Feature Test - Class Switching

Character classes have been a common convention in RPGs and MMOs since the beginning. However, there has been little deviation from the standard "one character can only have one class" formula. Major MMOs that have been released since 2010 like Wildstar, Elder Scrolls Online, Guild Wars 2, TERA, Star Wars The Old Republic, Rift, and Dragon Nest have all followed the standard formula. 
In this post, I would like to take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of having a class switching feature and provide some examples of its successful implementation.

Advantages

Discovery

When you get into a new MMO, how can you decide which class and playstyle you will enjoy most before even playing the game? Each MMO has different gameplay mechanics and class skills that ultimately change how a typical class, such as warrior, rogue, and mage, plays. The issue of not knowing which class to pick when creating a character often leads to "altoholism", where after playing a character for a few days, you create another character with another class to try out.

The class switching feature can help new players find out what class and playstyle they enjoy. Also, they will be able to learn first hand about all the classes in the game to make them more knowledgeable about the capability of other classes which can come in handy when playing in a group.

 

Variety

Being able to easily switch classes allows for more ways to play the game and tackle objectives. If you only play one class, you are limited by the class' role and capabilities and are missing out on numerous skills, gear, and playstyles that the other classes provide.

 

Flexibility

Switching classes is also very helpful for group play. If your group is missing a "tank", all you have to do is invite another person into your group and have someone in your group switch classes instead of waiting for someone who "rolled" a tank from the beginning. This approach can significantly speed up the "looking for group" process in MMOs.

 

Less repetition

In MMOs that do not allow players to switch classes, when you want to try another class, you have to resort to creating a new character and leveling it up from the beginning. This creates a lot of repetition of the content you have already completed on your higher level character. If there are many classes in the game and no varied class or race based starting zones, repeating the same quests becomes a huge chore. However, if class switching is allowed, this common chore will disappear.

Disadvantages

Mastery

When you are spending time on different classes as you progress through the game, you may not be as skilled of a player with a certain class as someone who only played that class. This may lead to players not being effective at playing a healer if they usually play a tank. However, with time, a player should be able to master all classes. Also, it is up to the player whether they do or do not want to switch classes as they play the game. Finally, even with altoholism you will be dividing up your time and practice amongst multiple classes, so this issue still persists in a "standard formula" MMO.

 

Gear Swapping

Different classes usually have different sets of gear. Different weapons like daggers and staves, and different armor types such as light armor and heavy armor. Carrying all this gear with you in case you need to switch classes is a sure way to clog your inventory. Thankfully, one of the simple solutions is having multiple equipment pages, one for each class. When you switch from rogue to warrior, the gear you had equipped on the warrior gets activated, and the one you were wearing on the rogue gets saved in the rogue's equipment page. You would be able to manually check and swap out gear you have on each class through a menu.

Implemented Class Switching 

 

MOBAs

While a separate genre, the fact that you can switch the character you play between matches creates great gameplay variety, team flexibility, and discovery of the strengths and weaknesses of your and your opponent's teams. MOBAs share the MMO trinity convention of tank, healer, and DPS having to be a part of a team for it to be successful. Before or at the beginning of MOBA matches, teams tailor their team composition to fill the trinity roles by selecting the respective characters. Therefore, class switching is similar to character selection in MOBAs.

Eden Eternal

This anime-styled MMORPG implements the class switching feature by having three sets of armor that you can have equipped at the same time, one for light, medium, and heavy armor. The armor and weapons are restricted by character level. When you switch classes, the relevant equipped armor set gets activated. There are also many classes that you unlock as you increase your character level by doing quests. While you are using a class, you gain class levels which unlock new skills for the class to use.

Conclusion

Class switching is an underestimated feature in today's MMO industry. It supports discovery, variety, flexibility, and reduced repetition. Also, its disadvantages can be offset with simple solutions. Hopefully, we will see more MMOs in the near future with class switching implemented, as it is an advantageous feature to have for a more dynamic gaming experience.

Take a look at the Reddit discussion of this topic if you are interested.

Respectful comments, discussions, suggestions, and constructive criticisms are always welcome.