Character Specializations

[bad_mojo (DayZ) 1204]

I think everyone being able to do everything exactly the same isn't helping to create a living world. I feel like we should all be different in terms of our skills. The things we were prior to the apocalypse should shape who we are during it.

 

I think this variation can be accomplished with a specialization system, but instead of acquiring these skills through repetition of actions, we should design our characters before spawning. We would get a number of skill points to divide among the different skill sets. These would be set for the entire life of your character, never changing, never improving.

 

The important part of a system like this would be good balance between the skill sets. For example, if we got 10 skill points to use, it would require 6 points in one skill to (top out &) become a specialist. So you would only be able to specialize in one skill. It would also allow someone to be a jack of all trades and not specialize in any one skill, but have a bit of skill in each.

 

Skill sets

-Weapons

-Medical

-Bushcraft

-Mechanical

-Culinary

-Athletic

-Pilot/operator

-Explosives

 

Specializing in a skill set should give you advanced abilities not available to non-specialists. For example, only a medical specialist would be able to perform blood transfusions. But, once the blood has been taken and crafted into an IV bag, he could then give it to anyone to use.

 

Similarly, a bushcraft specialist could take some sticks and rope and craft a bow drill to start fires. A non-specialist wouldn't be able to craft this item, but would still be able to use one. This way, specialists can offer services(or be kidnapped and used) to non-specialists in exchange for something.

 

Gaining a few points in a skill would simply increase your abilities in that area. For example, some points in weapons might increase your accuracy. Points in medical might speed up your speed while doing medical procedures. Pilot skill might let you fly a helicopter, while somebody with no points in that skill can't even power it up. Athletic skill would perhaps increase your stamina and melee strength.

 

Other ways this system could effect your character is by changing your initial spawning load out. Being a pilot specialist might give you the option of spawning in a flight suit and helmet for example. A mechanical specialist might get overalls & gloves, maybe even a wrench. Weapon specialist gets some military clothing. You get the idea.

 

Some ability ideas for each skill....

 

-Weapons

Ability to repair weapons back to pristine condition.(Compared to worn for regulars)

 

-Medical

Ability to perform advanced medical procedures.(Surgery, transfusions)

 

-Bushcraft

Ability to craft various survival(and comfort) items in the wilderness.

 

-Mechanical

Ability to fully repair vehicles or use advanced machines(power up factory and use the lathe for example)

 

-Culinary

Ability to craft advanced meals using regular food items.

 

-Athletic

Ability to sprint faster, for longer, and swing melee weapons harder.

 

-Pilot/operator

Ability to fly air vehicles and see damage indicators.

 

-Explosives

Ability to craft explosives.

 

 

These are just some ideas I had for abilities and skill sets. I'm completely open to criticism, I'm more interested in the system than the actual abilities or skills.

[applejaxc 2500]

No.

 

Edited February 6, 2014 by Applejaxc

[bigfrak 116]

i love it and for the ones saying no i would love to hear y and give some good feed back not just no i dont like it tell us why you dont like the idea

[applejaxc 2500]

i would love to hear y

 

I think you'd love to read a dictionary. :)

[schadowhunter 6]

I don't like the idea.

 

Everybody should be able to do everything, otherwise this becomes like a WoW Raid where you need a tank/buffer/healer/etc. to be successful. Also different skilltrees will cause A LOT (and i mean: A REAL LOT) of whining, because you'll never be able to balance them correctly. It'll always be "mimimimi, Survival is OP". 

 

I want to be able to play alone, not need 10 other guys...

Edited February 6, 2014 by schadowhunter

[bad_mojo (DayZ) 1204]

I don't like the idea.

 

Everybody should be able to do anything, otherwise this becomes like a WoW Raid where you need a tank/buffer/healer/etc. to be successful. Also different skilltrees will cause A LOT (and i mean: A REAL LOT) of whining, because you'll never be able to balance them correctly. 

 

I want to be able to play alone, not need 10 other guys...

 

The skills would only give you advantages, they wouldn't be required for you to survive. You wouldn't need 10 people to play, but the groups who have 10 people should benefit from it.

 

For example, currently you need two people to perform transfusions, but transfusions aren't required because we regenerate blood ourselves. The people who have someone to help them get that benefit of being able to do transfusions. It's the same with the skills I suggested.(Except for the pilot, but nothign is set in stone.) I agree with you that other people shouldn't be required to play the game.

[schadowhunter 6]

I only experienced what happened when they introduced skills to The War Z... even though the game was utter **** anyways, some skills (especially more HP and faster Movement) were way more valuable then other skills.

 

I see that there might be some potential in the idea, but it requires a lot of work and shouldn't be started to work on until the very rest of the game is finished... ;)

[burkino_026@yahoo.com 14]

I only experienced what happened when they introduced skills to The War Z... even though the game was utter **** anyways, some skills (especially more HP and faster Movement) were way more valuable then other skills.

 

I see that there might be some potential in the idea, but it requires a lot of work and shouldn't be started to work on until the very rest of the game is finished... ;)

what he said

[blackberrygoo 1416]

Yea and sheer fact of the matter is , I'm sure rocket will have coded in a TON of stuff to do by the time it's beta , so useless skill trees in video games will be a thing of the past because if you wanna specialize in being a medic one day , then realize you wanna be better at piloting an aircraft the next day you'd have to create a new character , removing immersion and makin , well a scripted video game as opposed to a "do anything and change at anytime " game . And not to mention the games about realism and in real life , skills ARE made because of repeating something over and over again .

[Slugfoot1 16]

Maybe some skills could be acquired through interaction / learning from other players, like in RL?

For example, watching someone fix a vehicle or make a fire without matches will increase the players ability to perform that task successfully.

Might this not encourage team play / coop?

 

Just a thought...

Edited February 6, 2014 by Slugfoot1

[djporternz 644]

No. Characters in DayZ are EXACTLY alike. What you can do, I can do. This is not to imply I will, but there is nothing to stop me from doing so. So no. No skill system, no abilities, no unequal characters.

[bad_mojo (DayZ) 1204]

People aren't all equal in real life. I can't fly a helicopter or perform surgery, but I might be able to run faster than someone who does.

 

Most of us can bolt some wheels on a car, but can we all rebuild a damaged engine?

 

I'm not trying to keep people from doing things they realistically could, I just want to create some specialized tasks for specialists.

[blackberrygoo 1416]

People aren't all equal in real life. I can't fly a helicopter or perform surgery, but I might be able to run faster than someone who does.

Most of us can bolt some wheels on a car, but can we all rebuild a damaged engine?

I'm not trying to keep people from doing things they realistically could, I just want to create some specialized tasks for specialists.

But that being said the only thing that keeps you from performing open heart surgery while flying a b-52 bomber is knowledge and practice so technically you CAN do anything you'd like(including rebuilding a damaged engine) , and in post apocalyptic chernarus there is no specializations . Kind of hard to explain but think of it like this , we can all do anything in real life , it just requires going to college / school to learn the trade , or just doing it over and over again to teach yourself so there's no specialized classes because of the logic of survivalism , noone would search for a medic to stitch themselves up in a real apocalypse , they would just wing it instead.

But we do get your plea for specialized classes , if it were any other game id be all for it but dayz is just different than anything out there it truly is. so we all have to realize it has very open and different mechanics that don't necessarily work for certain good ideas . Could definitely work for private hives that like role playing with assigned roles though ?

[bad_mojo (DayZ) 1204]

But that being said the only thing that keeps you from performing open heart surgery while flying a b-52 bomber is knowledge and practice so technically you CAN do anything you'd like(including rebuilding a damaged engine) , and in post apocalyptic chernarus there is no specializations . Kind of hard to explain but think of it like this , we can all do anything in real life , it just requires going to college / school to learn the trade , or just doing it over and over again to teach yourself so there's no specialized classes because of the logic of survivalism , noone would search for a medic to stitch themselves up in a real apocalypse , they would just wing it instead.

 

I'm not saying you shouldn't be able to stitch yourself up. I'm saying if open heart surgery entails holding a pristine surgeons kit and clicking the action, maybe we shouldn't let everyone do it.

 

If someone wants to play the role of a former combat medic, they might specialize in medical and put the rest into weapons, explosive, athletics & bushcraft. Or someone might put it all into athletics and chase down their victims with an axe, taking the role of a raging cannibal.

 

Maybe more than one specialization would be better. So you could fly the b52 while doing the surgery. But, my suggestion is really about picking the skills prior to spawning and not changing them during play. The skills would reflect the back story of your character, their prior occupation, interests or training. I'm not saying we should limit anyone to just one thing, but I don't want to see everyone having everything either.

[burkino_026@yahoo.com 14]

or....

 

expand the mechanics of things, and add minigames, as mentioned.

 

eg. in-depth weapon mechanics (think Receiver). As mentioned.

 

eg. IV application minigames. As mentioned.

 

eg. advanced controls for cars and helicopters, making them as realistic as the engine allows.

 

skills could then just be how proficient the character is at any given tasks. A dynamic value that boosts when practicing that activity and while in healthy conditions, and degrades over time not carrying out that activity.

That would dynamically adapt itself to any player's gamestyle, as one that uses weapons constantly will be constantly skilled at realoading a magazine, clearing a jam, or steading the weapon while aiming, while someone constantly driving would have a better control and responsiveness, and someone constantly applying medical stuff will be more efficient at healing people, and someone constantly cooking will be more efficient at it.

One can do them all, but it's hard to be perfect in everything.

Nothing fancy or radical boosts, just a natural build up of muscle memory to certain tasks, making them more efficient. I'd be up for that.

No levels, or permanent skills, or special abilities, or specialization, that'd be too much for me too.

[irishroy 1347]

i dont like the idea, but i hate people. who just say 

"No, you motherf*. this is bad, and you are bad"

[bigfrak 116]

I think you'd love to read a dictionary. :)

thanks for your input so good to hear your reason lol no leave bc you are not helping this game at all by being on the fourms.