New LEVELING IDEA

from Elemental Forums

Okay, here is an idea, perhaps more classical RP-ish, dunno. Anyways, give it a read.

 

Disclaimer: This is not including or looking at the ability trees (for skills and such) as they are not yet implemented. So it will just look at stats.

At each level up, HP will increase at 20% of constitution, and Essence will increase at 10% of Intelligence. Also, you get 2 ability points to add to your attributes. An attribute point costs 1 ability point, so you can raise any single attribute by 2. (or two different ones by 1).

This will mean if your Constitution is 10, you get 2 HP per level, if its 15 you get 3 HP per level.

Same with Essence, you get 1 at INT 10, 1.5 at INT 15, or 2 essence at 20 intelligence.

Then, you can raise any attribute by one full point (twice).

8,166 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I like this, but I'd suggest that you have to spend your 2 Attribute points in two separate areas.

Also that if Essence goes up automatically (Which I like) that you can't spend points to raise Essence.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

further musings could include  .... can only place points (you get 2) into Strength, Dexterity, Wisdom, Intelligence, Constitution, or Charisma.

Perhaps your Attack Speed increases +1 for every 18 Dexterity you have at level up

Perhaps your Base Attack increases +1 for every 20 Strength you have at level up

Perhaps your Casting Speed increases +1 for every 20 Wisdom you have at level up

Perhaps your Base Spell Power increases +1 for every 18 Intelligence you have at level up

Perhaps your Gildar Income increases +1 for every 18 Charisma you have at level up

Perhaps your Child Bearing Chance? increases +1 for every 16 Charisma you have at level up

..

constant effect abilities

..

Perhaps your Tactical Speed increases +1 for every 20 dexterity your character has

Perhaps your Overland Speed increases +1 for every 20 constitution your character has

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Wouldn't this mean that levelling is even more mandatory for sovs and champions? And since we only get xp by killing monsters... Well you should see where this is going.

If levelling will be even better, then there needs to be other ways to get xp.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting GoaGalneGbilski, reply 3
Wouldn't this mean that levelling is even more mandatory for sovs and champions? And since we only get xp by killing monsters... Well you should see where this is going.

If levelling will be even better, then there needs to be other ways to get xp.
End of GoaGalneGbilski's quote

Agreed.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

I really like your idea related to hitpoints.  This allows a unit to become more 'sturdy' and still allowing other abilities.  Essence increasing....ok.  I like the fact that magic is rare and makes you powerful (ala Glen Cook's black company) but you can still be ambushed/killed.  As long as this doesnt shoot essence through the roof, cool.

 

Although I like your other ideas it seems to get a bit complicated.  I remember when i first played a D&D crpg (icewind dale) i had to restart a bazillion times and had to comb forums to figure out how to build my guys.  This gets fun when you know the system, but is rough to learn.

 

two ideas to add to yours. 

 

1) Special Abilities (unlockable w stas).  Ie a hero w 18 strength can spend a point to get 'uber pwnage attack' or some such, maybe cleave? (kill one enemy, free attack on another)

2) Exp for finishing quests.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Definitely experience points for finishing quests.

 

Currently having essence doesn't make you a better caster. It just makes you have a higher mana pool. And you can reduce that mana pool by using specialty spells.

If you want to have a better mage you have to increase your Intelligence and Wisdom.

However, currently if you want to win the game magically (assuming Spell of Making still costs at least 20 mana) you have to use level-ups to buy essence.

This is under the game standard that, like Warcraft III, leveling up is a Necessity to winning the game.

All this talk about High Level Sovereigns ... or even a Champion you imbue. Honestly low level Sovereigns won't have a chance. you can talk about Land Grab vs Small Empire all day ... but you need a high level character to win. (at least for Magic Victory and Quest Victory)

 

Now that that is out of the way ... with this option, Intelligence is the obvious choice to become a better caster. It (indirectly) increases your mana pool, and it increases the damage of spells.

If Intelligence becomes all that ... then perhaps Wisdom should become a bit more useful as well, although it did at one time dictate Spell Point Cap and still dictates Mana Regen.

 

Of course, an Alternate could be +0.5 essence per 10 intelligence and +0.5 essence per 10 Wisdom (on level up) ...

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

I dislike the idea of percentage based increases.

 

Reminds me of my days as a slavish Oblivion power gamer where the immediate goal with any  character was to get con to 100 for max health. The idea in the OP would favor front loading of con and int, which I very much dislike.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

You could certainly try that ... but ultimately you have three choices. Tank? Mage? DPS?

Tank = constitution front loading

Mage = intelligence front loading

DPS = strength

cause you won't get infinite levels ... and you can place 2 points into any stat u want on level up, which means you'll have to choose whether HP or Essence is worth more.

Your having to choose your strengths. Now, splitting essence gain between Intelligence and Wisdom might be a wise move, just because essence is highly valued ... but still if your going for a warrior youll want Con/ Str more than Essence anyways.

Especially since the return on HP/Con is better than Essence/Int( + Wis)

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

It'd be nice if there were different builds and special abilities to give you a reason to differentiate your troops.

Civ 4 had all sorts of interesting unit abilities, and I heard the Devs say monsters would have those too.

It'd be nice if heroes didn't just have three different types of 'builds'.

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Hehe yea ... I was talking about "in general" with front-loading.

 

But its kind of impossible to "front load" in a 4X game where leveling is only one of the things you have to worry about.

I'm sure with abilities and traits there will be many more options ... or I'll add em in myself! :p