So one of the things that seemed to be one of the more sporadic elements to the MMO is the equipment system.
Some of the problems we've seen include the general limitation to the number of pieces available along with their performances + price.
I thought (as I'm sure has been thought before) .. of the shop being more organized, just like in any RPG, but I'll draw my ideas from the FF series.
For example, the shop itself. Some ideas include:
1) A general overall lower price in equipment
2) Variety (and I'm sure this will be addressed in later installments)
3) Updates to the new equipment based on a more relevant system
- The shop having new equipment released just as it is after a certain set of levels, but keep them a bit more even, say every 5 levels?
- With each new unlocked assortment of weapons, offer some variety, i.e. offer 2 swords, 2 staffs, etc., (type as well, I'll get into that)
4) The organization itself, keep all weapons, armor, acc is order and in line, such as listing all the swords, then staffs, etc., then armor, etc. It'll just look a little more eye pleasing.
5) The general idea is that of an item shop out of an RPG, like .. FF7, FF Tactics, so forth
Now the equipment itself.
The idea I had stemmed from such games as FF Tactics where there are slots for equipment, just like there are here, but taken a little further. By this I mean the spaces for which pieces of equipment are occupied to something more ..
Just like in FF Tactics, I believe there are 5 Slots ..
1) Weapon/Shield
2) Weapon/Shield
3) Armor - (Class specific and general such as basic Leather Armor being available to all [if existed], and Steel Plate, being Warrior only)
4) Helmet - (Same idea as the armor specifics)
5) Acc - (rings, piercings, boots, gauntlets, etc)
This will offer more personalization and customization.
For the weapon slot, just as in FF Tactics, you can either carry two weapons, two shields (I believe, if not, be fun here), 1 weapon and 1 shield, or just 1 weapon. I'll explain.
The ability to carry differentiating weapons will allow for more personalization as I mentioned, but there's something interesting, it'll take into account different .. types .. of weapons.
For example, swords come in a variety of shapes and sizes, for our purposes, we will call them 1 handed or 2 handed swords.
1 Handed such as basic Long swords, Broad swords, Katanas will allow for the equipment of another 1 handed weapon or a shield for more defense. This can strike a balance between offensive and defensive bonuses, or you have the option of equipping 2 say, long swords for roughly twice the damage. I'm sure you can imagine the possibilities here, it will allow for differentiation between all the players especially in terms of group attacks later to be incorporated. Further more, clearly, for two handed weapons, no shield can be equipped but these weapons will often be more powerful than the 1 handed weapons, and even sometimes, depending, more so than even (2) 1 handed weapons, again, depending on the blade. Of course, this would apply to other weapons as well such as 2 handed staffs, etc.
For mages and priests, they could equip two shields for more defense and just focus on spellcasting, again, opening up more customization and possibilities. (Building on mages, the incorporation of a more structured elemental system would be neat and possibly adding that as effects on weapons, such as Flare Blades, or Ice Brands swords and such.)
I could honestly go on, but I am tired and these were some of my ideas as I was brushing my teeth ^_^ lol, but if anyone is familiar with FF Tactics, then I'm sure you get the general idea of what I'm suggesting would be sweet for upcoming installments.
Lemme know your thoughts about my ideas or I'm sure if they've already been suggested
