Raid Design and Class Augmentation - Simple or Unique?
A recent thread really got me thinking about where we will end up in terms of raid design and how simple or complex it will be depending on what Intrepid does with the augment system. I fear that what we will end up with will be too simple and not allow the creative juices to flow freely.
On one hand, you have a cookie cutter system that places tank in the tank role and healer/support in their roles with dps only ever being able to dps. This is simple, requires no brain power and forces a system for very little "real" creativity as the skill points we place will really only go to min/maxing your role.
On the other hand, you have a system that potentially allows certain classes to be primary tank, healer, or even support depending on their choices in the augment system. I'm going to waste of a lot of time just writing out about each class and their potential.
Bard - Bards are a support role that makes a party better as a whole.
I can see Bard as being a viable main healer as well. Basic talents should already include some form of healing but going cleric or summoner as a secondary could boost those heals enough for Bard to have additional freedom. Bard as a rogue or fighter secondary could increase party dps adding huge value and giving them the opportunity to say "I am a melee dps bard" or "ranged dps bard" for ranger secondary.
Cleric - Restoration. Enhancement. Debilitation. Clerics keep their team in the fight by bolstering their combat abilities and cursing their enemies. Far from simply supporting their allies through healing, a Cleric is also capable of wielding destructive force in the face of danger.
Clerics will be offering curses and buffs already so I think a cleric should be a viable dps option with some augments. This will allow other classes the option to heal since some secondary augments for cleric will lower their healing. Cleric/rogue....like how do you honestly make this combination a "main healer". It's silly and they should dps haha.
Fighter - The Fighter archetype will include maneuverability and "closing the gap" mechanics to enable the fighter to quickly traverse distances on the battlefield.
Fighter is a true dps class. The focus here should be creating different options that are unique but all strong dps options.
Mage - The mage should be able to tank! (just one role to break from the "dps only" cliché) Stay with me here. Choosing tank as a secondary for a Mage should not simply lower their dps and make them "beefy mages". What if Mages could main tank HIGH MAGIC DAMAGE raid bosses? Not better or worse than a Tank/Mage but on par with them.
Ranger - Death from afar is the ranger's raison d'etre. A master of the bow and ranged combat, the Ranger is more than happy to let others get their hands dirty. No one else has such a keen eye in natural environments.
I can see rangers doing decent as a secondary support (bard/cleric secondary's) but primarily this should be dps heavy with unique options like the fighter.
Rogue - The rogue is master of opportunity, using skill, positioning, and the environment to dish out frightening amounts of damage. In their downtime, they provide solid utility, helping their friends navigate dangers otherwise unseen.
My brain tells me that a rogue should be dps only but if a tank has the option to evasion tank, why shouldn't a rogue have that one secondary that lets them evasion tank as well? Slap some threat control on the kit and let them main tank as an evasion rogue! Why shouldn't this be added into the game? It just makes sense against a boss that hits with low damage but hits fast AF or for large groups or mobs.
Summoner - The summoner is never alone. Two hands are good, but in the summoner's opinion, four hands are always better. With the right tool for every job, there's no situation they can't handle.
The potential for the summoner class is MASSIVE. There is so much opportunity to make this class unique in AoC...it's crazy. Summoners could be "WOW druid-like" and take on all roles potentially. Tank would be the hardest to pull off and maybe not the best idea for balancing purposes. Heals and dps though....I mean hell yes this should be an option for summoners.
Tank - Protection. Command. Execution. Tanks act as a shield for themselves and their party, altering the battlefield to execute their strategy. A mastery of focus and control allow Tanks to achieve their primary goals - helping their team mitigate incoming damage, and dictating who stands in the line of fire.[1]
As a Tank sharpens their skills and learns to steel themselves against danger, they will find their strength growing in a variety of ways.[1]
Tanks will have different build options:[4]
Evasion tanks
Control tanks
Shield tanks
This is my baby. Even in Alpha 1 I already feel like the playstyle is unique and engaging. Evasion tanking, crazy CC abilities, Literally already a "gap closer" in pvp with MULTIPLE KNOCKDOWNS (nerf incoming and there are only 3 classes so far hahaha!). Even if classes have just ONE secondary that allows them to fill a role that they wouldn't normally fill, AoC would break the mold, raids would be filled easier, some players would feel special and not be forced to make an alt to experience tanking/healing/support/dps.
With this style of class augmentation, groups/raids can be filled with primary and secondary specs. 2 secondary healers could equate to a primary healer as an example. 2 off supports could be equivalent to a bard/bard but give the group a different support focus. As it stands, balancing this game with either route will be cancer for those people at Intrepid and I have nothing but respect for whoever is in charge of that haha.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you want a simple system that allows for cookie cutter raid compositions or do you want something more complex that allows for raid leaders/plyers to mix and match where possible? Please share. I am honestly curious on what the community feels. Is a simple action combat and node system enough to satisfy us long term? Do we want GO-TO options or do we want Path of Exile style mind blowing opportunities? Either way, I love you all (even you, dude who doesn't like my pink mushroom cosmetic ❤).
