Switching between character classes

Jiia · 2005-04-27T16:26:56

I guess you could say I'm creating a medieval fighting game. The game is an RPG, but it's more action oriented than story telling. However, the skill system will be detailed like story telling RPGs. When characters gain skills in fighting categories, they gain new attack or defensive moves for that category. This is seperate from increasing stats such as strength or speed, which alter the effectiveness of the moves. All characters start out as novices. Novices can only use a limited number of weapons. A short sword, a small bow, short staffs, knives, hatchets, or unarmed. The weapons are what dictate your fighting category. Each weapon type is directly linked to combat moves and combat skills. After a character masters a weapon (gains at least half of it's full potential), they can upgrade to a new class. Mastering short swords allows characters to upgrade to a swordsman, where mastering unarmed allows the character to upgrade to a fighter. Once a character upgrade's their class, they will have the ability to use new weapons. A swordsman can start using dual short swords or a long sword. A fighter would have the ability to switch to other fighting styles. An axeman could use battle axes or throwing axes. Each weapon would offer a different set of directions. Some upgraded classes can upgrade to even higher classes. This is where my concern comes in. I want to avoid allowing the player to switch between classes. I want an upgrade-only system. I don't want to allow a swordsman to switch to an archer or fighter. Simular to how some RPGs allow you to choose a class at the beginning of a game, and you're stuck with it (Diablo). Except here, you have to earn the title first. So how do I do this? Do I prevent a fighter from using swords? Or are they allowed to use short swords and are just stuck at novice skill? A character who upgrades to an axeman is throwing away any potential they may have to use long swords, but could still use and completely master short swords? If you need more game-type information, Morrowind and Gothic are good examples of what I'm trying to create. I want the player to feel like they are really changing their character, and not simply wearing a different pair of pants. I want their choices to be major direction changes in their gameplay experience. Any opinions or suggestions?