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

[Sorel]

How exactly would current character progress be wiped?

Some (not all) character progress would effectively be wiped (made useless or unavailable) by the extensive re-balancing of abilities mentioned in the OP.

They will have traits and abilities that can only be used while in that spec. In order to appease the players that have grown fond of using abilities from other disciplines; let them use skills from the class up until a certain rank or go through them all up to a certain rank and re-balance them for use cross-class. Unfortunately the thing that is repeated in both methods is "up to a certain rank" - don't be fooled: the line must be drawn somewhere to avoid exploiting and promote uniqueness across all classes. Personally I would re-balance skills up to Rank 20 and draw the line there. I can hear the complaints already from people who use Rank 30+ skills on other classes but these people are oblivious to the fact that that is killing other classes. Unfortunately this is something that I feel must be done.

A player is currently building a character to be an Elezen Spellarcher (a master of ranged combat, be it martial or mystical) by combining her Rank 40 Archery with her Rank 40 Conjurery. So right now, that character can wield a bow and cast Sleep (at reduced effect) to help maintain crowd control and to allow her to keep her range if the enemy gets too close. Or that character can wield a wand and use enmity reducing abilities like Chameleon & Out Of Sight to keep attention away from herself.

The ability rebalancing and cross-class cut-off of abilities after Rank 30 that the proposed system would require, makes the above character concept no longer possible. That player's effort and progress to build a Spellarcher would effectively be wiped to a certain degree due to the restriction imposed by the proposed system.

Again, as an old-school D&D player, I'm a fan of encouraging creative character builds. It seems like the proposed system takes some creativity out of the hands of the players, and puts it in the hands of that developement person that assigns abilities to the Job Trees. Under the proposed system, the only way to build a character like what I described above would be for SE to make a Spellarcher Job Specialization Tree specifically for it.

Once again, let me know if I am mistaken in this regard.

[Shazaam]

The ability rebalancing and cross-class cut-off of abilities after Rank 30 that the proposed system would require, makes the above character concept no longer possible. That player's effort and progress to build a Spellarcher would effectively be wiped to a certain degree due to the restriction imposed by the proposed system.

Again, as an old-school D&D player, I'm a fan of encouraging creative character builds. It seems like the proposed system takes some creativity out of the hands of the players, and puts it in the hands of that developement person that assigns abilities to the Job Trees. Under the proposed system, the only way to build a character like what I described above would be for SE to make a Spellarcher Job Specialization Tree specifically for it.

Once again, let me know if I am mistaken in this regard.

'

You are not mistaken. The only way to build a character that you described would be for SE to make a 'Spellarcher' Job specialization tree.

The problem here is that you want a paper-based D&D system for your MMO. There just is not the amount of money, time, or resources to recreate the power of the human imagination in a computer game. The proposed system DOES take some of the creativity out of the player's hands, because it is IMPOSSIBLE to give ultimate creativity to the players in any game.

First you must realize the truth: that there is no Spellarcher. There will not be a Spellarcher. Let's try to focus on something feasible and FUN instead of what could be created with sheer imagination. The tech just isn't capable. The best you can make is a mage with archer skills. If I can make ANYTHING then it is boring. If I have to work withing certain rules with enough room to BEND them but not BREAK them it is fun. (IE: you want to be a 'Spellarcher'? Team up a battle regimen with a mage and turn your shot into a Sleepshot or Fireshot from having the mage cast a spell while you fire an arrow in a specific way).

Limitless possibility is boring (and unachievable), learning to BEND the rules is fun. There have to be rules to bend.