[dev1033] Class name changes -> Specialization/Talent Trees Into Classic FF Classes

[Betelgeuzah]

Now let's go back to the idea:
What I'm saying here is that you're given points and you must use a certain amount of points from whatever abilities/traits/bonuses/enhancement are in that level (or any level before it) before you can move onto the next level. This means that you go from the bottom of the list up. As opposed to now with no limits and we go from the top of the list down. Top obviously being better.

Yeah, I see that. I am in favor of using them for traits and such, but what exactly in your opinion is the problem of going top down to bottom? I mean, we aren't doing that at rank 1 since we have no access to uber skills but once you're level 50, shouldn't you be able to use the cool stuff you've gained freely? Or is there a balance factor to take into consideration? Obviously the encounters would be balanced with this in mind, and proper limitations (higher action costs) can be set for equipping skills from other specs (not classes, since the spec skills are class specific) so that you can't hoard all the top level skills from every spec within the class.

What do you think?

[Kurokikaze]

Yeah, I see that. I am in favor of using them for traits and such, but what exactly in your opinion is the problem of going top down to bottom? I mean, we aren't doing that at rank 1 since we have no access to uber skills but once you're level 50, shouldn't you be able to use the cool stuff you've gained freely? Or is there a balance factor to take into consideration? Obviously the encounters would be balanced with this in mind, and proper limitations (higher action costs) can be set for equipping skills from other specs (not classes, since the spec skills are class specific) so that you can't hoard all the top level skills from every spec within the class.

What do you think?

My problem with going from the top down is what is happening now. ;/

If you leveled two classes to max and you picked from the top you're taking away that other class' identity. It's like if back in FFXI if you could hand pick your skills from your sub regardless of what level it was. Where would you start? Near the top, thats where I would start because its the best possible choice. So I would take my RDM and level BRD then give my RDM Mage Ballad II (Lv56 spell) and make BRD useless.

[Betelgeuzah]

If you leveled to classes to max and you picked from the top you're taking away that other class' identity. It's like if back in FFXI if you could hand pick your skills from your sub regardless of what level it was. Where would you start? Near the top, thats where I would start because its the best possible choice. So I would take my RDM and level BRD then give my RDM Mage Ballad II (Lv56 spell) and make BRD useless.

Oh, so in your system cross-classing is possible but to gain access to higher tier skills you need lower tier skills first?

I've misunderstood then. In my method cross-classing these 'spec' abilities (starting from 30 or whatever) wouldn't be possible (like you can't equip skills from above lvl37 in XI). With that kind of system, you can start from top to bottom on the class you're playing only, and say, the more high rank skills you take from one (your current) spec the more the remaining 'top' skills from other specs end up costing. And you still can't just take high rank skills from other classes since they're class-specific.

If we thought of it as a License Board, you could start picking skills anywhere you want in any given 'spec' board within your current class (as long as your rank is high enough ofc) but you couldn't access other classes' boards (aside from the pre-rank 30 stuff) without changing your class altogether.

Sorry for the confusion .

[Kurokikaze]

Oh, so in your system cross-classing is possible but to gain access to higher tier skills you need lower tier skills first?

Yes. In WoW it works like this 5 points > 10 > 15 > 20 > 25 > 30. The points don't have to be spent on that exact tier but they must be spent cumulative throughout the previous tiers before moving on (with the exception of the first obviously).

[Abriael]

My problem with going from the top down is what is happening now. ;/

If you leveled to classes to max and you picked from the top you're taking away that other class' identity. It's like if back in FFXI if you could hand pick your skills from your sub regardless of what level it was. Where would you start? Near the top, thats where I would start because its the best possible choice. So I would take my RDM and level BRD then give my RDM Mage Ballad II (Lv56 spell) and make BRD useless.

"taking away their identity" seems to be a bit overdramatic. In any case severely limiting the potency of cross-classed abilities solves the problem.
If I'm solo, the ability doesn't "replace" the presence of the other class. It simply adds versatility to my own character.
If I'm in a group, my ability will be way worse than that of the other class, so the best it can do is a support role.
Even if as a Gladiator I have Cure 3, with it's potency reduced to 50%, all I can do is throw in heals to support my healers and help my aggro (pretty much what paladins did in FFXI), most definitely I cannot main heal myself, or even less the rest of the group.

That can be pretty much extended to every class and ability across the board.