Too Long; Didn’t Listen episode 13 — Didn’t We Just Do This?

As a result of recording and editing a show late last week and doing this one on time, you now have two back-to-back episodes for the price of none!

Two topics in 30 minutes or your next podcast is free. You know you would listen to all this if it just wasn’t so… long!

Show Outline

Intro: A neverending hell of podcasting!

Also, Christmas cards and bad gifts
Also also, Snorg Tees

Segment 1: Are classes a required component of MMOs?

Courtesy of We Fly Spitfires

Segment 2: What MMOs need sequels?

Courtesy of The Fanatical Swordsman

Outro: Hope for Star Wars Galaxies!

Support the show!

Send in topic ideas to tldl@mmoreporter.com!
Rate us on iTunes!

Dodge Online

Syp Online

Website: Massively and Bio Break
Twitter: @sypster
Email: justin@massively.com

Our sponsors:

too long didn't listen

Print article

This entry was posted by Sypster on February 1, 2012 at 5:39 pm, and is filed under Games, General, Podcast, Too Long Didn't Listen Podcast. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

ArcherAvatar

Thanx for the “Snorg Tees” link fellas… those are fantastic!

Re: Are classes a required component of MMOs?
Preface: We hates the “Trinity-Baggins”… we hates it FOREVER!

(Trinity-based class systems “force” co-dependent interaction which is an inherently unhealthy form of social interaction. It does NOT create teamwork – that is created by players despite the obstacle of the trinity-based class system, not because of it.)

*whew*

Having said that, classes are an important facet of MMOs because they provide “archetypes” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/archetype) which are a necessary component of good story telling. The obvious example of a class system (sans trinity) would of course be GW2… although each class is diverse enough to fill multiple “roles” within a group, at any given moment, they each go about accomplishing this diversity in their own distinctive ways. Each class establishes it’s own archetype in terms of the “feel” of the class.

If you want the “full plate and packing steel” vibe, you roll up a warrior – you still have access to both melee and range, your own healing, the ability to handle attention from the mobs, some CC, and your own dps… but you’re doing all of that in ways that are distinctly “warrior-archetype.”

If you’d rather go with the dark and brooding master of arcane power – roll a necromancer. Melee, range, healing, CC, dps, etc… a fully complete, and self-sufficient character, just like the warrior, but with it’s own style, and fulfilling a completely different archetype.

So, “Yes” classes are important in MMOs. They serve as the starting point, the foundation, upon which our imaginations can build the persona, or “character” of our characters.

Healthy growth fundamentally requires solid structure and foundations. Classes provide some of that necessary structure for players.

So, leaving aside the very real balance issues and other negatives associated with a classless system (which Dodge elborated on quite well) there are also very positive and important reasons for including the component of classes in ROLE PLAYING GAMES.

(p.s. Really enjoyed the show once again folks. Lively, intelligent discussion that inspires your own brooding on various topics… what’s not to like? Keep up the great work!)
Bryandt

Concerning Guild Wars, last I heard ArenaNet was still going to develop content for it, even after Guild Wars 2 has launched. It will be more in the vein of the Guild Wars Beyond content that they have been releasing every few months. Currently we’re waiting for Winds of Change Part 3 to be released, and from what I understand they may do some Elona Guild Wars Beyond content centered around Palawa Joko.
Bryandt

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Guild_Wars_Beyond
So, yeah. More content for Guild Wars is still coming.
Maedhric

That was an interesting discussion this week about games needing classes. I wanted to add another reason in favor of a class-based character system: alts. With a class system, you can start an alt with an entirely new story, play style, play mechanic, and role. There is an allure to switching from say a Champion with its fervour pips and AoE madness over to say a Warden with gambits and lifetaps and such.

Without that system, it would be tricky to differentiate the story and the mechanic of the alts. For my champion/warden example, I don’t see how one character could have gambits and another could build and spend pips if there weren’t a clear difference to the classes from the very beginning.

Too Long; Didn’t Listen episode 13 — Didn’t We Just Do This?

Podcasts

Our Sponsors