1)Improvement to the idol system: let us combine different idols together, creating a new idol with a combined shape (for example, attaching a 1×1 idol to a 2×2 one, resulting in an irregular form). It’s stats will be taken from the combined idols and enhanced randomly (or according to some rules) . This could also work between idols of different classes, tagging generally useful stats as “inheritable” (for example, chance to fear on hit from Acolyte idols).
2)An empty socket in the passive tree + jewel design: these jewels can be socketed in the empty slot and grant bonus stats, or give a passive node from another mastery tree of the same class, or even allocate one of its skills (with a small twist, like allowing Forge Guard to use Erasing Strike and converting its damage to fire). They could also affect some passives in the current mastery tree, changing them in certain ways.
3)Two new types of random rare encounters:
The first is a merchant who shows up in your base after completing an echo, from whom you can buy somethings good.
The second is having a chance, when entering an echo, to be teleported to a bonus level instead (something similar to the pony level in D3, fun and with a lot of loot).
Really like that idol idea actually. Could be awesome with some work done around that idea.
Sockets on passive reminds me of the POE so could be ok depending on what it does - don’t think the example of cross class specialist skills would work but the base idea isn’t bad.
With echo rewards being a thing already and able to drop imprints - not a fan. Loot level, never against loot but just being CoF is basically this haha! Still waiting to see if lizard tails was real or one of the great all time trolls. Never seen pic, vid, forum, link in game to a single tail D:!!!
Enjoying the basis of 1, sounds like a good expanding option for the current system.
Same with number 2.
3 is ‘eh’… EHG and merchants don’t go well hand in hand, and the bonus level is ‘enforced’ this way, rather as a very rare node on the web to encounter.
Overall - besides the merchant, that one can happen ‘whenever’ as it’ll with nigh guarantee be crap sadly - stuff which can be relatively soon implemented actually as the game progresses, first off EHG needs to fix the overall progression in total though before it, good fallbacks for ‘We couldn’t get our shit together in time again’ though
Giving skills to other classes seems more like something for a special unique than a passive tree jewel, to me.
It will also involve a huge amount of work, as every skill animation will now have to be done 5x for all available classes, rather than just once per class as it currently is.
Other than that, first idea is nice, but Mike has already said they would like to change the shape of the idol space regularly (like once per season) and this would also come with different shaped idols as well.
How far/close they are to actually doing it, no idea.
The combining of idols is an interesting idea for sure. It would add a nice layer of complexity to the system and create new shapes which sounds cool to me.
Yeah, the changing shape of the Idol space itself and the changing shapes of the idols themselves would make a nice dual-system in place which can create a lot of variety with effort.
As for the skills… true.
Albeit also something which should - gradually - be opened up over time. I would say it’s a good thing to have this work, running as a secondary thing in the background to be ready ‘whenever it’s done’.
Could become good for sure as it would open up options massively. Imagine unlocking a skill from another class because of special effects from a idol, making those the actual build defining items which would cause cross-usage of a larger variety of items and allows implementation of those skills in future uniques for specific builds.
So the return would be quite massive as well theoretically, but as you say… tons and tons of work, definitely not viable to be a ‘primary effort’.
For 1) if you combine the same shapes / same idols, e.g. class idols, let us reroll / merge stats from one and the other. Reforge that actually makes sense probability wise.
I reckon it would need to be pretty generic skills though? I mean unless you play a forge guard and put all your points into void dmg passives then opening up say Erasing Strike on a FG with no extra void dmg is going to be really really reaaaaally mid lol - would look cool but do no dmg. Then if all your points are in VK for dmg you might as well just go VK because you’re locked out of the best passives? That’s just how it would work in my head, not sure if that’s accurate lol, if that even makes sense?
I mean… over time opening all up would be fun plainly spoken.
Especially because as you state… for example a Forge Guard moving into Void damage purely.
There’s a good chunk of class-skills which have very limited combinations, this would simply open up a lot of potential for skill combinations and builds in interesting ways. Cold skill 1 from the own ones… and Cold Skill 2 of another class from Idols unlocked for example, both together possible to use in some form of natural - or artificual through further effects on items - synergy.
But yeah, I get what you mean, too generic would ruin the premise of classes itself… but enough rigidity in it and it becomes instead a enhancement. All things are only good if they’re done properly… too extreme leaning into any direction and nigh anything you try to do becomes a detriment rather then a boon.
I think I was asking in my post from my pov cos I think it would be very fun too, like hybrizing (if thats a word) some classes a lot of people would play that for the fun factor 100%
It’s obviously a balance nightmare… but given the whole game currently is balance nightmare anyway it wouldn’t even make things worse with that, probably simply enhancing it substantially as many more builds become viable in a second
Reforge that actually makes sense probability wise.