Interview with Lead Developer Wei Zhang

Asone - Raging Tide wrote: »

I see a big turning point in PvE and even more so with PvP in the game with this mechanic in place. A lot of newer games have you rolling or dodging. I can tell you from experiencing this in more recent games that it's a lot of fun and keeps my attention span for a good while.

Although I seriously hope they upgrade the other classes with this like soon. I can see them getting pounded out by the newer classes. There is a lot of advantages in being able to use your skills while moving.b:pleased




You're welcome. b:chuckle

This brings up a good point. I remember reading a loosely translated chineese version of the update before the official PWI announcement here.
The points that stood out (and made me think it was an actually different title, not a content update) was:
"New graphics engine".
"New open Action Combat".
I never knew a game that changed it's combat schemes from tab to open action. Not sure if they will go full open action or just change some "casting while moving" choices. Both bring good and bad.

As a Ex end game RIFT player, there were a lot of move while casting skills. Mele was silly as you are running in one direction, torso twisted in other, as you try and run side step some one while casting at a distance doing a kite like distance dammage. It looks and feels stupid. Like, ok, I just swung a hammer a mile away, landed the damage and running around like a chicken." Unless they plan to add "distance" and "hit" calculations this could could ugly. On the other hand, it feels good to pop off spells without having to full on stop. PWI could use some shine on that like some sparks, and other "why am I Stopping" spells that felt odd. Some spells do feel good to stop, charge up, and explode. Balance, and knowing how to fine tune each character is key. Not "oh do it across the board" updting...

Full open action combat. As old **** and *** player (and RaiderZ, and I guess every mmorpg that exists b:sad) I can say it does feel good, but only if the mobs are made for it. **** gave me arthritis fast as the key to EVERY SINGLE battle was hit, hit roll, hit, dodge. Even low level mobs could wear you down if you did not do a key roll. They troll you out by forcing the "action" aspect of it by making mobs do a stun, or freeze spell on you if you do not avoid after the first or second hit. So every battle had this hand acrobats...which is cool to start...but after you start leveling up and have to kill 50 things all doing the same dodge pattern over and over...I craved for the "just let me tab my skills that I arranged in a strategic order and let the PC calculate the dodge ratios based on level etc.."
"Oh that is lazy". I beg to differ. I prefer TAB targeting, because rotation and knowing when to pop what skill is key. So many "open action" games dumbing down the hot bar to 4 main attack skills. Because open action is not a good "multi skill" load out choice. Combo systems in Tab targeting also ups the "skill". And uiet frankly, I like the TAB targeting in the end.
SOme one above mentioned boss fights. Here is where Open Action is a little better. Nothing feels more rewarding than dodging dragon fire, running up, ,swinging, jumping over the shock blast, pulling in a magic spell, then dodging a claw swipe....but it does negate the magic class a lot. That is why most games have trouble managing the role of a healer in these open action games. When your job is to sit still and heal and move occasionally, it is odd.
ALso, Neverwinter is a **** poor example of open action. The insanity of "dodging red enemy circles on the ground" is ugly, chaotic and annoying. Nothing says "epic action combat" like staring at the ground for 30 min of battle. And they get sloppy with the damage circles and force us to run around and at least take some damage. That negates AOE and direct attacks, and forces "have to get hit a little bit" senseless boss design. Tab targeting boss fights, mixed with a little "move around cuz grounds going to explode" is the best experience I have enjoyed. Healer aids damage a bit until it's time to focus on whos getting low HP. Then so you are not staring at HP bars, the cave starts to melt, and you have to pay attention to move around a bit. etc... balance. **** had a wierd way of making full healer class. We were full on balanced fighters in PvE (I soloed all PvE content as a healer). But in dungeons, we for sure did 0 as far as damage and it was like playing a whole new game in group as a healer. You just focus on where you are standing and how to heal. Not many games can remove the these two game styles. PWI is an example of how they had trouble with open world content and dungeon content. THey just differentiate by upping the DEF and HP of bosses and mobs since they had no other way to mechanically make the two realms feel "different" to put you to the test. Just..."oh, need more challange? how about 9999999/9999999"... just likes its economy....b:shutup