Cryptic Q&A -- Andrew Jansen

[Steve Long]

Cryptic's posted a Q&A with Andrew Jansen, one of the environmental artists for COMMO:

http://www.champions-online.com/arti...ampions_online

[Ragdoll]

Okay, I read it.. and checked the forums on this issue.

It's got me nervous. Getting rid of archetypes = good in my opinion. But as everyone knows, their are checks in place even in a table top RPG that disallow players from making wildly overpowered characters. It's the GM.

In an MMO that safety valve is absent by virtue of the large scope of the game.

Someone mentioned the fear of the return of the Tank Mage in such an open ended system. And I can certainly see that as a valid fear after having played Ultima Online which was.. to my knowledge .. the first instance of the Tank Mage.

Someone mentioned from the forums there, in response that the Tank Mage would not be a problem, mentions this:

Then explain all of the flying invulnerable fire blasters in COH alpha/beta.

The Hero point system may be balanced, but the minute you start adding limitations, flaws and adders to the mix, you still get people who put non limiting limitations on powers (and the character itself) in order to get the extra points to build both powerful offense and defense. I'm sorry, I play hero, and the rules lawyers and min/maxers for Hero are just as bad for any 'other' game out there, if not worse.

Thoughts on this?

[sbarron]

Thoughts on this?

It's true, it's true. I've done all that and far worse. You have no idea the things I've done. No idea!

[incrdbil]

Thoughts on this?

My thought: That those who haven't played the game cant have their questions on thois matter adequately answered until they play the game itself. We won't know what is busted until we try to bust it.

I'm eager for somethign that imposes balance through meands that straightjacketed arecetypes, but for an MMO, I can't see limiting class like definitions being avoided. More of a big fluffy, but bulky coat rather than a straightjacket, perhaps.