@Tutamun: I haven't played Guild Wars, so I can't really tell whether I like that system. Your description of it doesn't closely match what I prefer, but I would have to play it in order to be sure.
It is totally different to the normal Diablo style gameplay where you assign one or two skills to your mouse buttons and keep hitting them until the monster is dead... and drinking a mana or health potion from time to time. This can also be fun if you are tired after a long day at work and don't want to think a lot and just have fun. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
I don't know if the Diablo style works really well in a full 3D game. Well probably it does... but I think you could do something better. Why learn different skills when you only use one or two? Gothic also does not do very well in this respect. Targeting is different to Diablo style games. But most fights you win by simply hitting the left mouse button...? Why not include different skills that you have to use to beat certain enemies? Where you have to watch yourself, your party member and the enemies and decide when to use which skill.
I don't say that it should be done like in Guild Wars. But you could learn from Guild Wars or any other game that relies on using different skills.
You don't have to limit it to only 8 skills. You could make the combat a bit slower... or let us pause the game... or highlight 'counter' skills that you can currently use...
But many things depend on how the next big Larian game is set up.
- Single or multi player?
- Just you as a lone hero or a party?
- Can you control party member if there are any?
- 3rd person or 1st person or some sort of isometric view?
- Can you pause and select skills, give commands?
Talking about combat before we know these things is probably a waste of time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> Many skills I'm thinking of would simply not work if you run around alone.
ps. Lepel, Monk is correct. And even with Warriors and Rangers you need to use your different skills. Just using autoattack hurts your group more than it does good.
Having to aim would make it a different game... shooter style.
With the heroes of the Nightfall expansion you can play a single player game (still online) and control which skills your (three) heroes take with them. Pretty nice, but I wish there was a pause button so you could control them during a fight. (You can but its far to hectic for me. I have to worry about my own 8 skills. I just let them cast whatever they want to... the AI is not bad. And if it is bad it is at least predictable. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />)
