PavetlXIV wrote:
In BETA forums there is an interesting idea from a member. Somehow I find this idea of Allocating points more interesting than allocating points to attributes. He basically explains a merit system in which you can increase the potency of certain actions somehow similar the way merits work in FFXI. I believe this is better for players to chose who they want to play their classes and jobs. Thus, a WAR player that wants to be a tank could enhance his/hers actions that affects tanking abilities, whereas a DD WAR could enhance his/hers offensive actions.
That's an awesome mock up he did. Solid idea except for one thing - A WAR is a tank. I don't think it's feasible for its general role in a party to change based on allocating points. It's not how the game is designed (ex: LBs are assigned by party role). This idea is similar to mine except for that I don't want to try and change a person's role. Just change how they perform it.
A WHM is a healer - they'll never be DD. But they should be able to, as perhaps a way to reduce the enmity they generate during battle, decide, "I want my protect to be X% better and my regen to be Y% more potent and last Z% longer." And that should be as viable as another WHM wanting the same thing deciding, "I want my Stoneskin to last X% longer protect for Y% of the targets maximum HP and have my Shroud of Saints reduce my enmity by Z% more while boosting the potency of my Cure III by 50 (random number)." Both should be viable and acceptable in a balanced system.
Players shouldn't be given so many points that they can just change their whole mode of operation. They should be allowed to, with planning and a little trial and error (respecs need to be allowed), prioritize certain traits/abilities and make it so that they have a way to really play their chosen role how they want.