The MMORPG Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen aims to provide an old-school gaming experience reminiscent of Everquest 1 – even in the battles.
What is special about the battles in Pantheon? The interesting PvE MMORPG utilizes a so-called “Limited Action/Ability Sets” system. This means that you do not have access to all your skills, spells, and abilities all the time.
Instead, you prepare a specific number of skills and spells that you can then use. Therefore, you always have to think tactically about which abilities you need at a given moment and “equip” them accordingly.
This requires quite a bit of planning. For example, if you know you are going to a dungeon with friends where enemies lurk that are susceptible to certain attacks and spells, you should equip those before the adventure. If you then go to an area inhabited by different creatures, you must adjust your skills accordingly.
You could compare this system to loadouts in online shooters.
Fights are meant to be strategic
Why did the developers choose this system? In an interview, Visionary Realms’ Creative Director Chris “Joppa” Perkins explains that players had demanded a combat system that was as strategic as Everquest 1. After all, Pantheon is considered a kind of spiritual successor to Everquest for some fans.
The buzzword that kept coming up was “strategy, strategy”. We really tried to take this path of “I want to think carefully and consider what is going to happen”.
Chris “Joppa” Perkins, Visionary Realms
What do the players think about it? The combat system is controversial in the Pantheon community. Some find it good because it requires a lot of tactics and consideration. Others feel that it restricts them and can be annoying to constantly have to switch skills, only to find out that a crucial ability is missing.
- jbk99 writes on reddit: “With limited actions, the best-case scenario is that players talk to each other, strategize together, and develop a plan. I hope this will happen, but I’m not sure at all.”
- addyos7 does not like the idea: “I would prefer everything to be accessible without having to swap weapons, hotbars, or whatever. That ruins the gameplay for me. It’s not fun.”
- Farlischere adds: “It’s really easy for me. I’m for the ‘Limited Action/Ability Sets’ system. One of my all-time favorite classes could fill any role well, but not all at once. You had to pay very close attention to the role you were filling, the corresponding gear and spells equipped, and all the utility spells that might be necessary for the content you’re playing. Depth and choice are what truly makes some classes stand out.”
What do you think? Is a combat system with limited access to skills and spells tactical or rather annoying?
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen will no longer be releasing in 2020. To read about other interesting MMORPGs that may be coming out this year or later, check out the MeinMMO article 15 exciting MMORPGs we expect starting in 2020.
