When players start, they choose one of four Callings -- Warrior, Rogue, Mage, or Cleric -- which determines the player's core playstyle. As they level, they gradually acquire Souls, and it's there that the bulk of a character's abilities come from. It's a fusion of the talent tree system popularized via World of Warcraft with something much more interesting, and the possibilities for mixing the different Souls together can give rise to all sorts of interesting theories. But don't take our word for it -- watch the exclusive developer diary just past the cut.
Exclusive video diary of the souls of Rift: Planes of Telara
Fantasy, Video, Classes, Game Mechanics, Previews, RIFT
28
You could be forgiven for not catching it immediately from our E3 hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara, but there are some unique things going on with the game's class system. It's hardly the first game to allow you to change classes, but the game also goes into combining them, shifting aspects, interplay between multiple class types... it's a maze of inter-relationships. Luckily, we have an exclusive video developer diary from the staff at Trion Worlds that discusses the whole setup at length, giving future players a much clearer overview of how the system works.
When players start, they choose one of four Callings -- Warrior, Rogue, Mage, or Cleric -- which determines the player's core playstyle. As they level, they gradually acquire Souls, and it's there that the bulk of a character's abilities come from. It's a fusion of the talent tree system popularized via World of Warcraft with something much more interesting, and the possibilities for mixing the different Souls together can give rise to all sorts of interesting theories. But don't take our word for it -- watch the exclusive developer diary just past the cut.
When players start, they choose one of four Callings -- Warrior, Rogue, Mage, or Cleric -- which determines the player's core playstyle. As they level, they gradually acquire Souls, and it's there that the bulk of a character's abilities come from. It's a fusion of the talent tree system popularized via World of Warcraft with something much more interesting, and the possibilities for mixing the different Souls together can give rise to all sorts of interesting theories. But don't take our word for it -- watch the exclusive developer diary just past the cut.
Reader Comments (28)
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 9:03AM (Unverified) said
"Wrong viewing privileges - this video is private"
You taunt us!
You taunt us!
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 9:04AM (Unverified) said
...and then, as I post, it starts working.
Cunning plan to make the first poster look foolish, huh?
Reply
Cunning plan to make the first poster look foolish, huh?
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 9:09AM (Unverified) said
As a fellow baldy, I approve of the Trion Worlds company hairstyle.
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 9:19AM Lethality said
Was gonna say... I thought no dev team could top the SW:TOR guys in the baldness category.
At any rate, this game seems interesting because of some people involved, but its art style looks too much like Aion (and using the word "ascended) and skill trees too much like WoW. Using the word "soul" doesn't really change what it is.
Reply
At any rate, this game seems interesting because of some people involved, but its art style looks too much like Aion (and using the word "ascended) and skill trees too much like WoW. Using the word "soul" doesn't really change what it is.
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 9:15AM (Unverified) said
This doesn't appear to work in Google Chrome...at least it didn't for me. I got "Wrong Viewing Privileges.
I was able to watch it in IE though. Cool video. I can't wait to give this game a try.
I was able to watch it in IE though. Cool video. I can't wait to give this game a try.
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 9:19AM Thac0 said
First let me say that they should have had one person that didn't look like a turtle or a tortoise in the video. We know know Trion is composed of turtle-devs...
Oh well anyway; this is different. I hadn't understood the soul thing completely before this and I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. I thought you could change "classes" with the soul system before like from a rouge to a mage but i guess all you can do is change the flavor of your class like from a nightblade to a ranger... Its infinitly disappointing because i was finally looking forward to a game that didn't box me in. The soul system is nothing but being able to have multiple specs of a the same class :( :( :(
Oh well anyway; this is different. I hadn't understood the soul thing completely before this and I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. I thought you could change "classes" with the soul system before like from a rouge to a mage but i guess all you can do is change the flavor of your class like from a nightblade to a ranger... Its infinitly disappointing because i was finally looking forward to a game that didn't box me in. The soul system is nothing but being able to have multiple specs of a the same class :( :( :(
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 10:24AM HackJack said
Nah I think it's like having a dual class system like RoM's but not with actually separated classes.
For example if I want a Mage with defensive capabilities I'm going something like 60% Mage and 40% Knight or whatever that kind of hero is called. It's basically an advanced version of GW's dual class system. I like it.
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For example if I want a Mage with defensive capabilities I'm going something like 60% Mage and 40% Knight or whatever that kind of hero is called. It's basically an advanced version of GW's dual class system. I like it.
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 9:36AM (Unverified) said
i have high hopes for this game
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 9:36AM Wisdomandlore said
The game looks pretty exciting, but for their next video 1) Get some people that have hair! 2) Get some people who don't make me feel bored about your game.
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 9:42AM (Unverified) said
I hope the game turns out well -- it certainly seems to have potential! I'm not really actively following it at the moment, but am definitely looking forward to seeing more.
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 10:08AM rev2k6 said
Larry david would not approve of these baldist comments.
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 10:08AM timthel0rd said
As much as I want this to work, I can see fairly obvious flaws.
Mainly, there will be specific 'attunements' i.e. specs, that are universally recognized as the best. Just like in WoW, there's plenty of different ways to spec your tank warr, but there's gonna be an accepted path with maybe 1 or 2 variances, that are 'the best'. Other paths will be viable, just not AS viable.
The other thing I want to comment on is the having the cake an eating it. I can guarantee (sp?) that you can't just choose the class you want, and then pick and choose the best parts of other classes. From the skill tree system they show, we can clearly see that you have to choose the lower spells, before you can get the upper tree fancy dancy spells.
I do believe Guildwars actually does what they, in that repsect. You've got you base class, and then your secondary class, and it doesn't matter what you choose, you can pick literally any set of skills you want, whether they b the basic spells you get at level 1, of the godhammer doomcannon spells you get after winning the game (you get my drift, w/e about the specifics).
I do really like the idea of giving players freedom to build a specific class in more than 2 or 3 stock standard ways, and really hope it goes well.
Also, lol@ "I'm a nightblade, I like killing things".
Mainly, there will be specific 'attunements' i.e. specs, that are universally recognized as the best. Just like in WoW, there's plenty of different ways to spec your tank warr, but there's gonna be an accepted path with maybe 1 or 2 variances, that are 'the best'. Other paths will be viable, just not AS viable.
The other thing I want to comment on is the having the cake an eating it. I can guarantee (sp?) that you can't just choose the class you want, and then pick and choose the best parts of other classes. From the skill tree system they show, we can clearly see that you have to choose the lower spells, before you can get the upper tree fancy dancy spells.
I do believe Guildwars actually does what they, in that repsect. You've got you base class, and then your secondary class, and it doesn't matter what you choose, you can pick literally any set of skills you want, whether they b the basic spells you get at level 1, of the godhammer doomcannon spells you get after winning the game (you get my drift, w/e about the specifics).
I do really like the idea of giving players freedom to build a specific class in more than 2 or 3 stock standard ways, and really hope it goes well.
Also, lol@ "I'm a nightblade, I like killing things".
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 5:15PM Its Utakata stupid said
I aslo kinda wonder how much of these abilities you'll allow to use on your given hotbar. Will it be like GW/GW2 that gives you an infinite number of spells and abilities between the dual classing but restrict it to a finite number of options for the player to use at given moment? Conversely in WoW, your class is very restricted (even more so with Cat)...yet gives you lots of room and freedom to use any of your spells and abilities at any given time. Even more so with addons.
So I guess it comes down how they're actually defining that box...by giving us freedoms and liberties one end but restricting us as the other. I guess we'll really see when they gives a peek at their hotbar mechanics if we can have our cake and eat too.
Reply
So I guess it comes down how they're actually defining that box...by giving us freedoms and liberties one end but restricting us as the other. I guess we'll really see when they gives a peek at their hotbar mechanics if we can have our cake and eat too.
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 10:22AM (Unverified) said
There's like 8 "subclass souls" per calling, so that should help mix things up a bit. Only 2-3 of each have been revealed so far, but for instance we know the mage calling is also getting a Pyromancer soul, and the Rogue calling are getting Bard & Riftstalker soul, etc.
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 10:42AM aurickle said
No, you cannot mix souls from different archetypes. Once a mage, always a mage. The only things you can mix are the eight subclasses within each archetype, ultimately choosing three of the eight.
Probably the best way to look at it is a variation of WoW's new talent and mastery system as it has been previewed for Cataclysm: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/underdev/4p0/classandmastery.xml. You choose your first tree at the outset. After you have progressed a certain distance you can add another tree. Later you can add a third tree.
The key difference is that where WoW has three trees for each class, Rifts will have eight. If they bring very strong differences to the table (such as the differences between Arcane, Fire and Frost mages in WoW) then this should result in many, much more unique characters than you find with WoW's "cookie cutter" builds. (Which is actually one of the reasons for the overhaul of that game's system, too.)
Reply
Probably the best way to look at it is a variation of WoW's new talent and mastery system as it has been previewed for Cataclysm: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/underdev/4p0/classandmastery.xml. You choose your first tree at the outset. After you have progressed a certain distance you can add another tree. Later you can add a third tree.
The key difference is that where WoW has three trees for each class, Rifts will have eight. If they bring very strong differences to the table (such as the differences between Arcane, Fire and Frost mages in WoW) then this should result in many, much more unique characters than you find with WoW's "cookie cutter" builds. (Which is actually one of the reasons for the overhaul of that game's system, too.)
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 10:27AM (Unverified) said
It does look like RPoT is taking a big chunk of Guild Wars and mixing it with a good portion of Aion, and adding a dash of WoW. That is okay up to a point, but I'm with THACO, I was expecting a more free form 'be anything' type of mixing of classes.
The running animations also look pretty rough too, not as smooth as I'd expect a game to be if they are getting within a year of release, say late 2011? Kind of like DCUO, which I thought must be alpha game footage, only to find out it was pretty much the release game-play animatons! But I'm sure RPoT will improve that by release.
If RPoT goes with a hybrid model similar to GW (buy a box, play for free) they should have some success. If they try the $15 a month route, well, good luck to them.
If any of the devs read this thread they should do another video where they are all wearing bizarre wigs, just to mess with everyone that mentioned them all being bald. :) I do admit, it distracted my attention from the video as well.
The running animations also look pretty rough too, not as smooth as I'd expect a game to be if they are getting within a year of release, say late 2011? Kind of like DCUO, which I thought must be alpha game footage, only to find out it was pretty much the release game-play animatons! But I'm sure RPoT will improve that by release.
If RPoT goes with a hybrid model similar to GW (buy a box, play for free) they should have some success. If they try the $15 a month route, well, good luck to them.
If any of the devs read this thread they should do another video where they are all wearing bizarre wigs, just to mess with everyone that mentioned them all being bald. :) I do admit, it distracted my attention from the video as well.
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 10:28AM Tizmah said
They only hire bald people at Trion worlds.
Posted: Jul 19th 2010 5:23PM Its Utakata stupid said
They're not bald. They're hair follicly challenged...
Reply
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