Rewarding Skill, Emphasizing Risk/Reward, Current SP Problems and How to Fix it

[Peregrine]

Then the class balanced needs to be based around the concept that "being good" = being able to think strategically, being able to adapt dynamically to different situations, being able to think quickly, being able to coordinate and cooperate efficiently as a party, being able to put together a good combination of gear and skills, and understanding well the gameplay mechanics.

There's somewhat of a fine line between that and "exploit", but that's all subject to balance changes like every other game out there. It's hard, but not impossible.

It will never happen in a MMO. The engines are too clunky. The missions are too straight and derived. This game, and any MMO, almost can not be designed well enough to make thinking on your feet rewarding.

You by default have to already forsee every predictable outcome, and know precisely how to deal with it. This is how MMORPGs are won. Not by being good at them. But by counting on and already having solutions to predicted events.

MMOs aren't about being good. They're about following the protocol. This is why allakhazam scripting of what you "need" to bring ot a FFXI fight in terms of jobs works better than being good at jobs that aren't on that list.

I'm voting no confidence in the ability for ANY mmo player to reward effort and innovation. Can't be done. Has never been done, and this game ain't the one to do it.

[Rentahamster]

I'm voting no confidence in the ability for ANY mmo player to reward effort and innovation. Can't be done. Has never been done, and this game ain't the one to do it.

Tera does it.

[Peregrine]

Tera does it.

How? Because the second they add the need for effort and innovation into this game is the second we're either all archers, all thaumaturges, or all exploit hunters.