Dual+ Archetype Builds.


Aett_Thorn

 

Posted

I had taken a gaming hiatus while I worked on some professional obligations, but came back with issue 12 (?) and the options of dual builds.

I was really excited about this because some of my character concepts could be fully realized.

While this is still a cool option, I have to say that my expectations were let down.

Most of my characters are old RPG characters that I've converted into the digital realm. Obviously no conversion between systems would be perfect, but I THOUGHT that the dual builds was going to help.

Basically, I was expecting to be able to change the archetype in the second build and completely restat the character.

For example: I have a Force Field/Psionic Blast Defender (Mind Lock). He is an original RPG character that I created back in elementry school and have converted into multiple RPG systems over the years because I love the idea so much. Anyway, in the paper and pencil games, Mind Lock is a powerful telekinetic that can make force fields, use TK, fly and has POWERFUL mindblasting powers.

The Defender build gives Mind Lock a good representation of the Force Field aspect, but the psionic blasts are mild compared to the initial character concepts.

I was HOPING that I was going to be able to make Mind Lock's second build a Blaster with more powerful Psionic Attacks. I didn't realize that dual build meant that I could have two different Defender builds with the same powersets.

So here's my question:

Do the powers that be think that we will ever have the option to assign multiple archetype builds to a single character?

Thanks, I LOVE this game and it just keeps getting better.


 

Posted

Highly, HIGHLY doubtful. The Devs have said in the past that they're not even likely to do powerset respecs. Changing ATs over a dual-build feature is even further from likelihood.

The Dual-build feature was put in so that you could have something like a teaming build and a solo build, or a PvE build and a PvP build, on the same character. It was never mentioned that it would allow for a change of AT on the same character, and that is highly unlikely to happen.

Why? Because you'd then basically be making two level 50s at the same time. This would lead to player boredom faster, and a loss of revenues over time. It's just not good business sense.


Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I was just the one with the most unsolicited sombrero." - Traegus

 

Posted

Going to quote myself from another thread since these things seem to be popping up like somebody is on a multi-account grind to push the idea:

THE DEVS SAID NO!


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aett_Thorn View Post
Highly, HIGHLY doubtful. The Devs have said in the past that they're not even likely to do powerset respecs. Changing ATs over a dual-build feature is even further from likelihood.

The Dual-build feature was put in so that you could have something like a teaming build and a solo build, or a PvE build and a PvP build, on the same character. It was never mentioned that it would allow for a change of AT on the same character, and that is highly unlikely to happen.

Why? Because you'd then basically be making two level 50s at the same time. This would lead to player boredom faster, and a loss of revenues over time. It's just not good business sense.
I'd have to agree with everything Aett_Thorn said and also add:

The way the game is currently designed, it isn't possible. When you create a character, let's call him Super Guy, you are not creating a character named Super Guy and assigning him the class Scrapper. You are creating a scrapper and assigning to his name characteristic the value "Super Guy". You then assign a costume to his costume characteristic. You are assigning to his origin characteristic the value "Mutation" or whatever. First and foremost, the character IS his class. Everything else are options and values changing his individual characteristics. To do what you were asking, you'd need to reorganize the entire hierarchy of what a character is. This would mean a rewrite of one of the core aspects of the game, which if done wrong could ruin everyone's characters... I see it as a general bad idea.

As for the multi-build thing, I happen to like it since it allows me to have my kheldian with a shapeshifting build and a humanoid build. It lets my blaster have a PvE and PvP build. It's useful, but not something anyone is forced to use, which makes it a nice quality of life upgrade.


 

Posted

Ouch...

Some harsh replies.

Just a little re-introduction to public forums I guess.

Oh well.

First, let me say that I'm NOT saying the current multi-build system is bad. I'm just saying that it wasn't what I was envisioning when a friend told me about it. I had my hopes up for something else and was disappointed. Surely you all can relate to that? You think you're getting something really cool that you asked for for X-mas...and you get clothes. Do you like clothes? Sure. Do you need clothes? Sure. Were you let down that you got clothes? Sure. That's all I'm saying here.

Second, let me say that I'm not talking about some new method of power playing or anything. If any of you knew me, you'd know that I am NOT a power player. I make a character concept, then I make the character that fits closest to that concept. I don't really care what the most powerful and efficient builds are. Heck, often I resent someone that tells me that I should have chosen "X" power instead. I'm just playing for fun.

With that in mind, I'm just talking about adapting a character concept to multiple situations.

Playing the character in rpg's that prompted this line of thought is also the character that got me into CoH to begin with. However, once I had the game and was trying to make that specific character, I found it REALLY hard as I was crossing archetypes. I ended up making a more straightforward character and then revisited the concept later. I eventually settled on a Defender since Blaster didn't have the Psionic Blast set. However, in my mind the vision of the character isn't fully realized.

My current plan right now is to make a second character (with the exact same look)...not sure how I'll handle the name though...that is basically the same character but a different archetype than the first. So I'll have Mind Lock the Defender and maybe Mindlock the Blaster or something like that...

I don't know...

Now, I can't speak for all players, but for me this wouldn't make me bored with the game any faster (I really can't imagine that EVER happening), but I might not feel the need to build 50 characters when 25 would do and have the versatility and the full design concepts that I want for my characters. I don't get tired of my older characters when they fit the concepts that I made for them.

Just an idea and a wish.

If the developers can find a way to make it work in the game, then it's definitely on my wishlist.


 

Posted

If the Devs can find a balanced way that isnt a coding nightmare, maybe.

Hell, it's a great idea, one I would love, especially for one characte who is a mix of psi range, psi manipulation, empathy and martial arts.

I just don't see it happening.

As an aside, just because people don't instantly agree with an idea doesn't mean they are slamming you. Me, for example, I would love such a thing to be possible. I just understand why it isn't, why it is unlikely why it ever will happen, and simply deal with having to have a Defender and a Blaster for the same character, while fudging it IC.

People slam other people when they start getting shirty that people aren't agreeing with them. Its open forums, people have their opinions and they will, invariably, voice them. Tis a fact of life.


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Posted

I have no problems with people disagreeing with me. If I did, I never would have gotten married.

But tone can be everything.

Oh well, that's neither here nor there.

The original post is still an idea that I hope the developers will look into.