked about playing one of the 10 classes and just playing that or multiclassing this was the panel's response:
"You can absolutely start out with 1 of the 10 classes, and then you can go find the other 9 classes in the world and be all of them if you want to..."
No where in that entire video did they ever state that a multiclassed character of let's say a Cleric and Warrior will be ANY weaker than someone that just wanted to play a Cleric. Meaning, they will have the same ability. Multiclassing is the way to go because you're just as strong.
I watched the hour long video twice now regarding it and not once did they state it.
"For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,
And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed:
And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,
And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!"
~Lord George Gordon Byron
Lets say you picked warrior as your main class, which determines your weapon, weapon skills and armor.. that gives you 4 slots for class abilities where you can put your cleric/mage/rogue ect skills if they fit in the type of slots available. That is how they are weaker than a straight cleric or warrior build.. your weapon skills will be mostly damage/defense with maybe 1 heal or buff, depending on which class abilities you've picked from other classes.
With over 40 classes it will be cookie cutter heaven. The odds of you running into a single class toon at higher levels will be nonexistant.
I'm not sure what about this you're not getting OP, not trying to be rude but i really don't. You have a total of 8 abilities in EQN, 4 are based off your main class you've selected, those are your weapon abilities, you cannot multi class those, you have to pick a main class, then your other 4 class abilities can be pulled from any combimation of classes you have unlocked throughout the game, you can ONLY adjust the 4 weapon skill abilities by switching main class, you can adjust your class abilities from any class you have open, if you are a cleric, and have all 4 cleric abilities,then say a warrior, with lets say 2 cleric abilities, will obviously not be as potent as you in that role, nor will he be as potent as a straight dps built character as he has sacrificed 2 class skills for healing, its a give and take, whats not to get about this, the only thing i can imagine is maybe they did not stream the entire panel, as it was pretty clear at the event.
They also stated at one of the panels that you won't be able to just push a button and instantly switch main classes, so you can't change weapon abilities(i'm talking about weapons your current main class cannot equip btw) mid fight or any nonsense like that.
the multi class system isn't going to deliver anyway
it'll be unbalanced, people don't pick a unique class combination, they pick the best one
Some of you just don't get it.
Please go here and skip to 12:35 and listen very carefully.
You will be able to collect ALL the classes and be a master at all of them. You can swap to each of them outside of combat. So basically, every single player in the game (eventually) will be able to be EVERY SINGLE CLASS IN THE GAME.
It does not matter what class you pick at the start because you can collect them all. This is separate from just multi-classing because you can swap to them.
"The Freedom of Choice.."
For the love of god....also notice at 13:58 where the panel asked if being able to get points in one class to distribute to another class was "exciting", and maybe 5 people clapped....
OP, just trying to help you out. You don't have to multiclass, those who do multi-class will not be stronger, and may even be weaker, than just a pure cleric., at best they will be equal
If I get 100 exp and I am a multi-classer, I might put 20 exp into 5 classes, where you will put all 100 into your cleric class, therefore you will be stronger faster than me.
now you might find 1 skill that you really think is cool that you want to experiment and mix into your main cleric build, you can then go out and unlock that class, level it up seperately and try it out.
of course there will be balance issues, but this is true even in class based games. me personally, I am an altaholic RP player, and just because my character can have every class, doesnt mean I am going to make my Ogre Warrior also into a Necromancer, but I will build him as a tank/heavy armor dps, looking for shadowknight, paladin type classes to mix in. I might make a heavy evasion rogue style ratonga, that I will search for monk, brawler, and assassin types. But if I do build 1 way it could effect my overall dps.
The great thing about this system, is that you can play however you want, and I can play however I want, and others can play every class on 1 character if thats what they want. Thats what makes it a sandbox, nobody is directing you in only 1 way to play your character
hell knowing myself, I will have 1 character that is just my dedicated crafter/trader, and all my adventurers will be gatherers for him. Its just the way I like it
I agree with the OP about this jack of all trades thing....But what I find funny is all this sandbox talk....in my opinion, people like sandboxes because of the freedom to do what they want, which brings a sense of realism to the game....a realistic virtual world...but when I start to think about a sandbox, and doing what I want, I think it should be difficult to master anything you do, because it is difficult to master anything in life...What makes my character feel unique in game is the adventure and trials of becoming the best mage, warrior, etc....I don't like this jack-of-all-trades thing because it trivializes to an extent the path of a chosen class, profession, etc...is it really that easy in "insert game" to master being a mage or a warlock or a rogue...It should take dedication to master your choses class/profession...if you can master all the classes with a single character, well, that just seems silly to me from a sandbox perspective...I like being able to do whatever I want in a game, but don't make things so simple to learn that you can learn them all...I mean, from the standpoint of having a land of adventurers who all know everything kind of takes away from the feeling of accomplishment when you master one class.
I understand that I can focus on one class if I want to, but the demographic will be skewed towards people that want to learn everything....and it kind of takes away from the immersion of the game...for all those that endure SWG in the beginning, it was no joke to become a Jedi, it was hard...you had such an immersive/ deep environment that it was hard enough to master one class, let alone if you would have been able to master everything.
For the nerd ragers out there, this is just my opinion....I respect yours if it differs...please don't tear me to shreds.
"Those who stay will be champions"
Go to the video and look at 12:35 and continue to watch it.
also another thing is, that who knows maybe the exp gain will be so tedious on your 3rd or 4th class, that you may never level it up. Check out Horizons/Istaria's system, it is basically what EQN is striving to do, yet very few people (less than .5% ever mastered every class)
people still built for the way they wanted to play. people still had alts. and if I needed a dps, I wasnt going to get a cleric/druid dps, I was going to look for a Mage/Battlemage dps
Nothing is stopping people from limiting themselves and only playing a Cleric, Warrior, Bard, Wizard, etc. Some will just have the option to use 1-4 (OMG 4!) abilities from other classes. These 4 abilities also have to fall within a set type of ability as well.
I'm going to assume that you can't be a warrior + stealth + rez + portal + throwing fireballs, etc. The 4 secondary abilities are there to enhance the main class, not turn it into something completely different.
As an altaholic, I can't wait. I hate rerolling or having multiple characters to play how I want when I want. I still hope each class takes effort/time to unlock, develop, progress, but I want that option. I highly doubt it will be GW2 style where every class/build can DPS/CC/Tank/Heal/Rez, etc.
Roles will still be very important and they have made that clear. They are just removing the requirement to have XYZ class in every single encounter. Doesn't mean a group of all Wizards will be as effective as a mixed group, just the option is there, where usually it isn't even remotely worth while.
Pick the class/role you want and enjoy. That's the beauty, you can do what you want. Not everyone wants to play the samething for 5-10-15 years. Nor have to make multiple characters, manage friends/guilds/inventory yadda yadda for each.
I can't wait for EQN and all it has to bring.
Even if someone manages to unlock 40+ classes, gear them all, progress them all, doesn't mean a player will be good with everything. I'd imagine many will stick to classes that fall within a sub-group or role (healers, tanks, dps, etc). There won't be jacks-of-all-trades in an individual class, just the potential within a character. But again, if someone wants to limit themselves and really enjoys playing a Druid, go for it. Play it to its max potential. They've said that individual classes will be just as effective as those "multi-classed". The limitation and freedom is in our hands.
I dont think anyone here doesnt know that. We know we can mqster every class in the game. So? In eve I can learn every skill and train into every ship BUT I can only fly one ship per character at a time. I have to choose which ship is active out of the multitude of roles for any given figjt before it happens. So in EQ it is the same I must choose what abilities and therefore what role I want to play before hand for any engagement.
I for one think this is awesome