The Many Ways "Hybrids" Ruin the Game

[Sally]

Here are some ways that too much build freedom can negatively impact gameplay :

• Diminished Role Identity: If everyone can do everything, the traditional roles like that of a tank, healer, and DPS (for example) can become blurred. This can reduce the strategic depth and teamwork required in group content, making it less engaging for players who enjoy those aspects of the game.
• Power Creep: As players experiment with diverse builds, the strongest combinations will emerge. This can lead to a power creep where everyone feels compelled to adopt these builds to remain competitive. This can make the game less fun for players who don't want to min-max their characters. In a role playing game, it is frustrating that people feel forced to become some immersion-break frankenstein build just to be viable (more on immersion below).
• Increased Difficulty for Developers: Balancing a game with limitless build possibilities is incredibly challenging. Every new skill or ability can interact with existing ones in unexpected ways, creating unintended power spikes or imbalances. This can make it difficult for developers to maintain a fair and balanced game.
• Reduced Social Interaction: If everyone is focused on min-maxing their builds, it can reduce opportunities for social interaction and teamwork, since every individual can do it all pretty much. This can make the game less enjoyable for players who value the social aspect of MMORPGs.

From an immersion standpoint, too much build freedom can have a negative impact on the player's experience. Here's how:

• Breaking the World's Logic: If a player can be a knight in armor and also cast powerful magic spells, it can break the internal logic of the game world. This can disrupt the suspension of disbelief and make it harder for players to become truly immersed in the experience.
• Undermining Character Identity: Having too many options can make it difficult for players to develop a strong sense of their character's identity. If a character can do everything, it becomes harder to define who they are and what makes them unique. Again, pretty key in a ROLE playing game. The ability to have a clear character identity.
• Reducing the Impact of Choices: If players have too many options, the impact of each individual choice is diminished. This can make the game feel less meaningful and less personal.

In contrast, a more limited set of build options can help to enhance immersion by:

• Enforcing World Logic: By restricting the types of abilities and skills that a character can learn, developers can create a more believable and consistent game world.
• Fostering Character Identity: A more focused set of options can help players develop a stronger sense of their character's identity. For example, a character who specializes in swordsmanship will feel different from one who specializes in magic.
• Making Choices Matter: When players have fewer options, each choice becomes more meaningful. This can make the game feel more personal and engaging.

MO2 suffers from a hybrid problem, and it makes the gameplay less immersive and less fun for the many reasons i've listed above.

We have too many people doing literally everything, and you're giving away more and more skill points with each change. Specifically magic, it is way too easy for people to get some amazing magic spells for no real investment. 100 ecumenical granting earthquake, for example.. Literally every melee pretty much has earthquake.. It just breaks the suspension of disbelief, and harms the game world's logic when all knights in armor also cast these advanced magic spells.

Again, it isn't just immersion, but it harms the game balance too, as i covered above. People feel forced to make hybrid builds just to compete with these homogenous frankenstein builds, this is killing the immersion for everyone who is here for the roleplay in the roleplaying game. Please, make an effort to reward specialists, make it more difficult to be a hybrid, make it actually come with a significant downside. You throw around too many skill points, and it just gives people too much. You diminish the significance of people's choices by making it so easy to do it all.

 

[Jackdstripper]

I agree. Hybrids make all classes feel the same. When there is no class diversity , game becomes super boring. Hybrids cater to a very individualistic playstyle. Those that just wants to do everything themselves without having to rely on anyone else. On the other hand, distinctive classes cater to team work and co-operation. Those that want to play in teams and be part of something bigger than themselves. These days everyone is very individualistic.