[Zuranthium]

Originally Posted by Wiery [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Yes it is.

NO, it isn't. You can't say "balance is bad because it creates homogenization, like WoW". That is merely the most simplistic form of balance possible. You're taking an apple and comparing it to the same brand of apple. You're saying 1 = 1.

Actual good balance in game design would be taking a wide number of different properties and combining them such that it resembles a complex algebraic equation. Something like "Rangers have abilities of 2b(3a + 4z +5y)" and that's just about as good as "Shadowknights who have abilities of (3k * 5h) + (2g * 3s)".

Originally Posted by Wiery [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

When one's white hit does not equal the other's white hit, there is an imbalance. When one's amount of dps output offsets the amount of incoming damage is equal to the other's dps plus healing, rendering the single white hit variance insignificant, then there is balance. Is that what you're trying to say? If so, EQ is not balanced and is therefore diverse.

Again, imbalance and diversity inherently have nothing to do with each other. You don't know what you're talking about.

The example in this quote is just balance in a simplistic manner. This example does already begin to show diversity, though. If one class could "do 100 damage per second", they would be more or less useful in different scenarios than another class who can "do 50 damage per second and take 50 less damage per second".

There are way more variables and mechanics that a game should have, though. For a game like this, you should have to consider Ranged damage, AoE damage, interrupts, shutdown, stuns/knockdowns, snares/roots, energy denial, stances, enchantments, conditions, hexes, "spike damage" vs. "pressure damage", movement speed increases. There are SO many things that can go into it, both offensively and defensively.

So, once again, Everquest could have FAR more balance and FAR more diversity. Just because Everquest is better than WoW, that doesn't mean it is anywhere close to being the best product possible.