Skill trees and Alternate Advancement

[Kyra]

Would be nice to see some different ways we can customise our characters (other than gear/materia) so we are not just identical carbon copies of each other. The point allotment for stats is ok but could be expanded upon to include other stats like crit and accuracy etc.

But what I realy want to see is some from of alternate skill advancement for each class/job where you choose a permanent skill tree path. You unlock the skills in the path with exp at level 50+ and each skill has upgrades to make it a bit better, your limited to 1 skill tree path out of maybe 2 or 3.

So for a quick example one blackmage wont have exactly the same skillsets as another blackmage, could specialise in fire damage and resistance with more hp and magic accuracy and new fire based skills, or you can choose the thunder path for more thunder dmg, mp, magic crit and thunder skills. etc etc. Dragoon can choose the wyvern pet path or the jumping path etc etc.

We do so much stuff at max cap and waste so much exp that goes nowhere and skillwise everyone is just a carbon copy. Yeah people have some different stats and gear and it makes a slight difference, and new gear comes out every patch and everyone gets excited. Eventualy will be a level cap raise and will be more gear and everything your have is obsolete. Obviously i want a level cap raise one day too, but I also want some form of alternate advancement system.

EQ2's one was fun I thought, didnt really like FF11s merit one it was a bit boring but they could make it better for this. This game is completly gear and level orientated at the moment and there is no real way to make your character better other than gear and levels and veterans have all levels done already.

I am sure newbs are having a great time making there characters stronger with gaining more levels/skills. That type of character growth fun ended for me and many others a long time ago.

[YUGON]

I would like that, as you said, something like Merit points on XI, but not on leveling up. What If I ubber power my Blm on Fire skills? My blm on Ifrit would be shit.
When we reach max level, I would be glad to have some "new skills method", but not right now, or with the first level cap.

[Kyra]

I would like that, as you said, something like Merit points on XI, but not on leveling up. What If I ubber power my Blm on Fire skills? My blm on Ifrit would be shit.
When we reach max level, I would be glad to have some "new skills method", but not right now, or with the first level cap.

Yeah it would be the choice you make, you would be an average blackmage against ifrit, the blm that had specialised in thunder would be a lot better than you. But then when they add Bomb King /Queen you would rape it with fire dmg and the thunder blm would cry :P

[Arkine]

While I love skill trees for offline games where I can progress with whatever I think is cool. In an MMO it's only a matter of time before someone figures out what build is best dps, tank or healer and it stops being a choice ( basicly it's a calculation where there is a path that gives the best result disguised as a choice where all paths give equil results)

[JDR388]

While I love skill trees for offline games where I can progress with whatever I think is cool. In an MMO it's only a matter of time before someone figures out what build is best dps, tank or healer and it stops being a choice ( basicly it's a calculation where there is a path that gives the best result disguised as a choice where all paths give equil results)

He speaks the truth!

As a long time WoW player I quickly came to realize that the various talent trees only offered something of a faux choice in every patch if the player wants to maintain an optimum dps throughput (something that blizzard itself seems to be aware of as they are completely retooling how their talent system works to make it much more difficult to weigh the value of certain abilities).

There is something to be said, however, for having the ability to adjust ones charecter traits even if the choice is something of an illusion for endgame players. All in all I thing that adding a system like merits from XI or a system based on talent trees would bring more good to the game then harm. I would of course expect Yoshida to put his own spin on it, however.

[Krausus]

more choices are always nice, the issue is someone will find the best build based on numbers and everyone will use that build completely negating the purpose

[Kyra]

Lets say you choose dragoon wyvern path, this would be really nice for soloers and might have a few benefits for partys such as buffs, or you choose the jumping path that gives you more jumps and more damage and maybe skills that can only be used in a party skillchain. So you make a choice, do you play more solo or do you want to be better in a group.

Your going to be better at one thing but worse at another and thats the choice you make, and mob resistances etc etc would mean there wont be an "all out" greatest path to choose. You will be better at somethings and while another path will be better at other things.

[madolyn]

more choices are always nice, the issue is someone will find the best build based on numbers and everyone will use that build completely negating the purpose

this. because once someone discovers the "cookie cutter" build, it will be no different from what we have now.
Only instead of "oh, you dont has dubble melds? too bad" it will be "oh you dont has xx/xx/xx? tew bad"

[Kyra]

Just want to be able to customise my character further that doesnt revolve solely around gear or a linear progression such as levels.

[Onisake]

Just want to be able to customise my character further that doesnt revolve solely around gear or a linear progression such as levels.

customization is very easy in this game. your 'tree branch' is your secondary pool of skills. you have a given set you will always have from your class. you can gain additional abilities via job.

the secondary abilties you bring from your subclasses is what allows you to customize. want heals? take cure from CNJ on your class.

want to be an offensive PLD? take more skills from MRD than CNJ sub.