Herds, Classes (Kinda), Survivor Groups.

[Gary_Coleman 27]

OK, so I know there has been a lot of talk about classes and the flak a lot of posters get for entertaining the idea but I honestly like the idea.

What were you before the world came to an end? A hunter? A Mechanic? A Doctor or E.M.T.? Etc...

I dont believe the class system should limit characters to be able to only perform a certain action because that would destroy the "Lone Wolf" dynamic but instead if you choose to spawn as a hunter it will increase payback on certian actions I.E. a few more steaks harvested from an animal. Or an E.M.T. can perform blood tranfusions on himself or raise a chracters blood with more than just a blood bag.

I just think a survivor should be more than just a survivor. You had a profession before the outbreak so you should have certain skills that you can implement.

Going along with that I believe that whatever profession you choose should have a unique starting loadout. Using the hunter as an example again, should start with a knife, map and water bottle. Just an example.

Moving on to zombies. I like the feeling you get when you enter towns. Head on a swivel, keeping full awareness of both zeds and bandits but the feeling of safety and serentiy of the wilderness can sometimes get daunting. The addition of traveling herds would be a feature I wouldnt mind seeing.

Now I dont know what kind of affect this would have on the server because aparently AI paths causes fps issues right now.

How great would it be to look up from your map to see a herd traveling in you direction. There could multiple herds that travel a set path on the map. Im no programer but I assume the longer the AI path the more resources needed to support that.

Lastly there I believe some sorting of in-game grouping method should be implemented. I roll with eight other survivors and things get confusing sometimes.

Currently the only way to identify our team now is by which weapons we are carrying. Tensions can get high when we split the city in half during our loot runs and one group encounters another. even though we are communicating the instinct is to kill or be killed.

I would just like to see some sort or indicator that makes you aware that the survivor you have in your crosshairs is indeed in or not in your group.

[enforcer1975 1111]

I don't think the game has a spotting mechanic like f.e. what i saw in a video in CS:GO "you have spotted a friend". Use certain skins so you can identify yourselves easier for the meantime.

[Gary_Coleman 27]

Well it is pretty easy to identify me because I am the only black character out the nine total ha. No question ever whether its me they see or not.

[PointAndClick 6]

The biggest problem with this kind of classes system is balance. The current system solves the classes system partly by having a very limited non-stacking inventory. Your choice of inventory is what defines your role.

Herds add to atmosphere and there are always ideas for a better atmosphere. I like it, but it's not really an integral part of my experience as survivor.

Friendly fire and the confusion, it all adds to the game, it doesn't subtract from it. The thing it does is make groups perform better. So this is something that should be found or created in the world. Like for instance having a radio tower and radios will make the radios show up on your map.

[Gary_Coleman 27]

We do already perform well but there has been some times where friendly fire has been a problem, In a real life situations you can tell whos your buddy by looking at his face. I dont think there should be a name over the player but just a crosshair indicator.

[Cypherdiaz 28]

I will say I support the idea of 'intelligent classes'. Chances of someone being an uber elite dead eye sniper before...limited as hell. Allowing people to choose certain 'professions' will just give them certain bonuses at the start and some throughout.

This will drastically increase team play as group makeup would be important.

What id suggest, just off the top of my head..

Farmer, Hunter, EMT/Nurse, Cop, Taxi Driver, Mechanic,

Farmer:

1)0.5 x Number of Steaks on Animal. Minimum 'boost' is 1. So a rabbit would drop 2 while a cow (which normally drops 8) would drop 12.

2)Starts with (including base gear): Hunting Knife.

Hunter:

1)Less scope sway when using a scoped rifle due to a many hours spent with scoped rifles during life.

2)Starts with (Including base gear): Binoculars.

EMT/Nurse:

1)When you apply a bandage to another person, instead of only stopping bleeding, it would also add 400 BP to them.

2)Starts with (including base gear): 1 Epi-Pen & 1 Morphine

Cop:

1)Pistols do an extra 1/4 times their normal damage to infected (only)

2)Starts with (Including base gear): ????

Taxi Driver:

1)Uses 1/4 Less Fuel than 'normal' (accounting for any fuel leaks) due to experience on maximizing fuel over distances

2)Starts with (including base gear): 1 Jerry Can

Mechanic:

1)Takes 1/2 the time to construct/deconstruct Barbed Wire/Tank Traps. Also (if driving), a vehicle will degrade slower under normal conditions (IE: NOT being shot at)

2)Starts with (including base gear): Toolbox

The point above is that each of those 5 professions is NOT game breaking. There are small bonuses and general starting item benefits that are not game breaking. Yet they will be beneficial and make people want to come together more often.

Of course those are just general suggestions to exemplify what can be done with a 'before the apoc profession' system to add some flavor and interesting mechanics without making any of them overpowered gamebreakers.

If done right it would be awesome because, as the OP says, everyone was something else beforehand.

A good example would be the TV Series Falling Skies. One of the main characters was a history teacher but now is an AK toting leader of the resistance.

[Gary_Coleman 27]

I def support Cypherdiaz post. I was not sure what would be a balanced classing sytem would be but I do completely believe there needs to be diversity among survivors. I Just dont want it to turn into a WoW or other mmorpg where your limitied to that class. I think starting with different gear and having SLIGHT tweeks to certain actions or performance would be very beneficial

Edited July 14, 2012 by Gary_Coleman

[idunc 62]

Please people, just stop with this class shit. This is not a class game. Classes are completely unnecessary in this game. Not only that, but they would ruin the game.

[Cypherdiaz 28]

Well thank you IDunc for your totally useless post.

I truly hate people who just go 'stop, its not gonna happen, blarg rage'. Simple mindness is the enemy of creation and imagination.

You didnt even bother arguing the point other than saying

This is not a class game. Classes are completely unnecessary in this game. Not only that, but they would ruin the game.

Obviously if people keep bringing it up then they feel that classes would be a GOOD thing for this game. You don't speak for everyone, so how about you just please stop being a controlling ninny and let others flesh out ideas. You aren't deciding what direction this game takes, that is the job of the devs. We, the testers, put up ideas and they decide what they want to do.

Now then.

I think that if classes were carefully put in with only minor benefits then balance wont be an issue and will add flavor. You wont feel like every other podunk survivor in the game. Feeling..unique..is important even if the reality is that you aren't special.

By no means do i think we need WOW style classes or even ones as serious as the classes in Killing Floor. Light weight 'pre-apoc professions' would be a benefit I think.

[Gary_Coleman 27]

Please people, just stop with this class shit. This is not a class game. Classes are completely unnecessary in this game. Not only that, but they would ruin the game.

So its not a class game right? Thats why in my survivor group we have the best shots carry the snipers. Thats why have have the the people who understand the zombie mechanics the most loot the cities while the snipers provide overwatch. Sounds like a class system to me.

Now imagine if there were slight perks added to that mechanic. How you could become proficiant with your character. Having a proficiant group of survivors... Sounds good to me.

How about next time you post you dispute why this would be a bad idea instead of being a jackass.

[lman84 8]

Agreed this is an excellent idea.

Edited July 25, 2012 by lman84