Goblin Squad Member
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I was wondering if, given the skill based system which we currently know will be employed, if the goblins at Goblinworks have any thoughts on offering the ability to acquire something along the lines of a Prestige Class.
To avoid confusion, I do not immediately mean the prestige classes available in the TTRPG and I am simply using it as a relevant terminology for allowing a player to exchange some minor restriction in acquiring minor benefits through following a degree of specialisation.
Consider a character has taken a very strong approach towards specialising primarily as a caster. Upon reaching certain prerequisite skill levels and perhaps gaining a desired level of reputation with a given Wizard guild/school/institution, they may then be granted the prestige class of an Apprentive Wizard, Sorcerer etc. This would perhaps offer a small bonus to the class in differentiating the class from others preferring hybrid builds, perhaps offering a unique spell or cosmetic items of clothing or staffs which further identify the character in his position. As the characters skills and reputation progress with his chosen organization, he could progress through to a full Wizard or Sorcerer for all to see. Such options could easily be made available for a range of prestige classes, perhaps allowing players of more advanced skill and relevant reputation the ability to proceed down advanced prestige classes. The deeper a players wishes to advance into his prestige classes would dictate the level to which he limits himself from skills not traditional with his class. E.G as one progresses as a Wizard, ones capacity to become a master of heavy armour, two handed weapons etc could diminish respectively. This would offer a fair trade of should they gain any competitive advantages through deep specialisation.
Remember that these would be soft features offering not so much a competitive advantage, but rewarding the player in the way of reputation and a more defined identity. The degree to which a character could become more of x class and less of y should only be small enough to maintain balance, yet large enough to establish itself. It could also represent a means ingame for a player to show his advanced development and could offer a very illustrative and intuitive feature which would supplement immersion.
I think such an implementation could offer an effective means to re-establish the connection with the class format of the RPG whilst maintaining a skill based system. Skill based games, particularly MMORPGs have a habit of creating a large blackhole of character identity as character roles can lose definition and the staples of RPG worlds such as Fighters, Mages and Clerics are not readily identifiable. Such a feature could add great depth should the community and the developers desire it.
You know I'll be honest -- if it doesn't have the classes and possibly even prestige classes it is not going to feel like pathfinder to me.
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Goblin Squad Member
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You know I'll be honest -- if it doesn't have the classes and possibly even prestige classes it is not going to feel like pathfinder to me.
Its all a matter of design to be honest. It's very possible to allow visible class orientations employing a range of mechanics such as the one I have suggestive. Any of which are preferable to what Darkfall Online currently exhibits (total hybrid/same skill selection failure).
