Post level cap specialization/progression

[Celwyn]

One thing EQ1 did really well for level capped characters was offer an "Alternate Advancement" (AA). This system enabled players to continue to acquire experience, but to apply it to AA points. A player then allocated AA points to specialty (AA) abilities to further specialize their character. I really missed this in other MMORPGs.

The experience required for each AA point was significant, requiring more of a grind. Choosing not to grind AA's did not make a character ineffective; it just didnt have a slight buff to certain abilities.

The enhancements, whether for dps, tank, healing or support, were only minor improvements, but did enable toons to be somewhat more unique with individualized areas/abilities of improved strength. For example, an archer (ranger) could improve bow skills by earning a slight passive increase to bow speed. A healer might improve their rez, such as a slightly lower cd for battle rezzes or returning a player with slightly more health and mana; A tank might gain a passive slightly improved mitigation; etc...

Having some kind of AA system would give additional reason for completing undone quests post level cap, help players feel that they are still improving, albeit in more of a grind, as they wait for lfg to pop or in between raids. It would also be kind of cool to go into group play knowing your toon has a unique slightly buffed ability (that you worked hard for).

Anyway, would love to see something like this. In some ways its merely and extension of soul trees, but only slight buffs to present abilities and much longer to grind out.

Celwyn

[Salamol]

This would be pretty cool. It would mean that the experience gained from quests at 50 would go somewhere. You mention specialisation... and an extension of soul trees, do you think we should be able to reset these AA points whenever we reset our soul points?

Perhaps an extra 5 AA points per soul... and the soul must be your main (in the middle) to gain xp towards that souls point. This way, it would encourage players to play all souls with different specs, to eventually have the additional 5 points for each soul.

As a Chloro I could knock 15 seconds off my combat rez timer per point.
As an Archon I could increase the effectiveness of my buffs by 2% per point.

And so on

[Celwyn]

EQ had a significant amount of AA abilities which would, if you wanted them all, require hundreds of AA points. They designed the abilities in such as way that they enhanced already existing class abilities while keeping it non-op or non-gamebreaking. These are slight buffs of existing innate or taken (via sould trees) class abilities.

So...for example, the passive bow speed buff would take 5 AA points, each point providing .2% increase. The 5 point ability could be a passive 1% increase.

The details would have to be worked out by Rift Devs that intimately understand the game balance. However, at risk of getting in too deep, I would suggest that each of the 5 potential roles a character could have received a separate AA bank. All of the AA abilites would be available for earning, but intuitively a player would work on those that improved the abilities of the role they are playing and bypass those that don't. If a player wanted to do this for each role they posessed, they might have to grind for AAs per role, not simply carry it over. (Although carryover, if it applies to another role a char posesses, may not be OP and might be a design consideration).

Keep in mind, the system is designed to be a grind--not everyone would do it, nor would improvement come rapidly. A lot of experience would be needed for just one AA point and the reward is small. But, nevertheless, there is the reward of small character ability advancement/improvement and feeling like you are continuing to improve even as you gain AA experience while farming cloth, questing otherwise unneeded quests, grinding out mob kills while you wait for lfg or in between raids, or as you run expert dungeons and spend hours raiding. All the while you are making use of experience that can be applied to AA.

[Zombieking]

agreed. they are working on an AA system but have yet to release any specifics on it.

[July13th]

An AA system (or something similar) is coming.

[Salamol]

agreed. they are working on an AA system but have yet to release any specifics on it.

http://rift.zam.com/story.html?story=27030

[Celwyn]

Excellent!

[OptimusPrimeisOP]

I want to see some strictly flavor options like:

1. turns your fire spells blue.
2. Shadow step has a fire effect
3. You can summon 2 companion pets instead of 1.
4. Death spells cause a spirit to follow you for x seconds