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Dual-Class
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Post by
Llethalas
I think this should be an option in a future expansion. We've seen NPC Mage-Priests in the game already in some of the Caverns of Time instances. It would be really cool I think to be able to multi-class our characters in game. The NPC's made me think of it first, but playing Rift (sorry Blizz but the beta was free and fun to play for a little while) showed me that a multi-class character can work and open up a lot more customization options and lend a little more uniqueness to our characters with the millions of other players out there. Thoughts?
Post by
Adamsm
You already play multi classes; each of the trees are based on a character class from the Warcraft RPG.
Post by
Nipah
Yeah... I was looking through the Rift characters and I found myself going "Oh hey, if I want to be an Enhancement Shaman, I can choose... well, a Shaman... if I want to be Elemental, its... Elementalist?".
Dual class system has been done in other games (FFXI comes to mind first), and while it is indeed fun, it also relies on being implemented from the ground up, not tacked on later.
They have enough trouble balancing the classes we have now... you try to combine two of them together and you may as well throw any of that balance out the window.
edit: Roman Numerals > Nipah... though FF9 was fun as well...
Post by
Adamsm
Think you mean XI there Nipah heh; the classes of 9 only existed for the characters; Thief, Black Mage, White Mage/Summoner, Assassin, Knight, Fighter, Gourmet, and
Uber God of Beauty
who
eradicated entire world with but a wink of his smexy face
.
Post by
Amry
The ranged attack power of a Hunter combined with Frost Mage's CC?
Yeah, probably 70% of all characters will be Frostards.
Post by
rabican1
I think this should be an option in a future expansion. We've seen NPC Mage-Priests in the game already in some of the Caverns of Time instances. It would be really cool I think to be able to multi-class our characters in game. The NPC's made me think of it first, but playing Rift (sorry Blizz but the beta was free and fun to play for a little while) showed me that a multi-class character can work and open up a lot more customization options and lend a little more uniqueness to our characters with the millions of other players out there. Thoughts?
The main thing to overcome with the dual class is how would you limit them? What is the trade off for dual classing? I am sure you know this, but the main way AD&D limited dual classes was the hit to XP. Of course XP doesn't mean a thing in WoW.
It would have to be limitations of armor on abilities, or some set of skills of each class would not be available to a multi-class.
For example, if you were a rogue mage, when you were wearing leather armor you couldn't use most of your mage spells, and if you were stealthed there would have to be a coold down on using mage spells after you came out of stealth.
Or if you are a warlock/druid you couldn't use your pet while in any animal form?
Not to be a downer, but at this point citing Rift as an example of anything is questionable at best. Application stresss testing, beta testing and developer testing is all great and good but nothing will really test the viability of a game system like 100s of thousands of players all playing away. Who knows if all this class customization will work at all. Will one uber powered class emerge that will negate all the others? I suspect one will.
Post by
639649
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
xaratherus
Will one uber powered class emerge that will negate all the others? I suspect one will.
Agreed. The problem of overpowered classes in tabletop games is offset by an active GM who can tweak encounters on the fly to keep the balance of the game. Anytime you have a static set of classes and abilities put up against static encounters, you're going to have one class emerge as the 'FotM'. I've yet to see an MMO where that didn't happen.
As to the original topic: the penalties for dual classing would have to be so extreme in order to maintain any semblance of balance that I don't know that it would be worth it. It may work out in Rift, because the game was designed with it in mind - but we'll have to wait and see.
Post by
rabican1
Anytime you have a static set of classes and abilities put up against static encounters, you're going to have one class emerge as the 'FotM'. I've yet to see an MMO where that didn't happen.
That is the truth! You know what, the synic in me says... Maybe Trion (Rift's developers) are completely aware of the fact that there will always be an uber powered FOTM class in MMOs and just plan to Nerf the FOTM class like mad until they balance it out.
I used to play a table top game called Role Master. And while it did have classes your character could learn any skill you wanted. It has been a very long time, so I am going to get the terminology wrong, but every time your character leveled you would get skill points that could be used to buy skills.
So how the game did it was for Warriors/rangers and mellee types combat arms skills cost few skilll points, while "spell" abilities cost many more. And for magic users, combat arms skills were expensive and spell abilities were cheap..
This is just thinking out loud, if you wanted to do dual classes in WoW could apply some similar structure. Say you a rogue/mage, your physical stats would greatly benefit your rogue skills while your mental skills would beneift your mage skills. So if you poured all your items into physical stats your a better rogue type and vice versa for mage skills etc.
Post by
763737
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
rabican1
There is another problem; Lore. Some class combination shouldn't be made at all. Like, warlock messing with druid skills, or any skill whatsoever that emphases 'light' as its source. On the other hand, warlock could combine his powers with, perhaps death-knight, mage, rogue? Idk.
You would have to factor in lore.. A Paladine would never combine with a rogue/warlock or death knight. A Hunter could never combine with a death knight or warlock. Well you may be able to argue the warlock/hunter is posible but you would be limited to just a few pets.
Since some of you have mentioned rogue/mage combination you should bare in mind that rogues core stat is agility. Intellect is a must for mages. How would you combine it? Just with certain talents?
That would be the million dollar choice.. put more in Int and your rogue skills suffer, put more in Agility then your mage abilities will suffer. Presumably that would be how the classes would balance..
Post by
94855
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
285998
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Treskol
Rogue finished strong enough utility. No need heals as well.
.....What?
Post by
763737
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Azazel
Rogue not never heal class broken
QFT
Post by
Treskol
Rogue not never heal class broken
I was gunna respond with a serious response
but.....
I'm speechless.
Post by
OverZealous
Rogue not never heal class broken
You're my idol.
Post by
skumbananer
I soo wanna play a protpaladinprotwarrior dual class. Imagine the tanking capability! The wsg flag carrying survivability! The mitigation! Would be even cooler if i got to play one and no one else.
Post by
froeksel
I would still keep my holy priest pure.
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