Who will you play?

[Michael]

One of the cool things about non-party RPGs is that you've really got to decide how to tackle the game - you're either going to be a thief, a warrior, healer or mage. No fitting into a well-balanced party here...

So just curious, as the clock winds down, what kind of character do you all like to play when you're solo?

[Dagon]

A warrior with social skills probably
I like playing warrior-type characters when i'm running through the game for the first time, but i would like to get as much as I can through conversation as well

[Asharak]

Warrior, definitely - I always find 'tank'-type characters to be the easiest to handle while trying to learn a game. That said, given the one-person nature of Eschalon, I'll probably spend a little time during character creation trying to squeeze in as many of the bare-bones thief/healer skills as possible.

- Ash

[Saxon1974]

Isn't there a Ranger type available as well?

If so, that's what I will play. I like Ranger's because you can still have decent melee abilities and use swords and stuff, but still cast some spells and I will probably put some skill points into lockpicking abilities. I hope I can play this way.

[Michael]

warrior tends to be the default when going it alone - there's always the fear when you play a thief that you'll end up a sneaky featherweight. Ditto for healers when the chips are down, which is a shame.

[Sol Invictus]

I always play Rangers. I think they will be a good class since there is so much area to explore. I really like having the versatility of good melee, a bit of magic, and ranged combat. Now if we could only have a wolf as a pet.

[Dhruin]

I think rogues get the most love from the skill system, but you have to be careful you still have some combat ability. You don't really need to stick to archetypes, though, with the open skill system.

[Beorn]

I'll probably aim for a jack-of-trades type character, unless I find out that it just doesn't work in this game. I'll be curious how the game deals with casters wearing armour, though.

[Xian]

I usually play a warrior/melee character the first time through. It seems easier to jump right in that way, where if you play a mage or healer you have a slight bit of a learning curve figuring out the magic system.

[Gothmog]

It will try a Ranger. I always take the Fighter or Paladin. Time for something new. I like the idea of a bow-master with a deadly short-sword.

[Gallifrey]

I think rogues get the most love from the skill system, but you have to be careful you still have some combat ability. You don't really need to stick to archetypes, though, with the open skill system.

Rogues do get a lot of love, but at the same time get a lot of responsibility. To go the thief route you've really got to plan to be successful (much like the profession itself). You can make a great thief but won't be able to fight at all and be missing some potentially profession-friendly skills like magic or alchemy.

What I found great about the skill development system is that you can make many different builds of one archetype. Not every thief, ranger, mage, warrior will be anywhere near the same, even though their goals may be.
It's a tricky and fun balance to maintain.

[Saxon1974]

So If I understand correctly, you can use skill points in any type of skill regardless of your character type however some types start higher in some skills than other.

For example, a thief would start much higher in lock pick skill then a ranger, however I could use a ranger and give him lock pick skill? Im guessing he would need high dexterity for this skill to work well.

[Sol Invictus]

That's how I understand it.

[Old School Gamer]

Some skills might cost more to raise for certain classes? I haven't studied much into the game but I'd imagine it'd be this way? I'm looking forward to the game too, just wanted to put in this thought.

But I'd think that for instance a warrior wouldn't find it as easy to learn magic skills as a magik user would.

[ilui]

Classes just give you one free skill at creation.