Just straight up NO. I don't want any of these things taking time from development. If I wanted World of Warcraft style mechanics I'd go play that instead. The game has little benefit from any of these things and if you can't be bothered to stop for thirty seconds because you run into an enemy in an RPG then I don't think you and I have the same idea about how an RPG should work. The charming thing about this game is the fact that there are no shortcuts, no lazy way out. All actions and choices have consequences and need consideration.
...
Even a simple skip-to-end-of-turn button? WoW like? Seriously? SERIOUSLY?
The only thing that I can imagine even being slightly WoW-like would be any kind of auto-loot.
I do not get how any of the suggestions that were put forward change the gameplay mechanics. Players get to make the
exact same choices - the only difference is the time it takes to see the RESULTS of those choices.
Just think. Way portals are cheesy, right? Wouldn't it be more 'hardcore' to walk everywhere, manually? Its rather a cop-out to have portals... Kinda like WoW maybe? :p Just imagine you needed a map. That you bought. And a compass, to show your spot (Ultima 7 anyone?!). And there was no auto-map, either, because that is cheesy as well... Kind of a cop out. Lazy way out. A shortcut.
What if the dialog was presented in a "slow read" style, each letter showing up one by one? And you COULD not change it. Who cares that you can read faster, think faster? Can't skip or advance text either. Just sit there. And wait. Skipping text? Nope. Definately a cop out. A lazy way out. A shortcut. (And cinematics! Cut scenes! Bloody game logo movies!!!!)
And magic? One button click? Cooldowns?! DAMNNNN, thats SOOO CHEEESY! IN fact, it is REALLY WoW like! Definately a cop out. A lazy way out. A shortcut. Remember Ultima 7? Spellbook? Collecting reagrants? Ultima 8 (pre-patch!) - making that summoning pentagram for the demon talisman *just right*? A few pixels off and it did not work? Heh.
And TRAINING? Yep. Skill books. VERY VERY WoW-like! Ultima 7... Going to an actual trainer, getting an in game experience. Probably others, if I looked deep. Skill books... ? Definately a cop out. A lazy way out. A shortcut.
Hitpoint displays? So cheesy. Such a cop out. What a shortcut...
Hotbars? ...
I could go on and on... Meh.
Those examples are rather obvious.
And you know? I
don't REALLY CARE at ALL about those 'cop outs'. I GREATLY enjoy being able to fast travel, to skip dialog I can read in under a second, to see the players spot on a mini-map, to get an idea of a target's health and ability, to have hot-button access to abilities... (Magic & training is for another post, heh!) They all give me and other players the ability to CHOOSE when, where and HOW they want to spend and focus their attention and time. What I'm wanting is MORE of that choice (*especially* in single player IMHO!).
I'm applying the same PLAYER-DRIVEN ideas to combat: to make *decisions* and see them carried out as fast as the player wants. This should apply to ANY activity the player wants: dialog, movement, combat. Its just become commonplace and accepted for movement and fast travel. (The Eschalon Book rpg series even has an in-game achievement for not using fast travel stones! Also a turn-based worldwide movement/action system which is rather elegant, rogue-like I think)
I don't care about 30 seconds. The first time. Do enough, and the time adds up. This is about giving the player the choice where to spend their visual attention time.
