An idea for an alternate way to play the game, similar to the challenge of introducing handicaps to how the normal game is played IE; playing classless.
This would be a hardcore multiplayer-specific style of play where each player fulfills a specific sub-class role. Each sub-class has its own set of handicaps and gameplay guidelines that must be adhered to. This playstyle is designed to put players at a disadvantage individually, in order to promote a more careful and deliberate cohesion between players and their classes, forcing the players to work together in a group to achieve results that could otherwise be easily attained in singleplayer/multiplayer without said restrictions. Builds following these guidelines have the potential to be weak and janky as I’m no expert on the game, just brainstorming so feel free to contribute any way you want to.
RECOMMENDED NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 4
List of sub-classes (you can make your own ideas, these are just examples. Feel free to expand on them, or offer constructive criticism, balance concerns, or anything else, id love to hear your own ideas to how this could be done with a group of 4 friends) I was aiming to keep it at 4 classes but, lots of ideas keep popping into my mind;
Fighter
Rogue
Wizard
Alchemist
Priest
List of universal handicaps and guidelines;
Only 1 character of each type can be on a team. IE; a team can never have 2 or more players using the same class simultaneously (2 Wizards, 4 Fighters, etc). Teams must be diverse and balance their classes wisely.
List of sub-class handicaps and guidelines;
FIGHTER:
ROLE: Tank/Non-magic damage dealer/Minor DPS
Legal Armaments;
Swords
Axes
Maces
Polearms
Shields
Heavy armors
COMBAT SKILLS/SPECS;
Legal Masteries: Soldier, Oathkeeper, Shaman, Nightblade
2-handed capable: Yes
Dual wield: No
Projectile skills limiter: Cant use projectile skills
Projectile procs limiter: Targo’s Hammer
AoE attack skill limiter: 4 meter max radius/target area
AoE buff/debuff skill limiter:
Can only buff/debuff Physical, Bleed, and Pierce damage types, OA, DA, and Armor/Armor absorption.
Single-target limiter: Physical, Bleed, Pierce
Movement Speed increase: Items only
Attack Speed increase: Items only
Cast Speed increase: No
ROGUE:
ROLE: Glass cannon/Major DPS/hit and run
Legal Armaments;
Daggers
Pistols
Regular Armors
Combat/skill specs;
Legal masteries: Nightblade, Occultist, Oathkeeper, Soldier, Inquisitor, Demolitionist
2-handed capable: No
Dual wield: Yes
Projectile skills limiter: Pierce, Vitality
Projectile procs limiter: Pierce, Acid, Vitality, Bleed
AoE attack skill limiter: 4.5 meter max radius/target area, Pierce, Acid, Bleed, Vitality
Aoe buff/debuff limiter: Can only buff/debuff Pierce, Cold, Acid, Bleed, Vitality
Single-target limiter: Pierce, Acid, Bleed
Movement Speed increase: Items, Skills, and Devotions
Attack Speed increase: Items, Skills, and Devotions
Cast Speed increase: No
WIZARD:
ROLE: Glass Cannon/Magic damage dealer/DPS
Legal Armaments;
Scepters
Daggers
Caster off-hand
Caster armors
COMBAT SKILLS/SPECS;
Legal Masteries: Arcanist, Necromancer, Inquisitor, Demolitionist, Oathkeeper, Nightblade, Shaman
2-handed capable: No
Dual wield: No
Projectile skills limiter: Fire, Cold, Lightning, Elemental, Aether
Projectile procs limiter: Fire, Cold, Lightning, Elemental, Aether
AoE attack skill limiter: Fire, Cold, Lightning, Elemental, Aether
Aoe buff/debuff limiter: Can only buff/debuff Fire, Cold, Lightning, Elemental, Aether
Single-target limiter: Fire, Cold, Lightning, Elemental, Aether
Movement Speed increase: Items and Devotions
Attack Speed increase: Items only
Cast Speed increase: Items, Skills, and Devotions
ALCHEMIST:
ROLE: Support - Crafting and Consumables/Loot storage/Provisions/sweep and clear maps
Legal Armaments;
Any weapon type
Shields
Caster off hands
Any armor type
COMBAT SKILLS/SPECS;
Legal Masteries: All
2-handed capable: No
Dual wield: No
Projectile skills limiter: Cant use projectile attacks
Projectile procs limiter: Cant use projectile procs
AoE attack skill limiter: Cant use AoE attacks
Aoe buff/debuff limiter: Cant use AoE buffs/debuffs
AoE procs limiter: Only stun/knockdown/confuse/petrify/reduced attack speed
Single-target limiter: Only stun/knockdown/confuse/petrify/reduced attack speed
Movement Speed increase: Items, skills, and Devotions
Attack Speed increase: Items only
Cast Speed increase: Items only
PRIEST:
ROLE: Support - Healer/Buffer/Debuffer/Chaos damage specialist
Legal Armaments;
Scepters
Caster off-hand
Caster armors
COMBAT SKILLS/SPECS;
Legal Masteries: Inquisitor, Occultist, Shaman, Oathkeeper
2-handed capable: No
Dual wield: No
Projectile skills limiter: Chaos
Projectile procs limiter: Chaos
AoE attack skill limiter: Chaos
Aoe buff/debuff limiter: HP regen, group heals, RR, Chaos
AoE procs limiter: HP Regen, group heals, RR, Chaos
Single-target limiter: Stun, knockdown, confuse, petrify, reduced attack speed, RR, Chaos
Movement Speed increase: Items, skills, and Devotions
Attack Speed increase: Items only
Cast Speed increase: Items only