05-29-2009, 09:04 AM
I've never been particularly pleased with the typical MMORPG model of health, damage and healing. For one thing, I think it over-emphasizes healers, as any ability that can restore 50% of your health is obviously going to be super powerful and ultimately the game gets designed around that, and if you don't have enough of it, you probably can't play the game very effectively.
I think I prefer the HALO/POTBS system. My game would have no "healers".
Your health has two components:
One that regenerates very quickly (HALO: Shields / POTBS: Balance).
One that does not regenerate (health).
So to kill someone you have to batter down their shields and then do damage to their health. So let's say you have 100 shields and 100 health. I do 180 damage to you, but you win the fight. Your shields quickly regenerate and you are left standing with 100 shields and 20 health.
This allows some degree of "the Rambo effect". If you can defeat an enemy without losing too much "health", then you'll regenerate your shields quickly and won't be at such a huge disadvantage against the next guy.
I also thought the POTBS method of healing health was good. In melee, you would simply have to avoid getting hit long enough to bandage yourself. There was no "healer". You just had to break combat long enough to do it.
Although I'm not sure if I like the POTBS or the Halo method of shield regen more.
POTBS: Shields ("balance") regen constantly at a modest pace during the fight.
Halo: Shields do not regen while you're being hit. If you can go for a few seconds without being hit, shields will recover very quickly.
I think I prefer the HALO/POTBS system. My game would have no "healers".
Your health has two components:
One that regenerates very quickly (HALO: Shields / POTBS: Balance).
One that does not regenerate (health).
So to kill someone you have to batter down their shields and then do damage to their health. So let's say you have 100 shields and 100 health. I do 180 damage to you, but you win the fight. Your shields quickly regenerate and you are left standing with 100 shields and 20 health.
This allows some degree of "the Rambo effect". If you can defeat an enemy without losing too much "health", then you'll regenerate your shields quickly and won't be at such a huge disadvantage against the next guy.
I also thought the POTBS method of healing health was good. In melee, you would simply have to avoid getting hit long enough to bandage yourself. There was no "healer". You just had to break combat long enough to do it.
Although I'm not sure if I like the POTBS or the Halo method of shield regen more.
POTBS: Shields ("balance") regen constantly at a modest pace during the fight.
Halo: Shields do not regen while you're being hit. If you can go for a few seconds without being hit, shields will recover very quickly.