More class-specific/class-based options

tinythinker

INTRODUCTION (ALSO SERVES AS TL;DR)

Customization and unlocking/exploring options is at the heart of any good MMO along with great stories and fun systems (like combat). But in ESO too much customization is universally available (sets, CP, every skill-line that isn't class-based, etc.). That combined with trying to make all classes great at all roles leads to hyper-homogenization, which takes away from the value of class choice and the fun of class fantasy. ESO would therefore benefit from more class-based options.

Even if you don't read the rest please toss out a reply (even a few characters is great) below if you agree or disagree. Thank you.

MY EXPERIENCE

Even if I try to consider multiple perspectives and consider how others with different views and priorities will be affected by the things I propose, and I do try, my own experience with the game will always color my recommendations and priorities. When I started this game at the end of beta, I had no intention to buy it. I didn't play MMOs and I just wanted to be able to be able to say I've played every Elder Scrolls game. But among the many things that got me hooked was unlocking new class skills and then later being able to further customize them with morphs. It was awesome.

I won't lie, I've really disliked the general direction for combat in ESO the last couple of years, but even if I had loved it, of all the things I enjoyed when I first played the game (like the story-driven questing, the music, etc.), one of the things that has fared the worst has been the fun of being a particular class. Of growing in that class. If ESO had lots and lots of classes like WoW, FFXIV, etc. this would be much less of a problem. But again, that is *not* what I'm looking for. What I'm asking for from the devs and asking for support for from the players.

EXAMPLE OF POTENTIAL MECHANICS FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES

Some of these I or other have suggested in some way before, but I don't care about rezzing old posts. And for this initial post, I just want to give a sense of some potential options, not spend a lot of time fleshing them out and having people get lost in the details rather than the general idea of doing more with classes. And these ideas aren't all mutually exclusive either.

Class morphs, a.k.a. class focuses

This is simple enough. You get to the point where you have the option to get a sub-class or special theme. Like maybe a Dragonknight can know have a cold-fired theme (can work for stam or magicka), or perhaps a pestilence theme. This would primarily effect visuals/animations and secondary effects. Sorcerers could have a necrotic theme, with pet summons replacing daedra with various undead (such a flesh atronauch for the ultimate) as one of their options. You get the idea, yes? But you would need to unlock these options. Like level 50 in your class and all class skill-lines, and maybe even a particular CP rank. Not to mention a quest line to go with it.

Class-based gear bonuses

Exactly what it sounds like. The final bonus for (some) gear sets giving a unique bonus based on your class, either instead of or in addition to some common bonus. Or maybe a "not final" tier of set bonuses for some gear would be class-specific: "proccing burning light causes/gives a chance for..." might be what it reads for a Templar, but it would say something else for a Nightblade. Yes, yes, balance issues, whatever, but those will always be awful in a game with this many sets and skill lines so it's not a great reason to avoid making classes relevant to gear, and it could even help with balancing if done properly.

Class-Based Champion System options

Similar to the gear bonus idea, except they would be new stars in the Champion Trees that would compete with existing stars. Some could be bonuses that increase with more points put it, some could be a one time investment of X number of points. A potential example of the latter? Giving a stun back to Spear Shards (and by extension its morphs).

A fourth class skill line or secondary morphs

Not the biggest fan of these ideas, but they should still be mentioned. Would only unlock at minimum after class to 50 and all existing skill lines to 50, and maybe also after reaching a certain Champion Rank.

SUMMARY

Any or all of these changes -- individually, all together, or in some combination -- would do wonders for the fun of the game and for the excitement of choosing, exploring, developing, and playing a class. They could add another layer of excitement for the next round of updates. I may be alone in thinking that, but if that's the case so be it.

If not, please let me know what you think. If you're in favor of more class-based options, which would you want? If none of the above, what options would you prefer to add?

Thanks for reading!

MashmalloMan

Agreed, game play is getting stale using the same skills for the past 2+ years. I main a stam sorc and I love the idea of the class but their is so much more potential for some real class identity. I've recently enjoyed a setup where I use stormfist/relequen/veiled heritance using dubious cameron throan for a light attack build. These 2 sets have made me feel more like an actually stam sorc, providing a fist that comes up from the ground with lightning/physical attack and a tornado I can add to targets that builds up with dmg over time. They are both rather situational, but I'd rather have fun fitting the theme of my class with electricity/wind then use sets that maybe provide better dps.

It just so happens I can pull some of the highest dps with these sets so far, but if they get nerfed I think I will continue to use them because it makes me feel I have more skills than I really do. Imagine if I could summon a single target DoT tornado that increases with dmg the longer you reapply it to a target.

Stam sorc pve dps setup: poison injection | endless hail | rearming trap | razor caltrops(used this before they decreased the aoe radius/decreased cost/decreased duration/increased dmg) and bound armaments. literally 5 skills, (6 slots) I use in my setup 24/7 for the past 2+ years.

Give us some options. I don't understand why ZoS wants to lock themselves behind this outdated setup of 3 class skill trees, 2 morphs per skill, 12 passives. It won't be fixed by adding skill trees like psijic order, although it was a nice step in the right direction, it just adds more class homogenization when every class has access to the same skill line.

I'm all for 3 morphs or a 4th skill tree entirely. Maybe just make some skills have an option to scale its damage type from physical to spell so we don't need a 3rd morph but we provide an option for mag/stam and not just 1 focus or the other. They got close to this with flames of oblivion and ults, but the game has so much dmg invested in to cp and it's only getting higher and higher. You miss out on the 10-15% dmg you invest in to mighty or elemental expert.

tinythinker

Marshall1289 wrote: »

Agreed, game play is getting stale using the same skills for the past 2+ years. I main a stam sorc and I love the idea of the class but their is so much more potential for some real class identity...

Give us some options. I don't understand why ZoS wants to lock themselves behind this outdated setup of 3 class skill trees, 2 morphs per skill, 12 passives. It won't be fixed by adding skill trees like psijic order, although it was a nice step in the right direction, it just adds more class homogenization when every class has access to the same skill line.

I'm all for 3 morphs or a 4th skill tree entirely.

The extra tree and morphs aren't my first choice, but it would be better than the current situation.