In there Question of the Week column on the Earthrise forums, Masthead Studios answers a question on the game's skill system and the game's lack of classes.

What do you have planned to make sure characters differ? If everyone can get every skill then wont people find "the best" skills and equipment and all end up being the same?
Many MMOs have problems with balancing skills and try to separate players in alternative development paths - classes is the best example - so achieving powerful combinations is limited to one path only, a fighter, a warrior, a thief and so on. Each class has its powerful abilities and developers try to balance them to their best knowledge. Characters in Earthrise will not have classes or take exclusive character development paths. Players will have the same choice of skills and abilities. That alone will not lead to ultimate builds because many skills will not provide players with passive bonuses that directly affect their success in various actions, but instead unlock wide array of carefully balanced abilities they can use in different situations. These abilities will be customizable action templates that can be further enhanced using special system we will announce in detail soon. This system will allow players to modify their abilities to a certain extent. They will be able to create new abilities builds and receive a slight boost but there will always be some disadvantage that they have to live with and take into consideration in almost every situation the ability comes in play. Think of this as the paper/rock/scissors game, where “the best” character template will be beatable by another “best” character template.

Read more here.

Sounds like a game that will require tons of reading and/or dedication to finding how to get power in either character or equipment. Sounds like crafting might not be much fun to me. I am sure some though will be thrilled to spend hours to find out how to make something.

Originally posted by Robbgobb

Sounds like a game that will require tons of reading and/or dedication to finding how to get power in either character or equipment. Sounds like crafting might not be much fun to me. I am sure some though will be thrilled to spend hours to find out how to make something.

Sounds immersive, highly customizable, with an in depth and rich crafting system.  The LAST thing we need is another game that hand holds players through each step, guiding you with huge flashing dots so you dont get lost.    A decision to cut down on reading and an oversimplification of the skills/ combat system is what lead to the NGE, which can in no way be construed as a success.

Clearly you desire a linear game, with limited crafting customization and a lack of uniqueness, that's nice and all but Earthrise is attempting to be different and provide a more immersive, open ended gaming experience.

I personally thought the little QnA was great and I'm very excited to learn more about the game.

Sounds like the rock paper scissors thing is.... another word for.... classes. LOL.

"but instead unlock wide array of carefully balanced abilities they can use in different situations."

The alternative, of course, is the SW:G approach of having a bunch of different skill sets named different things, but actually are the same, just with different range restrictions or weapon restrictions. That's the "other" way to balance.... by making everything the same.

Originally posted by Robbgobb

Sounds like a game that will require tons of reading and/or dedication to finding how to get power in either character or equipment. Sounds like crafting might not be much fun to me. I am sure some though will be thrilled to spend hours to find out how to make something.

And the paper/scissor/stone argument........its for every single skill.  So its NOT the same as classes.

Sounds a lot like Asheron's Call - anyone can take any skills and upgrade them in any way they like, wear any armor, etc....  I love AC for that flexibilty, I even still have an account I jump on from time to time. 

In AC there might be a few 'uuber' templates, but it's not like everyone plays the same combo - there really are a lot of variations, at least on Harvestgain. 

well, seems to me that this particular system will allow the developers to balance it very well, since there are no classes and if you do not like a type of skill you can just switch to another - highly flexible, i think

i doubt that we will see lots of character with the same powerful class as with other games, since one combination of skills and equipment will beat another and be defeated by third one - i see it as well-balanced raid parties

I think there trying to get away from the power gaming.  Everyone playing the same character cause it has the best build.  With this system you can play as you like and not get left out cause your build isn't as good as another.  I think this will help with an more immersive RPing element

Originally posted by evilquench

well, seems to me that this particular system will allow the developers to balance it very well, since there are no classes and if you do not like a type of skill you can just switch to another - highly flexible, i think

 

i doubt that we will see lots of character with the same powerful class as with other games, since one combination of skills and equipment will beat another and be defeated by third one - i see it as well-balanced raid parties

Well that is partially true. We won't definitly see characters with the same class(same skills). Every character will be unique. But balancing a skill based system is harder than a class system. But I think Masthead Studios will succeed in that challenge.

Conflicting Info. On the info part of the discussion it says:

• Retail Price: n/a
• Monthly Fee: n/a

Yet on the Earthrise web site, under  FAQ's

» Will there be a subscription fee?

Originally posted by vitae666

Conflicting Info. On the info part of the discussion it says:

• Retail Price: n/a
• Monthly Fee: n/a

Yet on the Earthrise web site, under  FAQ's

 

» Will there be a subscription fee?

Yes. Players will need to pay a monthly fee to play Earthrise.

 

» How much will it cost?

Prices will be comparable to other MMORPGs on the market.

 

*shrug*

That's not conflicting info, it just means they have yet to determine the price.  That's standard procedure especially seeing as this game is slated for an '09 release.

Ah, understood. Sorry about that, rather new here

If i might suggest tho, for those that is known there will be charges, that it say "Pending" rather than "None what so ever" (Not applicable usually means that)