Point-based or Class-based skill system?

Waffleton · July 2004

Do you prefer MMORPGs where you choose a class during the creation of your character (class based), such as Warrior or Mage, or the ability to change and manipulate your character's skills (point based) as you play?

Personally, Point based skill system for me is a lot more fun, as I can shape my character to better suit my playing style, rather than commit to a strict linear path.

Ackbar · July 2004

skills based systems rock the casbah. A la uo which i still love and play. Saga of ryzom seems to be going this route a bit and i liked it (the skill system not the game tooo buggy so far). I hated SWG attempt at this system. Im not trying to diss ryzom at all as this industry needs indy developers doing some serious innovation.

----ITS A TRAP!!!----

RotAnimal · July 2004

You should try EVE-Online. It has the best, by far, skill system I've tested so far. You train in real time and it doesn't matter if you're online or offline so you can't script max your character in a week while a player that can't play as much will never catch up. Off course those who play more make more money so they still have an advantage.

bsherlock · July 2004

You need classes in a game to prevent armies of hybrids all picking the same skills in order to become uber.

Just because you are a mage does not mean you have to be the same as every other mage. it is perfectly possible to create a game whereby once you pick a mage you get to increase your stats as you like, rather than on a generic template.

This would level like a skill game, ie cast fireballs to increase in fire magic. But whereas in an open skill game allows anyone to get any skill you do need restrictions. Some abilities should only be available to certain classes, and this will create enough differences to allow you to roleplay. Roleplaying is about being in character, and having the ability to do everything does not really let you do this.

The logic is that magic takes years to learn and in order to learn magic you have no time to learn swordplay, having magic and sword will make a character more powerful than somebody who just takes swords, and will unbalance the game.

People who want open templates are just people who play the game in order to be the best rather than people who want to roleplay. Because in a roleplaying game your character should have limits, weaknesses and things he cannot do.

MUAHAHAHAHAHA

Claude · July 2004

class-based is much better...no reason....lol

mike2004 · July 2004

class based is better, u dont have 2 worry about fking up your character forever then

Legend of Mir 2

Lancelot 40 Warrior
ShadowLight Guild

mike2004 · July 2004

lmao, u havent played mir have u, 3 classes all designed to work toegther not 1 better than the other

Legend of Mir 2

Lancelot 40 Warrior
ShadowLight Guild

Hawkeye32 · July 2004

No, there has never been a game where every class has been completely and utterly equal at everything that can be done in a game. But you have to think about what your asking here. Fact of the matter is classes are not designed to be equal at everything, that would be just stupid. The class as itself is just a type of character with a particular skillset that it has chosen to practice.

Yes the skill based system allows for more freedom in your characters development however, many gamers do not wan't skills due to the simple fact that classes are easier, you know what your getting by picking a particular class and you know what they will be good at given a good description, it makes it just that much easier. And even within most class based games there are skills that you have to raise to be proficient at. EQ is an excellent example of that, just because your a mage doesn't mean you can cast every spell available to you, you have to work up the skills needed to cast them.

If you don't enjoy leisure, are you really living?

Hawkeye32 · July 2004

Ok to answer your origional post, no having a skill based system is not any more flawed than a class based system. Class or Skills, if theres a limit to how many skills you can have theres always going to be that super template that can do everything just a little bit better than everyone else. Thats just the way it is in the world. Yes there is almost always a class that can do alot of stuff better than other classes but most of us play the class we want to play because we like the theme of that class. No different than skill based systems. Skill or class based as long as the system is good and you can't completely gimp yourself by choosing the wrong skills or class each system can be fun.

If you don't enjoy leisure, are you really living?

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Point-based or Class-based skill system?

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