The Agency: Change classes based upon need...

[JonnyG]

In the IGN preview, they talk about classes.In addition to the instanced mission areas, there'll be public spaces set around the globe where players can chat, party up, and play mini-games around towns such as Prague, Czech Republic. The game has a dynamic class system, where your role is determined by your uniform, of which there are three types. The Combat outfit type is geared more toward offensive maneuvers, Support outfits give you options for healing and hacking, and Stealth offers a more specialized skill set. How class skills balance each other we're not sure, but you're free to switch classes at will, at least before heading into an instance.

I hope they add more suits, but I like the idea of being able to alter your class based upon what you need for the mission or who else you have with you. No more looking for tanks or healers, anyone can be any class. This means that you can't have skill trees based upon classes, wonder how that will work out.

I listened to the video which seems to have more info, and he did say you get experience while wearing the suit. So you'll level up your classes when you play each. Very interesting.

[BigJonno]

For my wife, collecting nice clothes and assembling outfits is the primary source of enjoyment in MMOGs. Her main reason for levelling in WoW is that you get access to more stuff. A game where this is a central part of the gameplay is ideal for her.

[esion]

I agree that this is a great way to not force anyone to play a specific role throughout the development of a character...just a simple "Johnny equip your offensive suit, I will put on my support suit, Jonno and Leo you guys are our stealthies for the group, so put on your stealth suit" Then if you realize that you are not good at playing support, you just ask someone to switch with you...smart idea, lets hope its implemented well.

The one problem I see with this is something like leveling up your suits might still force you to play a certain class just based on what you play the most...for instance "I have a level 6 stealth but only level 2 support so I cant play support with you until I level it up some more" That is forcing someone to play a certain role...now if all the suits level at the same time then its a different story...


*Again, I am not happy that there is no public areas for fighting in the game...to me this is what killed GW.

[Leoghan]

I agree we need more suits. I'm also curious how this ties in with the factions... do both Unite and Paragon have access to the stealth? Do they just have different ideas of how stealth works?

Also how does clothing work in public spaces? No I don't mean are there clothing optional public spaces... :p I just mean do we also collect clothing for our public life? I mean one of the best things about bond was his fashion sense (ok not in the 80's) but still...

[esion]

Ohhh good point Leo...different clothes for different occasions...you wouldnt want to be on the beach in a suit, but maybe some high tech bathing suit, or in the alps you need a jacket...

[Leoghan]

I want the kilt from "Her Majesty's Secret Service"... A high tech kilt would work too.

The Alps! We so need missions with skiing ninjas and snowmobiles with rocket launchers.

[BigJonno]

I'd like to see the suits working something along the lines of, for example, paladin talent trees from WoW. A paladin can tank, a paladin can heal and a paladin can kick out damage. You get the basic skills to do all of these as you level up, but your talents and gear allow you to specialise in one particular area. So perhaps Esion is our suave ladies man, but he can't make it, so Leo's stealth specialist slips into his tux for the evening. He can get the job done, but isn't quite as good as Esion would have been.

If everyone is equally good at everything, it could get rather bland.

[Leoghan]

Good point, if everyone is just a cookie cutter of everyone else what is the reason to play and develop a unique character?

I'd like to know more about these suits and their level progression. It would be nice if the suits gave you access to specialized skill trees, but depending on how you invested your levels is what you are better at.

So like you said, if Esion is stealth, but has honed his stealth skills in something like charisma and talks his way into the places we need to be and I'm a stealthy guy too, but I worked more on climbing walls and that kind of entry and egress. We have two sets of skills that can get the job done, just in different ways...

[JonnyG]

I agree, we need to know more.... :)

I hope that skills are probably tied to the suits and level up with use. Perhaps some skills might be cross suit, but until we know more about the skills themselves it's really hard to speculate. We want more info.

[JonnyG]

Good point, if everyone is just a cookie cutter of everyone else what is the reason to play and develop a unique character?

I'd like to know more about these suits and their level progression. It would be nice if the suits gave you access to specialized skill trees, but depending on how you invested your levels is what you are better at.
It all depends on whether you have too many good choices or not. If you have lots of skill choices and they all have meaningful uses than people will create unique characters. Although the min/maxers will probably alway argue that a certain skill set is required.

[Dekun]

The one problem I see with this is something like leveling up your suits might still force you to play a certain class just based on what you play the most...for instance "I have a level 6 stealth but only level 2 support so I cant play support with you until I level it up some more" That is forcing someone to play a certain role...now if all the suits level at the same time then its a different story...

From what I understand so far, Each set receives a different type of XP, so they level independently of each other. But Ive also read that its still a FPS underneath it all, so no real need to worry about not being able to play or compete with the endgame doods, the gameplay still boils down to twitch based skill. So you will be able to play a small portion of the time a hardcore player does and still run content with him that isn't worthless.

Im thinking that the skills and abilities probably wont affect your gameplay significantly, but instead offer convenience and greater access. But either way, I like the fact that I dont have to reroll to play a different class.

Also how does clothing work in public spaces? No I don't mean are there clothing optional public spaces... :p I just mean do we also collect clothing for our public life? I mean one of the best things about bond was his fashion sense (ok not in the 80's) but still...

I believe its called Alias. Your Alias is the outfit you wear in casual public spaces like casinos and such.

It all depends on whether you have too many good choices or not. If you have lots of skill choices and they all have meaningful uses than people will create unique characters. Although the min/maxers will probably alway argue that a certain skill set is required.

So true. I myself am hoping that the skills and abilities are different from your typical MMO. Instead of having a typical ability tree everyone chooses from, I'm wishing for them to be earned, learned, and found. That way eventually everyone who plays enough will have most of the same skills/abilities, but we wont have to take crap requisite skills to gain access to the next tier and in doing so will offer greater customization.

[Leoghan]

Alias eh? I just hope that my alias can change outfits depending on the occasion or public space he's visiting. I'd also like to see them play some role in the games/mini-games themselves. Like the x-ray sunglasses often seen used when gambling. Obviously we don't want cheating, but maybe something fun along those lines.

[JonnyG]

At Fan Faire I learned a little bit more about the outfits. It's pretty slick stuff.

There are 2 different types of clothes, alias based and character based. The character based allow you to choose your role: combat, stealth, or support. As you use each you earn experience for that role. That experience will unlock skills that you can use while wearing the suit. You'll also have an overall experience level that opens up new suits for you to wear. So it's not like there is just one combat suit, if you get to a higher rank within the agency you'll open up new combat/stealth/support suits that you'll then be able to use.

The Alias is a combination of clothes and influence that you've earned. This will gain you access to locations around the world. Say you have the influence necessary and a nice tuxedo, you'll be able to go into alias and enter the casino that the bad guy is using as a command center. In there you might take some missions for a lower level boss in order to earn the influence to get into the back room where the boss stays.

Now try to wear that same alias into some biker bar and you'll be thrown out on the street.

Alias

[Leoghan]

I like the sound of both of these sets (alias/character) of clothing and I think it will be great.

Thanks!