OnlineWelten Artikel zum Onlinespiel Earthrise

Onlinewelten: We learned that the character development in Earthrise is based on a skill system. How many skills do you offer? Can we learn all skills or is there a skill cap in Earthrise? How do the characters learn or improve their skills?

Apostol Apostolov: Skills are being ironed as we speak so exact number may not be ready for announcement, but the sum of all skills in the game – combat, crafting and careers - will be huge. All skills can be learned by a player given enough time and persistence, but what skills can be used at once depends on the choice of gear and weapon of the character. Skill improvement is through collecting skill points by doing associated actions – combat skill points come from overcoming opponents, career skill points come from offline professions, etc.

Onlinewelten: This leads us to the combat system. What comes first in your mind when think about combat in Earthrise? Is the combat faster and more active than in other popular MMOGs?

Apostol Apostolov: Combat in Earthrise plays as close to a Third Person Shooter as possible considering the complexity of using hundreds of different abilities and the tactical pace of the battle. We have sped up combat and movement, and given players complete control on their character. In comparison with traditional MMORPGs, Earthrise definitely feels more dynamic and deadlier.

Onlinewelten: Good equipment or good player skill? What is more important? How is the balance between character skills, gear and expertise of the players?

Apostol Apostolov: While good equipment can give a character some edge and unlock the use of abilities based on the technology at hand, it is the player’s skill that defines success or failure. Players not only have full movement control and require sharp targeting skills, but can also modify their abilities with dozens of Tactics, enhancements that modify the properties of an Ability to better suit the player’s gameplay style.

Onlinewelten: Earthrise offers a crafting system as well. What kinds of items are craftable? Are there special crafter skills we can learn or specialize? And are crafted items better than rewards or loot?

Apostol Apostolov: Everything players can lay their hands on can be crafted one way or another. One of Earthrise’s strongest points is its player-run economy. Most usable items such as weapons and armor will be made by players, and items will wear off with use, break or lose quality with each repair. Players will experience an economy of supply and demand, where access to powerful technologies and designs give a crafter true influence on the market, in addition to social and political relationships. As for comparison between crafted items and loot, sometimes loot will be better by player-made items simply because the challenges in acquiring those items will be much more dangerous.

Onlinewelten: Could you tell us more about the manufacturing process? Do we have to build components? Also, are there different resources (like in Star Wars Galaxies or Ryzom), and does the quality of the material affect the result of the final product?

Apostol Apostolov: Crafting is simple to execute, yet complex and time consuming to plan ahead or cover completely with a single character. Characters are encouraged to specialize in their own preferred niche and work in groups to accomplish profits, rather than give them the tools and the means to create any item they desire from scratch. There are multiple levels of components that can be made and used together to create the final item. Some resources are interchangeable yet if a more expensive resource is used, the item had a better chance of coming out an exceptional product. As for quality, when every item is manufactured or disassembled it inherits the quality of items used to create it or disassemble it.