[Opinion] EQ Next - Game Changers/Breakers

[August]

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

What I have in mind is something analogous to twenty wizards being able to open a portal using all their mana to open a portal for a couple minutes. A big guild could move around that way, but it wouldn't be commonplace. One of my favorite mechanics in classic EQ is the complete heal rotation. It creates such a strong camaraderie between those clerics. I have in mind similar to that, where the portal class(es) have to perfectly plan and execute together for success. Otherwise, the gate collapses and resources are depleted for a while.

It would be interesting to have shared tasks for other classes, too--maybe it takes ten shield-wielding tanks to deal with the frontal assault of a dragon breath weapon.

Ritual Magic - WoW did this somewhat with summoning stones and cauldrons, although it was to weaken the basic ability such that a singular player couldn't do something like that rather than to create a greater effect. I'm heavily in favor of using natural features and geometric positions to affect the tide of battle. Kind of like a 'line of sight' that could move. Shield classes forming a phalanx and the dragon breath brushes off against it and creates a 'safe' zone behind the tanks, etc. Similarly, positioning of mages/wizards when forming the ritual could give it different powers or lend to a greater effect. Imagine needing to immobilize a creature but a singular root wouldn't work - you needed a channeled spell that required input from 4 locations around the monster - 4 players surrounding it channeling it to prevent the movement. Add detriment to that channeled effect (health loss, mana loss, stacking upkeep, etc) lends to some cool strategy ideas.

[Alawen]

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

and make players have to figure strats like that out

Absolutely, although I'd like the mechanic of that process to be something other than wiping and running back. Some kind of strategic withdrawal. Everyone dying has never struck me as heroic, just sloppy.

[Jerin]

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

I'd like to see that as a mechanic in other magic as well--multiple casters combining powers to create large effects.

That would be pretty awesome

[TarukShmaruk]

Hell I think most of us would love to see a remake of EQ1 with new graphics - stylized after the original graphics (ie. a bit cartoony as to have personality yet good performance) and 50/50 split on old vs new in terms of features.

Make that sucker F2P - a model proven to be highly successful with MMOs and in some cases done very well - and you don't even have to compete with WoW anymore, you're just raking in cash in your own little segment of the market.

Nostalgia has been a *proven* winner in our generation.

If anyone wants an example of the kind of remake I'm talking about - look at the new XCOM:Enemy Unknown game. Fantastic job of blending old concepts with the modern age and having a fantastic game that captures the essence of the original.

Dynamic world

This never turns out as fun as it sounds. It will all boil down to "oh, the dwarves won this zone today? dammit, I needed to kill the orcs" and it gets old pretty quickly.