Classes: The Number Game

[Cobalt Katze]

Alright folks. I love playing with numbers, so I'm going to throw some out there based on the supposed class/race assignments. This, like the info gleaned from Fanguard, is very subject to change... and if so, will need some severe balancing. I just wanted to throw it out there how it currently stands and perhaps track where things go based on further information that developers throw out into the public.

Key: T=Thestra, Q=Qalia, K=Kojan

Total Races - T:7 Q:6 K:6 All:19

Heavy Fighters

Warrior - T:6 Q:5 K:3 All:14
Paladin - T:4 Q:2 K:0 All:6
Dread Knight - T:4 Q:2 K:2 All:8
Inquisitor - T:0 Q:4 K:2 All:6

Total Heavy Fighters - T:14 Q:13 K:7 All:34

Offensive Fighters

Bard - T:3 Q:2 K:3 All:8
Ranger - T:2 Q:3 K:3 All:8
Rogue - T:6 Q:5 K:5 All:16
Monk - T:0 Q:1 K:5 All:6
Berserker - T:4 Q:4 K:2 All:10

Total Offensive Fighters - T:15 Q:15 K:18 All:48

Healers

Cleric - T:4 Q:3 K:0 All:7
Blood Mage - T:2 Q:5 K:4 All:11
Shaman - T:3 Q:1 K:2 All:6
Disciple - T:0 Q:3 K:4 All:7

Total Healers - T:9 Q:12 K:10 All:31

Arcane Casters

Sorcerer - T:3 Q:3 K:2 All:8
Necromancer - T:2 Q:2 K:3 All:7
Druid - T:5 Q:2 K:3 All:10
Psionicist - T:0 Q:4 K:1 All:5

Total Arcane Casters: T:10 Q:11 K:9 All:30

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Here's the problem, though. If the Inquisitor and Disciple don't make launch, then we have a bit of imbalance that comes in the form of Heavy Fighters and Healers being in severe disproportion to Offensive Fighters and Arcane Casters... Which is usually the case in MMORPGs, but if Vanguard is going for a balanced environment it's something to take note of.

Currently the balance of class jobs is:

Tanks: 34
Offensive: 48
Healers: 31
Casters: 30

If said classes aren't in the game, then the balance is:

Tanks: 28
Offensive: 48
Healers: 24
Casters: 30

So, obviously, things would have to be pretty well rearranged.

The issue of tank diversity is also an issue with Kojan. It's currently T:14 Q:13 K:7... And if Inquisitors were dropped without reassignment, the balance would be T:14 Q:9 K:5

We'll see what happens. Currently the diversity makes sense (With the HEAVY disclaimer that the information is very subject to change. They may have just mocked up the assignments for demo purposes, though there's some lore-based logic in the assignments), but once things do shift, I'll be sure to track the changes

[Arctic_Slicer]

Yeah I could definatly see it being a problem but then again maybe the MOB content of Kojan is different from the other continents where having more DPS would be better than more tankage or some such senario. I really don't know much about combat or MOB diversity in the game but from what I have read it sounded like they wanted different areas to have different MOBs which would have different strategies to be victorious in other areas. Of course that is only based on things I have read and I haven't had a chance to see any of this stuff first hand myself so I really don't know.

[Cobalt Katze]

Aye, likewise. There's a lot of factors that go into it. I was mainly just bored out of my mind at work yesterday and wanted to play with the new info We'll see how things play out from here.

[Strokke]

Wow Kojan has a ton of offensive fighters. That will be an interesting continent

[Aegis]

This is some great info here, although I think we're surveying the situation from the wrong angle. The proportions aren't exactly equal, but just because one continent has more races that can choose a class doesn't neccesarily mean it'll actually affect the continent population ratios. Thestra seems to be gimped out of quite a few classes, and Kojan about two. Qalia seems to have the diversity of having access to all the classes. I don't know (or maybe I'm not saying =O) how exactly this will affect balance, or even if those classes that certain continents miss out on will actually affect gameplay (as I'm sure certain classes can substitute for other classes' roles). This is what raises some concern, at least on my part.

[Arctic_Slicer]

There is also the the fact that some races and classes are going to be alot more popular than others which can affect these ratios as well. Overall though I don't really think there is too much cause for concern.

Of course right now this ratio is mostly based on flavor and honestly I think I prefer when flavor drives the bus over balance driving the bus. That's not to say balance isn't important but having a flavorful game makes a more interesting game.

[Foxeye]

Originally Posted by Strokke

Wow Kojan has a ton of offensive fighters. That will be an interesting continent

Kojan evidently is inheriting the eastern concept of the kamikaze. *chuckle* They clearly do not fear death, as long as they can give a butt-whooping to the enemy.

[Cobalt Katze]

Originally Posted by Foxeye

Kojan evidently is inheriting the eastern concept of the kamikaze. *chuckle* They clearly do not fear death, as long as they can give a butt-whooping to the enemy.

Of course that triggers an image in my mind of 6 Monks flipping out of trees at unsuspecting otherworldly fiends Or having mass feign-fests.

I'm positive they'll balance class choices. Currently Raki don't have any tankly class at all. That'll change for sure.

[Nerual]

The numbers also don't take into acount those people who work crafting and things up and just sail across the world. So far the main problems to travel seem to be time and a way of getting there. Who knows maybe the inbalance will provide interesting oppertunitys, I have visions of some tanks sailing across the ocean to hire themselves out to some Kajoran groups or something like that, maybe a group of traveling monks providing a little more punch (no pun intended, wellll... maybe a little ) to groups elsewhere. This isn't DAoC where there are hard and fast lines and each area must be balanced. Who knows, imbalance in some areas could be the ingredient for flavor

[BrassB]

That was pretty deep lol......I love it when a game is gearing for launch...alot of thoughts are put into something that's still up-in-the-air. Great post !