It would be nice if your were given a list of the existing class lines. You choose 3 lines. You would then get a name from the game based on what 3 skill lines you chose.

Example: I pick lighting line from sorc, destruction from DK and some other attack spell attack line from another class. The game might title my class Evocator.

It would be like Oblivion in a way. Of course just like Oblivion, you would still have access to all the other non class skill lines.

There are 21 trees a player can have at the moment. 3 of those trees are the class trees. So, even if there was some combo of three that was more powerful than the rest, as unlikely as that is, the other 18 would balance them out. Because everyone get's those 18 other trees.

Moreover, it is still way early in beta, so the balance would be tested for months.

If you consider that 3 out of 21 is only 7% of the total character, it would be hard to believe this could be unbalanced.

Skill trees for one character:

Race 1
Class 3
Weapons 6
Mage school 1
Fighter school 1
Faction tree 1
PvP tree 3
Armors 3
Emperor 1
Vamp/were 1

What do you guys think?

Making our own classes would be cool and all. But its not happening, brah. There's nothing overly offensive about having to choose an archetype or template to build on, I'd be far more angry if we were stuck with a rigid role or character build.

I'm not asking for a rigid build.

What, no, I mean I'm ok with what we are getting instead of getting like, set in stone builds similar to WoW or a more rigid class.

Why not like Skyrim and have no classes, period. You build and shape your class as you progress.

Sure, but that is simply not in the cards anymore. I'm trying to work within the system that is already set up.

In Skyrim there were only like 4 archetypes of classes you could make that were actually viable. Mage, Warrior, Stealther, Archer. Thats what it comes down to. Of course there would be variations but thats not too different of how it works in ESO. And I like my class to be able to have a name. It gives at least some form of identity to your character.

Because Skyrim is single player, and ESO is not. MMO's rely on the interaction between players, and specifically the interaction between classes. It would be very difficult to design an MMO where encounters are interesting, challenging, etc., if the developers can't even control the most basic type of characters that will exist. I understand the desire for pure freedom, but it simply wouldn't work in an MMO environment, the same way it wouldn't work in real life. There has to be some sort of structure, the real decision is how much.

Whats wrong with this current system? Theres classes and trinity but it offers flexibility to try different kind of things. This is going to be class/trinity game, we cant change it. Btw, Ive reason to believe future MMORPG are more build-your-own-character kind of games, were definitely moving away from trinity/classes.

I have to agree somewhat here. This system is perfect for me. A good hybrid between trinity, flexibility and roles. And there are lots of different possible builds. And I like that there will at least be 3 unique skill trees per class. I gives some more variety to the world, whereas if you had a free system. Everyone can possible go for the exact same cookycutter build.

I do prefer a 'classless' system over a class based system.

But I don't think I'd like just pick any three. I like the idea of having some cost associated with having a broader skill set.

Like you get bonuses if more of your skills are of similar nature. If you are more physical and constantly drilling with a melee type abilities, you are specialized and 'more of' a master. Or if you practice stealth and backstabbing (which are related) you get some bonus. If all three class skills are magical in nature you should be better at those skills than someone that just dabbles in Lightning, as you are very comfortable with using magic.

Maybe bonuses on rolls. Maybe XP bonuses if you dont switch skills often.

Probably some combination of bonuses would work best.

But thats not how ESO is set up, soooo...

Mal