Meandering through MMORPG's...

Author: t0nyd

In skill based games usually all skills are available to everyone, if it wasn't that wouldn't be fair :P

the key element of skill based is the fact that you can pick and shoose what you want.  i really don't get the whole r/p/s aspect.  it all boils down to understanding your weakness and strengths of each character and using those strengths well to defeat whatever opponent you face.  There is no garanteed win/lose because of class breakdown.

but i'm a big fan of skill based games over class based simply because I hate having to conform to any specific cliche design.  if you've played Asheron's Call you'd definately understand this.  or even Elder Scrolls games.  I like to go the odd ball route at  times for a different and unique experience.

Plus with a skill based game you never know what someone may be able to do right off the bat.  in a class based game you see someone in a robe, you know right off what they are capable of doing as the same for someone in heavy armor.  In AC everyone was able to wear heavy or light armor, whatever they prefered.  So even mages would be heavly clad, but not always...

eh to each is their own of course...  so play what you prefer, but for those of us that prefer skill based there aren't many games made set around that and would love see more made.  thus you may see people rave about it.  because it won't get developed unless someone says something. 

In skill based, you may not know what skill someone is because it isn't broadcasted with a big number by their name.  This makes combat more fun for those who choose to be PKs.  In class based, why fight someone who is clearly stronger than you?  In skill based you just don't know....

We all have different styles, it's one way to give us a feeling of being unique.  Of course, making a skilled system that is balanced yet gives options is little more difficult then the class base system .. haha

I feel like Oblivion did a good job blending skill and class-based systems.  I quite enjoyed that part of it, though in an MMO setting I don't believe it would work.  Players would spend the extra amount fo time to max out their minor skills to become tankmages and things of that nature.  Maybe with some major tweaking..

Naryysys-

 You basically state the main problem that I see with most skill based systems. I do not want to play a game where anyone can get every ability in the game. Im fine with limiting the number of skills a player can choose. Altho by limiting the number of skills, it goes back to " choosing your own poison ". Everyone should have weaknesses in my opinion. Otherwise you will simply have everyone taking the toughest builds, going for high dps and high damage mitigation.

ahh tankmages... i miss those days.  i always liked skill based more for the freedom.  i always chose to NOT make the strongest class out there.  yeah i did play a tank mage in UO, but i chose not to raise any skill over 85.  this allowed me to be a bit more diverse, but still powerfull enough to survive random attackers.  unless it was a tamer with 3 dragons, now thats just lame hehe.

UO did have the best skill sysem.. though Oblivion is close.

The Oblivion system would work as long as you weren't allowed to train up your minor skills past a certain, some what low point.

The sign you were born under and two primary attributes + freedom to pick 7 skills would make the Oblivion system totally kick @ss for a MMO. You could respec your 7 chosen skills, maybe even your primary attributes, but not the sign you were born under.

I mean, most Oblivion players would simply make te same kind of character they'd choose in a class based game... but having the choice to do differently, though it may seem minor, would be greatly appreciated by a large number of players...

One huge problem with this discussion is that a lot of players think of class-based and skill-based as opposites.  They are not.

And level-based is not the opposite (or equivalent) of either of those.  The three concepts are independent and may appear separately or in conjuction within a game's overall design.

If all the skills had negitive parts as well, it would make picking and choosing diferent as well.

Heavy Plate give you a bonus to defense and damage absorbe. But gives at best 70% penalitys to arcane, 90% stealth and 30% light weapons. Granted, seeing someone in full plate tippy toeing does bring to mind a funny picture. :)

Hexxeity-

 I agree with ya. Most people do believe that class based is the opposite of skill based. It all depends how each is set up. They could be the exact same if set up that way.

Flungmuk-

 In my opinion, its a players weaknesses that define them. So adding weaknesses to choices is a must. Otherwise there is no downside to anything. With no downsides people will simply pick the path of least resistance...

flungmuk UO did have something along those lines, having plate  on would decrease your dex, which would lower your stamina, and also change your mana regen rate.  so it got to the point where most people would only wear a few peices of armor and maybe a robe. 

and i am of the camp that view class and skill based games differently.  sure even in a skill based game you can be a "class" such as tank mage, or dex monkey but you always have the option to branch out.  some games offer customization inside your class so you have skills to chose from, but you are still forced to stay in the predertimened set.

This wasn't a good article didnt really p[oke at the holes in the two systems. I wanted to read a nice long article that sort of outlined all the pros and cons. everyone claims its been discussed to death but funny I have yet to read a nice, long, detailed analysis that covers all the progression systems available to RPGs

Vajuras-

This posting was meant more as a rant. I see a lot of discussion on whats better skill or class based. My point is that they are pretty much the same. In the end all that matters is yer having fun...