Greetings, glorious adventurers! If you're joining in our Alpha One spot testing, please follow the steps here to see all the latest test info on our forums and Discord!
Options
Managing class ability unlocks in a unique way
Borus
Member
I've always felt like your abilities should be completely unlocked as rewards for completing specific (leveling) content. This way you could create a wide variety of abilities, have players choose which ones they pursue first (have it related to node buildings).
This way you're thinking about which abilities you should pursue first while leveling instead of just being handed your abilities once you kill enough boars. (getting enough pelts or resources could reward a training session with a master) That way your skills leveling would also be related to your gathering and killing. You would want to explore the world and find your abilities while you level
As a bard you could either unlock tutoring from a master or secret music scrolls.
As a cleric you could improve your connection to your god, doing deeds to convert npcs.
As a fighter you would pursue which kind of weapon you were proficient in first, by the time you're 50 you would be a master of all weapons and get bonuses or something
As a mage you would search for spells or hidden power stone unloocks (skyrim)
As a ranger you could search for eyesight enhancements, bow strength quality and arrow type. venom arrows for certain specs ect.
Rogue would be completing missions where you steal from people, learning from a master theif or completing a heist.
Summoner would search for things to summon, doing quests for different beasts to unlock their permission to be summoned
Tank: Learn to get beat, take lots of damage or find armor enhancing items (think lotr mythril)
This way you're thinking about which abilities you should pursue first while leveling instead of just being handed your abilities once you kill enough boars. (getting enough pelts or resources could reward a training session with a master) That way your skills leveling would also be related to your gathering and killing. You would want to explore the world and find your abilities while you level
As a bard you could either unlock tutoring from a master or secret music scrolls.
As a cleric you could improve your connection to your god, doing deeds to convert npcs.
As a fighter you would pursue which kind of weapon you were proficient in first, by the time you're 50 you would be a master of all weapons and get bonuses or something
As a mage you would search for spells or hidden power stone unloocks (skyrim)
As a ranger you could search for eyesight enhancements, bow strength quality and arrow type. venom arrows for certain specs ect.
Rogue would be completing missions where you steal from people, learning from a master theif or completing a heist.
Summoner would search for things to summon, doing quests for different beasts to unlock their permission to be summoned
Tank: Learn to get beat, take lots of damage or find armor enhancing items (think lotr mythril)
1
Comments
Ultimately, I really like the skill point system, allowing people to shift the dynamic of their play to suit their own needs, even within the same base archetype. I know, I know. Cookie cutters almost certainly will happen, but I get a lot of enjoyment out of experimenting with different skill builds and seeing how they function.
There are societies, religions, and ranks/titles, that give horizontal progression on your abilities i.e. utility during certain events.
That in, my opinion, is more than enough as this will make it so that you're not forced to do something in order to unlock core abilities of your class.
There is nothing wrong with every even #ed level having a class quest chain to get your next skill. Pretty sure origional wow had this like every 3rd level. I rememeber having to do a ton of druid quests to get all my shape shifting forums and some abilities
However, Ashes will be closer to your typical class/level system, where generic XP leads to advancing levels and letting you pick your skills and abilities. This idea doesn’t work very well in this game, not without fundamentally changing it.
However, it might work for crafting skills and I actually expect that’s how they’ll do it. Usually even traditional class/level/generic XP games (like WoW for example) treat crafting as an activity where you advance a particular skill through use. So it might be in effect that way.
I also like the idea of getting certain kinds of permanent bonuses through achievements, which is similar to what you’re proposing.
EDIT: I do like the idea of a quest to unlock a secondary class, or change it. That’s another way that might work.
So there is a downside...
But this is a pvx game so just go into pvp and bunny hop aggervating the enemy... speaking of which since many abilities are not TAB target bunny hopping may be effective lol
It doesn't necessarily need to be for all skills, of course, as it could take too much work from devs and could end being tedious to players, but for the class signature abilities would be pretty cool. It isn't a big deal tho if the devs can't manage to put it into the game in time for release, as the game has MANY others complex systems to deal with, so, it'll be fine whatsoever.
EDIT:
Oh man, I really like the feeling of earning a secondary class, after going through some kind of progress. Reminds me of the old and ilustrious Ragnarok Online. Sometimes it would be a pain in the ass to unlock/achieve the secondary jobs, but, oh boy, it was really worth it. And if Ashes doesn't hand properly a progression system to unlock a secondary class it could lead to a very lackluster shallow content, like unlocking Awakening in BDO, for example. I'm hopeful to see something interesting, at least.