RPG Character Classes: Restricted or Not?

[WillSimplyBe]

Restricted.

With Multiplayer, normal or massive... Restricted as well.

I agree with the OP, it seems like the more unrestricted styles of job systems are more geared to power gamers or "meta" where its all about being the best, period.

I prefer restricted because its about being the best... THROUGH your role. Finding the different parts of the role of your class. Doing things in a game... the way only your class could.

I like items being restricted between classes, maybe not completely exclusive, but mostly.

I also think multi-classing (sub-jobs, etc) is a great way for more customization still within the class' main idea.

*EDIT*
not to mention, from a Multi-player standpoint, it works much better for it, it adds a very nice cooperative factor that works best with defined class roles.

 

[TPiddy]

I prefer unrestricted, because if you haven't done your research beforehand, you could build up a class to get some skills you 'think' are cool, and then they wind up being total ass and you have to start over.

Only do restricted if you can re-structure your skill tree. Otherwise, for those gamers who don't have a lot of time to play and want to succeed on their first or second run through, it becomes too hard.

For example, in Fallout 3, I had first started the game with a thief / light guns character, but then after I beat it I wanted to start over and use a heavy weapons guy. The problem with using the Heavy Weapons guy is that most of the early characters are only using light weapons or rifles, so finding ammo for your big guns is scarce. I pretty much had to resort to putting skill points into light guns because all I was getting was rifle and shotgun ammo. I had a tough go at it for a while, and it basically forced me to get to the point in the story where the Enclave showed up just so I could kill them and get their guns and ammo.