A rolling load would be wonderful.
Of course, they\'d have to fix the virtual memory leaks first...
We\'ll probably have to wait until after the alpha for this.

We must avoid the generic levels based system at all costs.  It\'s the lazy way to go.

Stats should evolve independently based on individual use.

As for the use it or lose it thing: I don\'t see any connection between opposing stats or skills. In fact, I don\'t see anything \"opposing\" with them at all. The onnly thing that might be a problem is STR vs. AGI, because it might be detrimental to agility if you\'re packed with muscles. However, I still don\'t think it will be noticable.

The magic skills are the big ones.  Some of the various other skills have some \"opposites\" too, like offensive stats vs defensive stats, but the main ones wouldn\'t need much of this.

What we want is the character advancement to be determined by the style of the player.  I agree, the time method has issues.  It forces the player to be an addict to get the highest stats.  I would say that a total dependence on time would be decremental to gameplay.  (I might consider gameplay time instead of world time, but I don\'t know.)  That\'s why I suggested the counter-balancing points thing.  You\'d be gaining small amounts of experience in every skill you\'re using, at all times.  The counterpoints would be used to neutralize the advancements other than your focus.  Additionally, with the weapon skills we don\'t want everyone to be experts in all skills.  We want to force characters to pick a role.  This is most easily done by requiring skills to be maintained, one way or another.

I would say that every sword should have area damage.  (more or less depending on length and weight)  It\'s just that with the existing targeting based system this would be hard to implement.  You might be able to damage something next to your target, but without the ability to just swing the sword un-aimed in the general direction of the enemies this wouldn\'t be that useful.  I\'d say this is a good idea that might be a long way off...

I know there are posts about the balance issues associated with the pp & tria needed for the skills.  (aka: surplus of pp, and flat broke)  This post is not about that.

1)  In my opinion, the pure level based skill system is not the way to go if you want \"realism\".  While I like the idea of needing a master to train you in a new skill, at a certain point you are capable of practicing on your own.  Using the sword should increase the sword stat; defending more should increase armor stats; running more should increase endurance stats; etc.  And, vice versa as well: If you don\'t use the sword as much as you used to, your sword stat should go DOWN.  Stats should go as in real life.  Use it or lose it.

2)  Training sessions should be more involved.  I should not be able to just buy a point or two in a stat.  You should need to find a master, and actually train.  You should switch into a mode where you can use the skill under the direct the instruction of the NPC (or frankly, a master player) and have to complete some sort of simple training task.  This would also have the added benefit of being a tutorial for newbies.

3)  Stats should be interrelated.  If I am a master swordsman, I should be able to pick up dagger use faster than the average person.  Similarly, I should be able to more easily learn magic ways allied with ones I already know.  It should also be distinctly harder to learn opposing ways.

4) Unlearned stats should be hidden.  If my character has never heard about a certain ability, he/she should not have a zero listed for it; it shouldn\'t even be there at all.  Essentially, this is just a matter of turning the filter on permanently.

5)  Stats should affect the character\'s look.  If I have high strength, I should have extra muscles.  Greater magic abilities could add an afterglow after their use.  Etc.  (It\'s obviously a long way off to implement this sort of dynamic character modeling.)

6)  Progression towards stat levels should be hidden.  I don\'t need constant reports that I\'m gaining points towards something.  It should just be assumed that I will get practice in whatever skills are associated with what I\'m currently doing.


If I missed a post on any of these subjects, feel free to give me a link to it.  (I\'m new here and haven\'t exactly read the whole forum...)