DitchDigger
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Posted - 2008.02.05 00:21:00 -
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Here's some thoughts on the matter:
I like the strategy of the skill system - its interesting. It requires the player to make hard, irreversible decisions. It makes you balance specialization vs utility. Theres also a certain strategy in the timing. Yea, sometimes I'm not sure if I'll be playing in 6-8-15 hours from now, so I have to choose between that 8 hour skill that I really want and that 2 day skill that I'm not as interested in. That's part of the strategic options. I wouldn't want to take that away. Adding the ability to create an endless queue of skills would water down the skill system, thus catering the game to the lowest common denominator. I don't think anyone actually wants that.
A good game will reward those players who are better at the game. I'd like to think that if I plan my skills intelligently that I can make a better character then a player who is not as smart about it. Sometimes, the best choice at 10:30 PM is to go with the 9 hour skill. This means that, if I want to make my character the best, I have to log in in the morning before I go to work. I've done this sometimes, but I didn't like it. It feels too much like I'm being rewarded for wrapping my life around the game instead of beeing rewarded for playing the game well. Also, sometimes there just aren't any good options. Sometimes the server goes down, or you just arent around to log in. There ought to be some kind of minimal 'safety net' that can be utilized for unforseen situations, or just situations where other priorities take precedence.
Here's what I suggest. Each month, each account gets 24 hours of 'backup training time'. This means that when your character finishes a skill, it automatically goes into either 1: the next level up in that skill if another level is available, or 2: a preselected backup skill. Time spent training in this backup accrues against your 24 hours. If you don't manage your backup time well and run out before the month is up and then finish a skill, then your out of luck - should have planned better. This would take the edge off of having to log in at odd hours while still maintaining the strategic decision making process.
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