There are so many broken combinations that would arise from this. ShM-Engi, Zerk-Sniper, Seer-Sniper... there is a reason certain gear is class-locked. SD-Sniper for the Brutal Overloader alone would make current Sniper look weak.

Thermal's already done a commendable job healing as an Engineer; how do you think he'd do if he had ShM class skills as well?

Classes play a very different role in this game compared to AD&D. They give large percent bonuses to stats instead of just granting +/- N to armor, THAC0 (ability to hit), and HP. It just won't work.

Why not set it so you can only have one class from each focus, but make the SP requirements continue to escalate? That would essentially prevent triple-classing, because the SP costs would expand ridiculously, while preventing people from getting absurd stats by being a full "Support" character or a full "Combat" character.

For example, a SD Sniper wouldn't work very well, nor would a Seer Sniper, because each shot has to be made while unseen, which would prevent constant damage, which would dramatically reduce DPS.


The reason I like this idea is because at high levels, levels cease to really be a factor. Sure, we can get Zen skills a little bit higher, but woah, that's like 10 levels for 40 extra shields, and it diminishes as you get higher and higher.



So yeah, No dual-focus skills(combat, combat)(Fleet, Fleet), but yes to non-dual-focus(Fleet, Support)(Fleet, Combat)


Some quick statistics:

To max one Focus, Class, Subskill-set: 5050 SP, or 1010 levels.

To max TWO Focus, Class, Subskill-set: 20100 SP, or 4020 levels.

See? You reach a point of diminishing returns. When combined with the increased teir-one skill costs, it becomes far more balanced than one would initially be led to believe. You would probably need to be around level 5000 to become a true dual-class monster, and while you'd certainly be far more powerful at that point, really...shouldn't you be? AI at that level are far more powerful than that, for example.

It would certainly entail a huge change in gameplay, but it would also allow for an unparalleled level of versatility, so long as the classes were fairly balanced. We could have TRUE seer-engineers, speedy zerkers, epic gunners...it COULD be amazing! It has the potential. And we have the technology.

I really hope there will be a bigger use for skill points later on some time, but I don't think giving the players the ability to combine classes through skills is the right way to go.

Arenanet did this for Guild Wars. They found it simply too hard to balance. Besides, the devs don't even have time to balance single classes like Gunner.

/notsigned

Those class bonuses are only huge because you have 21 in each class skill level. If you limit the level you can master by being dual classed, say by limiting someone to *ten* in each of their class skills instead of 20, you have a much more balanced setup. You also pay the price of not being able to use class restricted gear that requires a certain level. For example, a speed demon/zerker couldn't use a brutal overloader or an art of destruction aug because they are dual classed.

That's how dual classes worked in AD&D if you recall. You could be a fighter and a mage that was level 6 fighter, level 4 mage, but your friend with the same ammount of exp would be either a level 12 fighter or a level 8 mage. So you were weaker in each area, but had a selection of skills, at lower level, from both classes.

Since leveling/exp is capped extremely high in this game, but class skills are capped very low, you should probably cap class skills for dual classed characters to 10 for each class. It would only be insanity if you were allowed to get 21 of multiple classes at the same time.

Again, if you read what I posted, only about 5 players in the game would be able to fully cross-class. Really, getting to level 2000 is quite the achievement, and at that point you could only have maybe 3-4 levels in another class.

By simply scrapping my Lagrange control skills, I could have 15+ in another class and all subskills right now. Trust me, it's no feat to get a character to level 2600.

C'mon, be nice, TW.

The idea was to achieve two main things:

1. Extra stuff that actually would have a big benifit for high level players to spend their sp on.
2. To make a more noticable difference between lvl 2k and 3k.

I agree completely with limiting the subskill to tech 10. I also think it would make for some interesting new gear and augs that require certain levels in each class to use (not sure what exactly but it would be interesting to see what devs and people could come up with)

I agree that the differences between a level 1500 and a level 3000 can be minor, and I guess a topic should be made to discuss this further.