Larian Studios Forums Divinity: Original Sin 2 Divinity - Original Sin 2 - General Let's Take a Look at Primary Attributes

The crux of the matter is that firstly the attribute system is too oversimplified and has very little weight on character builds and performance in combat. Seriously, compare D:OS & D:OS2 with other cRPGs like Baldur's gate, Icewind Dale, Neverwinter Nights, Pillars of Eternity, these games have so much going on in their attribute system than D:OS. Look at Pillars of Eternity, the most recent successful cRPG, they had an intricate system with 4 saving throws(Deflection, Will, Reflex and Fortitude) tied to different attributes and the attacks target different saving throws even for a Mage(different spells target different saving throws), on top of Damage Reduction against various attack elements(Fire, Corrode, Pierce, Crush, Freeze etc) and finally Resistance against different types of Crowd Control or Status Effect(Petrified, Burn, Poison, Disease, Knockdown, Blinded, Stun etc). Every attribute governs a different section of defense serving as the first layer of defense with DR and Resistance being the second layer but seperated into specific elements, players have to think when allocating points as every attribute is important, its not the matter of dumping everything in 1 or 2 attribute and ignoring balance.

Secondly there are just too many Magic/Int skill trees and that these skill trees are too good, they have the best balance of damage, utility and crowd control so much so that diversity and hybridization in D:OS series means picking a magic skill tree. For a start they should implement a good spread of Strength and Finesse skill trees to add to the current 3 we have, it'll give players more options and incentive to go into Strength and Finesse attributes. Furthermore skill trees need to be heavily specialized and not be like the current magic skill trees where they are practically Master of all Trades. Magic skill trees have too good of synergy with each other than with the remaining 3. It'll encourage players to diversify their builds instead of taking magic skill trees cos they can do everything.

TL:DR, If Larian wants to fix these problems, they gonna have to do an overhaul of the attribute system followed by balancing magic skill trees as they are currently Master of all Trades and finally adding more Strength & Finesse skill trees.