What Level Up System Do You Prefer? Skill Points or Use As You Go?

[Cheesepower5]

Skill points, Fallout 3/DQ8, etc.

 

[Thaius]

I don't really like the second method, to be honest. The worst example of it would be Final Fantasy II, I think. For instance, your MP leveled up if a lot of it was used (so if you took tons of damage). Your MP would level up if you use it a lot (so if you use magic irresponsibly). It makes sense if it's used for basic stats, but trying to take it to anything beyond that just doesn't work. It's not a bad system if you know it's limits. But I prefer skill points more.

 

[CRAVE CASE 55]

Can i get examples of games that have these in them?

 

[The Procrastinated End]

Neither, certainly not for FPS games.
FPS should always be skill based, not "you're as accurate as this number". Level up in terms of weapons available if you must, but not making your character stronger or something.

But I do prefer skill points over Oblivions method.

So everyone should just be able to whip out a pistol and have pinpoint accuracy from the get go?
I honestly like the Diablo way so skill points because it works and doesn't piss me off the way WoW's weapon system did.

 

[Nossy]

I liked the Star Wars Galaxies approach. You had to level in the skills themselves. Here's a pic of a skill tree.



Each one of those you had to specifically do to get the next skill.

 

[dthvirus]

Both are good systems, as long as you implement them properly. In Borderlands, for instance, sniper rifle proficiency was difficult to level up until you reached the Eridian Promontory, where a Trespass Mordecai could go about one-shotting everything in sight with a sniper rifle.

I like oblivions method. It makes more sense and after playing that game, when I play fall out 2, I always think something like; I wish disarming all these traps did something for me....

Oblivion had a good concept (the more you use a skill the better you become at it), but it was executed poorly (leveling up without gaining all your skill bonuses made you lose out on points). I installed a mod called Oblivion XP to make it more traditional.

 

[DC_Josh]

I liked the Star Wars Galaxies approach. You had to level in the skills themselves. Here's a pic of a skill tree.



Each one of those you had to specifically do to get the next skill.

I do remember loving that system, pity the game was so buggy

 

[Nannernade]

Skill Points, gives me a little more choice to my customization of my character.

 

[Bellvedere]

My favourite is using skill points to level up a stat. I like experimenting and finding out how to make awesome characters.

It really does depend on the type of game. If it's a shooter where the player is the one aiming and firing the trigger than telling they missed when it should have been a good shot is just stupid (I'm looking at you fallout...).

Levelling up just skills like in Mass Effect and Borderlands works better in an FPS situation methinks.

I thought Oblivions system was interesting. I was pretty keen on it when I first learned how it all worked. Then I finished the game at level 3 and was so bored with it I haven't played it since.

I can't think of any stand out unique system that I liked. I appreciated Dragon Age's I guess, it wasn't a new approach but it was clean, simple and easy to use.

 

[Evilsanta]

Skill poits. Sure the use-as-you-go isnt that bad but its not that fun sometimes.

 

[psycoturkey]

For me, the daily grind is where it's at. Gimme random battles, general Exp, and a mind-numbing grind any day. I'd rather see the +2's and +3's (even +5's) pop above my character rather than allocating 10 skill points to a skill that sucks ass late game. Fire Emblem had my favorite level up and growth curve. Sooooo satisfying to see a character grow in that game!

 

[Assassin Xaero]

Example, my character keeps killing his enemies with his sword and doesn't use his bow, ergo his sword stats are very high on account of its constant use.

Is that kind of like the weapon proficiencies in Borderlands? Anyway, I like skill points, but I like the way Borderlands did it where you can reset them whenever you want. I'm not sure if it is just me, but with the games I play that have level systems and skill points (Borderlands, Fallout 3, etc.), I usually completely jack it up my first time through...

 

[blankedboy]

Well, not many levelling up systems really work, unless they do it by how good you actually are at aiming etc. (for shooters). But in an RPG like Morrowind or Oblivion, there's not really any good way to do it and I'll take what I can get.

 

[veloper]

Doesn't matter, aslong as it isn't like the Elder scrolls, where you have to spam cheap spells or jump on a spot, over and over again to improve a skill.

Training should be off-screen, just like taking a crap.

 

[OceanRunner]

Dont forget Fallout 3's Perk system. There are a wide variety of abilities to unlock that complement your play style. For example, putting 50 points into Explosives lets you aquire the Demolitions Expert perk which makes your explosives even more powerful. Hope to see some cool new perks in New Vegas.