A Possible Revolution in Professions (Discussion)

Today I was thinking about the new professions thread and trying to decide how much I liked the current system of character creation. The hybrids are nice, but I was wondering how in the world ArenaNet was going to be able to create new professions with 75 skills each and stay balanced for their coming expansions.

The solution suddenly hit me: "Why does there need to be full classes released for the expansions?" Now, don't get me wrong, I'm positive that we'll still get some, but what if there were alternatives to the hybrid system currently available? I'm proposing (and I'm posting this in the community forum because I'm not sure it is a good idea yet) that certain future classes should be available as secondary professions only... meant strictly to enhance players that want to focus primarily on one side of the spectrum. Rather than take two professions, a player can be given the option with this system to STRONGLY specialize with one and get advantages that a hybrid character, with its flexability, might not.

Examples: (Note that unless mentioned otherwise these skills do not have attribute points attached at them in order to encourage the primary profession)

Evasive Specialist
An evasive specialist takes advantage of Guild War's real time dodging system. None of the moves in the evasive specialist category enhance attack power or defense statistics at all, but rather, make it easier to control one's character in combat.

Some Moves:
Dodge Right- Your character hurls himself hard to the right to avoid an incoming projectile. This is similiar to the dodge technique that is found in unreal tournament.

Focused Perception- Passive ability (Like Tame Beast). While in the skillbar, player spells can be cast while the character is in motion at half their normal casting rate.

Deflect- If holding a melee weapon and timed at the exact moment of a projectile impact, the projectile is flung back at the opponent and your character is knocked down. (Zelda fans will understand how much fun Tenis with magical projectiles can be!)

Raise Shield- If holding a shield, the player will shield him/herself from all incoming physical attacks from the front. While the shield is up, the player can not attack. Long cooldown between switching stances! (Thus, it is meant to be one of those "OH s$@#" moves.)

Travel Specialist
Who wouldn't want to be able to zip around maps faster? Some moves are included that can help teams.

Some Moves:
Divine Speed- I never liked the poofing animals in WoW, so this is simply like sprint on steroids. Character movement speed increased by 60%. Taking damage while using Divine Speed knocks down your character.

Jump- Yes, you've all requested it, and here it is! This allows you to jump with roughly the same height as the jump emote to clear those invisible walls we've all come to hate.

Swim- Allows characters to swim in the water. While swimming, player experiences mana degeneration of 2. If player energy = 0 while swimming, player loses 25% max health. This is meant as a shortcut on some maps... not an exploit.

Hover- Character and nearby allies hover off the ground. While hovering, players are immune to knockdown and some earth spells.

Physical Specialist
This one is for all the Diablo fans that want to relive the glory days. Unlike the other two specialists, this one has no abilities... merely attribute point tabs.

Attributes:
Strength- Every point in strength increases maximum health by 5 points and fills half a point in items that require a certain level of tactics or weapons.

Intelligence- Lowers the energy degeneration penalty of maintained abilities.

Stamina- Lowers the negative effects or durations of physical conditions, such as blinding.

Speed- Gives 1% movement speed boost per point and increases attack rate by 1%.



These are quickly thought of ideas... I'd like to hear your own for secondary only professions!

1) New ideas and concepts are welcomed; but this topic has been worked to death over and over and over again.

2) Strength is already an attribute.

Otherwise...

Wait a minute your suggesting one profession can do this and another can't. That wouldn't work the slightest bit, if X is hurt, he can just jump onto some cliff and no one could touch him?

I honestly don't like that idea...if the person had a ranged weapon he could slaughter everyone because they couldn't hurt that person.

--Ginko

That's a good point... I'll think that one over.

Let's hear some more ideas!

Why not just give all characters jump & swim automatically??

I think adding jumping and swimming is a given for everyone. I feel kinda limited (not that it bothers me one bit to the point I think it's necessary) that I can't do either. Aside from traveling through water or jumping from place to place, finding a cool place to take a break and screen shot potential let alone exploration would be sweet. Many good things could come from jumping and swimming.


As for adding new jobs in the future I think it is a definite must. However, it will also be something that needs to taken very seriously and in depth. Since GW is on strong side for PvP they need to ensure the new job(s) can compete. Most games fail to take the extra time to be sure things are even. Then like in AC2/SWG you see a major nerf in skills. We all hate those nerfs and many times it is why games lose people.

Jump and swim aren't available because it would add that much more complexity to the level design. I can totally understand why they limited it for this game. I don't think it's something we'll see in a future expansion either.

The focus of this thread is not on jumping, but rather on secondary only professions. The "Travel Specialist" was merely an example that I pulled out of thin air in under two minutes.

Rather than focus primarily at my mock-up examples, what do you think of the concept?

I suspect they will add player races, Perhaps the next chapter will tell the tale of the dwarves.
They would create a few new classes, but have them Dwarf only.
Fixing the Level to 20 with the actual regens controlled by the armours actually takes care of 90% of the balance.
The actual skills work abit like paper/scissors/stone and should not be that difficult for them to find alternatives.
There are lots of options. duel wielding weapons(limit to lower damage daggers as you get 2 hits rather than 1)
They may even introduce another race in the next chapter, who knows.
A true Rogue class with sneaks / flank attacks. Defender stances that are anti flanking. etc

How far do you think you can honestly jump as a warrior in about 60 pounds of armor? 2 feet? 2 and 1/2?

Moved to Sardelac Sanitarium where it belongs

/jump



As long as they add a skill somewhere that temporarily reduces your aggro circle, I'll be perfectly happy.

Not to one up the designers or anything, but the game needs another melee class, that or "Warrior" needs more variety in it's 2nd lines.