Masteries are bars to fill to slow the game and content consumption down, not horizontal progression. that's like calling Rep grinds in WoW horizontal progression, when all it actually is, is a time sink,gate.
a good example of horizontal progression is having subclasses, or lots of skills to mix and match, trying to puzzle out a build you have in mind.
So, same as levels in all RPGs then? You need to level to be able to do the higher level stuff and unlock the skills.. to be able to do the higher level stuff. You need to fill a bar to get a level. There is no difference.
Except combat efficiency isn't the thing you gain here. You need to level to be stronger to be able to do the content, vertical progression. You need to get masteries to unlock content you're already strong enough to do, horizontal.
Everything in RPGs is about slowing consumption by making you gain things over time.. that's the whole point. You play the game to be able to keep playing more of the game. Vertical.. horizontal.. doesn't matter, the result is always the same.
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
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So, same as levels in all RPGs then? You need to level to be able to do the higher level stuff and unlock the skills.. to be able to do the higher level stuff. You need to fill a bar to get a level. There is no difference.
Except combat efficiency isn't the thing you gain here. You need to level to be stronger to be able to do the content, vertical progression. You need to get masteries to unlock content you're already strong enough to do, horizontal.
Everything in RPGs is about slowing consumption by making you gain things over time.. that's the whole point. You play the game to be able to keep playing more of the game. Vertical.. horizontal.. doesn't matter, the result is always the same.