Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Is there any character differences?
From everything I have gathered on DarkFall so far it seems like everyone is always skilling up to become the exact same "class". I understand it is a skill based game and not class based however if there is no difference between myself and John Doe #95 it doesn't seem like there is much variation to the game. I haven't seen anything discussing this particular topic (if there is I missed it) so I figured I would go ahead and ask. For me this is a huge game breaker and makes DarkFall not worth my time. I'm am NOT saying this is the case for everyone just saying as a personal preference if there is only one type of play style in a game (no rogue type no mage type no range type) that can be competitive it doesn't make for a very long lasting experience.
So does anyone want to enlighten me on the fact that there is or is not multiple play styles that can be effective or does everyone just run around with a 2handed axe and click the left mouse button?
And yeah... a trial would eliminate the need for this question...
Comments
There are multiple playstyles, and while you could theoretically learn everything eventually, its by no means viable to do so, you do have to focus on what you would like to master to be truly effective at something. Its true that everyone can do a bit of everything, but you will not be a master of everything. Theres many paths in magic, melee, and ranged combat, specialising in certain spell trees, archery, weapons etc, each item/spelltype has its own skill to work on and improve. The skill system is quite deep, theres a lot of choice to be made, by no means could i do it justice in a forum post.
and there's specialisation. You can get "upgrades", that will provide bonuses in one play style, at the cost of gimping you in another.
For example, getting Double-Step (a double-tap dodge) and Destroyer (grants bonuses in damage VS casters) will gimp the Hell out of your magic, with both a reduction in mana pool, and completely locking you out of elemental magic schools.
There are other ways to specialise (many, and more to come), making sure that not every toon is the same.
Most everyone grinds the same BASIC skills (Lesser magic to 75, greater magic to 50, etc) because they provide abilities that everyone should have, such as the ability to heal oneself, or your mount. But beyond a certain basic toolset, you'll find amazing variety between characters.
Hope this helps.
Exactly what i was gonna say.
Hmm... that actually sounds really neat. Nothing like I imagined it at all. Thanks for the information.
Really, if you want to PvP, you can't specialize in one because everyone else is going to have everything and is going to roflstomp your face in. I have yet to find a PvPer who hasn't whipped out all three on me... if you ask me, combat wise, everyone is the same.
"The question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I, or the others crazy?" - Albert Einstein
You can change your specialization as much as you want but you have to pay the price of the specialization. For exemple Double Jump cost 600 gold and Double Tap 400 gold. If you want to swap to the other one, you have to pay the amount of gold it costs. OR, you can simply remove the specialization and not choose a new one.
Maybe you've been fighting n00bs??
Everyone is the same as far as abilities go. The difference is some players are focused on specific type of spells. So everyone is a "mage" in Darkfall. Also, since players can loot others, everyone keeps a distance first (I dont blame them). So most fights are ranged with bows or spells.
Here is a good post from someone who specialized in melee.
1 month resubbed veteran: My take on DF for those seeking a mostly melee experience
Don't forget to check out the replies he got for some good info.
Yeah, I guess we're all hallucinating that expansion that added the specialization system, and upgrades.
syncaine.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/initial-overview-of-darkfalls-specialization-system/
now this is a lie I've been a destroyer since expansion and usually can take on 1vs4's.
And to the OP there are a few specializations that are useful but they are adding a lot more in this next expansion. They're trying to go more into the choosing a role you want to play with the specializations. But it's true lots of people are hybrids and I find destroyer a lot harder to play cause it's only useful in melee but I also find it insanely fun so that's why I'm destroyer. If you're good at melee you can be really effective. It's usually good to have 2-3 destroyers in 10vs10 group fights to just cause havoc in their group against the mages.
Also destroyers are sick for mounted combat if you like that.
Nothing stops you from making your character different then others. It is lack of self confidence, knowledge about the game and mini-maxer attitude which makes people to copy others.
I would have to say it is the player that make the character uniqe! Even if you take two identical characters and give them to two players, they will play them completely different.
Im not saying stats, gear and skills dont matter...but in the long run it is up to the player. As we have said many times, DF is more a playerskill based MMO.
Wrong.
It is poor game design that doesn't promote character customization.
Wrong.
It is poor game design that doesn't promote character customization.
How would a good character costomization system without restrictions work?
Everyone can learn anything is the only i can think of, just as in reallife : )
Wrong.
It is poor game design that doesn't promote character customization.
Poor design ? I said nothing stops you from designing your char by yourself. There is more and more support for different chars. There are only three necessities in DF char design u need one type of ranged combat, one melee plus transfer spells. Everything else is up to you.
You may focus on melee with a little bit of archery and run around in full plate or at least scale/plate.
You may focus on archery with a little of melee and run in scale with bone chest piece or whatever mix u will find more acceptable.
You may focus on magic and use melee only if necessary.
I can create almost any class from Morrowind in DF, maybe except those which steal or have invisibility spell.