Hello all, this is my first time posting here on this forum. First off I'd like to say that so far, I have enjoyed <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" />.

I thought I'd post two suggestions, since you guys have a forum set aside for them.

I've played quite a few CRPGs. So I do think what I say has some merit. This game is top-notch as is, but there are two things that I think any developer of CRPGs like DD must consider. I apologize in advance if this has already been discussed. I would do a search, but I'm not sure what keywords to use.

1. Class balance/skills:

All in all, I think the ability to branch into the skills of the other classes is a good one, to a point. IMO, it fails when a player is FORCED to do so to make his or her character viable.

In other words, if I want to play a pure warrior that is dumb as a brick ,can't unlock doors, and wouldn't know a meteor if it hit him on the head, I should be able to. I shouldn't have to use magic, or theif skills unless thats how I choose to develop my character. From what I have read and expirienced, the only character that even comes close to this is a mage - warriors and survivors MUST invest in skills outside their class to be viable.

The strength of an RPG like DD lies in its classes/races. If a player must make a jack of all trades to play, then the classes are meaningless. Morrowind is a perfect example of this. There is nothing stoping the player from mastering literally EVERY skill in the game. In Morrowind, classes are pointless. You can simply be a custom adventurer and do it all.

2. Theives/Survivor character classes:

While theives are great characters for party based CRPGs (ex. Baldurs Gate I&II) and D&D, they are almost always the odd man out in games like <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" />. Since <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" /> is heavily based on combat, a theif/survivor in many situations is simply a inferior warrior. To be able to have a viable character, the player must invest points in skills and attributes that essentially turn his or her character into a warrior or mage. Or, in the case of <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" />, use trap skills as their main way of dealing damage. A theif's place is in the shadows - stealing, spying, assinating - not in a dank dungeon all by himself surrounded by lichs and skeletons!

Whoever has read through this whole post up to this point, thanks. Feel free to rip it apart and discusses it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />