Leveling up and skills?

[Scaredgirl]

BIG QUESTION:

Will there be actual skill trees, or only individual kills?

I'm a bit torn on whether or not we should have XP and leveling up. On one hand it would make the whole thing a LOT more complex, but on the other hand leveling up is what makes games interesting.

We could have a system where you get XP for finishing quests and killing other players. And if we have levels, we need skills as well.

I was thinking that each elements would have one skill. For example could have a skill which enables them to move faster through forest hexes. could have a skill where each creature they lose in battle, resurrects as a skeleton card (and maybe once upgraded, something better like a Mummy). Each player would start with a skill of their element. When you level up, you may choose one of the remaining 12 skills, or maybe upgrade your current skill. I don't know.

Skills would be listed in your character sheet.

Anyways, I'd like to hear opinions on XP, leveling and skills. Thanks.

SKILLS

Element	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
	Evasion I	Evasion II	Evasion III
	Ride a Lightning I	Ride a Lightning II	Ride a Lightning III
	Ambush I	Ambush II	Ambush III
	Mobility I	Mobility II	Mobility III
	Stealth I	Stealth II	Stealth III
	Cause Fear I	Cause Fear II	Cause Fear III
	March I	March II	March III
	Undead I	Undead II	Undead III
	Escape I	Escape II	Escape III
	Toughness I	Toughness II	Toughness III
	Digging I	Digging II	Digging III
	Diversion I	Diversion II	Diversion III
	Destroy I	Destroy II	Destroy III
	Bombardment I	Bombardment II	Bombardment III
	Improved Siege I	Improved Siege II	Improved Siege III
	Machinery I	Machinery II	Machinery III
	Repair I	Repair II	Repair III
	Hunter I	Hunter II	Hunter III
	Shaman I	Shaman II	Shaman III
	Scouting I	Scouting II	Scouting III
	Heal I	Heal II	Heal III
	Crusade I	Crusade II	Crusade III
	Improved Resurrection I	Improved Resurrection II	Improved Resurrection III
	Trading I	Trading II	Trading III
	Science I	Science II	Science III
	Waterbreathing I	Waterbreathing II	Waterbreathing III
	Smuggler I	Smuggler II	Smuggler III
	Dirty Fighting I	Dirty Fighting II	Dirty Fighting III

[Kamietsu]

I really enjoy levelling, XP, skills, the works and the such. It's always a big staple in big games, and even on a lot of forums. I would encourage everyone to help make this idea implemented.

But if it does prove to be a little much to include, we could have a basic version of it:

Everything you do gives you some amount of XP, this could be a fixed amount: Just choosing an action each turn will give you 2 XP regardless of the choice, buying a card gives you 1 XP regardless of the card, etc. The amount of XP you have determines your level, and maybe with each level you get a little extra title under your name or something.

But make XP a sort of currency where you can buy extras in the game. Like maybe for 2 turns, you have increased movement, or different things. Basically, make each thing you 'buy' with your XP last only a few turns. Being able to gain abilities permanently might be a bit much, but it's a good idea. And if you could eventually own all 12 skills, one from each element, that might make a player somewhat to a lot more powerful on the map, even if t doesn't greatly affect their dueling. But if you add a limit to the skills, and they have to regain them, it helps add a balance, also, it doesn't take away from the other items that give bonuses in the game.

Also, as for the skills, whether or not they will be turn limited or whatever, each Element should have similar skills and more than one. Such as your  example, I think every element should have a skill that gives them the ability to move faster through that element's terrain.

[Scaredgirl]

I really enjoy levelling, XP, skills, the works and the such. It's always a big staple in big games, and even on a lot of forums. I would encourage everyone to help make this idea implemented.

But if it does prove to be a little much to include, we could have a basic version of it:

Everything you do gives you some amount of XP, this could be a fixed amount: Just choosing an action each turn will give you 2 XP regardless of the choice, buying a card gives you 1 XP regardless of the card, etc. The amount of XP you have determines your level, and maybe with each level you get a little extra title under your name or something.

But make XP a sort of currency where you can buy extras in the game. Like maybe for 2 turns, you have increased movement, or different things. Basically, make each thing you 'buy' with your XP last only a few turns. Being able to gain abilities permanently might be a bit much, but it's a good idea. And if you could eventually own all 12 skills, one from each element, that might make a player somewhat to a lot more powerful on the map, even if t doesn't greatly affect their dueling. But if you add a limit to the skills, and they have to regain them, it helps add a balance, also, it doesn't take away from the other items that give bonuses in the game.

That is one option.

I was actually thinking about an even simpler version, again copying it directly from MMO's.

You would have two ways to get XP:

1. Kill something (gain XP based on the level of your opponent)
2. Finish a quest (based on difficulty)

For each 100 XP you gain, you get one level. For one level, you get one skill. Skills must be trained at a specific place. If you want a skill, you need to travel to city.

Something like that.

Getting XP simply by using action points sounds wrong to me. You could in theory just walk around and become a great warrior

Also, as for the skills, whether or not they will be turn limited or whatever, each Element should have similar skills and more than one. Such as your  example, I think every element should have a skill that gives them the ability to move faster through that element's terrain.

Hm.. I don't necessarily agree with that. I think that there's no reason not to make skills unique, just like cards are unique in the game.

If we think about theme, it makes sense that creatures move fast when in forest (because of adrenaline and such). However creatures moving fast when they enter a graveyard hex, doesn't sound right to me. moving fast on mountains and moving fast on water fit, but I don't think all elements need their own fast move ability. I'm not 100% against it, but I think more variation would work better.




I will now start collect some skill ideas here. Maybe we could start with one skill for each element, and with 3 levels. For example:

Hunter I
Hunter II
Hunter III

[Scaredgirl]

Ok I added tons of ideas. I haven't added what these skills actually do yet, but some of them are pretty self-explanatory. Others, I have no idea what they do but they sound cool.

[Kamietsu]

How about adding a digging ability to Earth? Maybe they could use an action point to dig on a certain tile to try and dig up an item or card.


That is a good point about a fast travel skill for each elements.

[Scaredgirl]

How about adding a digging ability to Earth? Maybe they could use an action point to dig on a certain tile to try and dig up an item or card.

I like it. Nice way to collect some extra resources.

[Daxx]

How about the ability to trade in reputation (to a minimum of 0) with an npc somewhere to gain skills? In theory this could mean that the most dedicated players can get skills from other elements, whilst given the slow gain of reputation the skill gain won't unbalance the game for older players compared to newbies. Most reputation gain is with your own element but you can in theory try to grind other elements. Also it would mean you'd have to choose your attacks carefully because it'd be quite easy to lose rep for other elements.

[Dragoon]

I love the idea of XP and skills!  It may add more complication but it adds more depth to the game I think.  Also, instead of a linear upgrade path, what about a Skill Tree instead?  Basically they have to pick and choose which path they want to take.  This will help to diversify and personalize people's skill sets.  If you really wanted to make it personalized (and complicated), you can make it so that they can only see the very next level of accessible skills instead of the whole skill tree.

[Glitch]

Perhaps EXP allows you to overcome certain deck restrictions.  At first level you can only have 4 of a card in your deck and you must have a 30 card deck.  Maybe.

[Dragoon1140]

Perhaps leveling should be the way that players can use upgraded cards in the game?  Skills are great, and sound amazingly fun, but everything should be deeply explained to the players to prevent any sort of confusion if we have a set of skills like the ones posted.

[Scaredgirl]

How about the ability to trade in reputation (to a minimum of 0) with an npc somewhere to gain skills? In theory this could mean that the most dedicated players can get skills from other elements, whilst given the slow gain of reputation the skill gain won't unbalance the game for older players compared to newbies. Most reputation gain is with your own element but you can in theory try to grind other elements. Also it would mean you'd have to choose your attacks carefully because it'd be quite easy to lose rep for other elements.

I don't know.. using reputation as kind of currency sounds weird to me. It would go like this:

I am liked in some part of the world. I go to that part of the world and "trade" them liking me, to them teaching me how to become a hunter? And after they have taught me that skill, they forget they like me?

Makes no sense to me.

Also I don't think there should be a connection between reputation and your skill level. In real life you can be highly skilled without anyone knowing that you event exist.

I love the idea of XP and skills!  It may add more complication but it adds more depth to the game I think.  Also, instead of a linear upgrade path, what about a Skill Tree instead?  Basically they have to pick and choose which path they want to take.  This will help to diversify and personalize people's skill sets.  If you really wanted to make it personalized (and complicated), you can make it so that they can only see the very next level of accessible skills instead of the whole skill tree.

Skill tree would be pretty good, but it might make things a lot more complex. Then again it depends a lot on what kind on skill tree we would use.

Perhaps EXP allows you to overcome certain deck restrictions.  At first level you can only have 4 of a card in your deck and you must have a 30 card deck.  Maybe.

That is a possibility, yes.

Perhaps leveling should be the way that players can use upgraded cards in the game?  Skills are great, and sound amazingly fun, but everything should be deeply explained to the players to prevent any sort of confusion if we have a set of skills like the ones posted.

I personally think that the most logical and simple way to upgrade cards is:

1. Buy an unupped card
2. Upgrade the card in a specific place

This is how it works in the game as well. Mixing skills and upgrades might be a bit complex.

[Dragoon1140]

Well since we still need to put names to use, I might as well put my twist on it.

 
Evasion - Cannot be attacked for X turns.
Ride a Lightning - Teleport directly to the Aether capital.
 
Ambush - Aggressive Stance does not cost any action points for X turns.
Mobility - One extra Action Point can be used for X turns or until the user is attacked.
 
Stealth - One less Action Point can be used for X turns, but the user cannot be seen by other players.
 
Cause Fear - All players sharing a Hex with the user run away in fear to the Hex nearest to their capital.
March - The Hex that the user is standing on will now permanently produce X more resources.
Undead - Target Death player sharing the same Hex as the user permanently gains one random Death creature in their vault.
 
Escape - The user jumps two Hexes to the Earth capital.
Toughness - For X turns, it takes twice as many Action Points to attack the user.
Digging - The user has a random chance to dig up a card, even rare ones!
 
Diversion - All non-Entropy players sharing the same Hex do a random action this turn.
 
Destroy - The hex that the user is on will no longer produce resources for X turns.
Bombardment - The user can attack a target player from two hexes away.
 
Improved Siege - Sieges are now X turns faster.
Machinery - All fast travel is instant for the user for X turns.
Repair - Target Gravity player sharing the same hex as the user permanently gains one random Gravity creature.
 
Hunter - The user gains a random creature of the element that owns the hex Hunter is used on.
Shaman - The next player to attack the user cannot use Life creatures.
Scouting - The user can see the deck of the target player up to 3 hexes away.
 
Heal - Strengthen an NPC deck sharing the same hex as the user.
Crusade - All Light players gain X reputation with the target element.
Improved Resurrection - Target a Light player.  If that player dies, no cards are lost, but they lose all Electrum they are holding.
 
Trading - For X turns, all NPC's dealing with the user now consider the user to have 75+ Reputation.
Science - A random Time creature the user owns transforms, randomly, into a Pharaoh or Eternity.
 
Waterbreathing - The user now has two extra Action Points on all water tiles.
 
Smuggler - The next NPC the user deals with now offers all creature cards from a random element to the user.
Dirty Fighting - The next player the user duels cannot X upgraded cards.