So Many Options

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Rift is the Soul/Role system. This system allows the player freedom to construct a character that fits their individual play style. With four roles and nine souls (including a PVP soul) the possibilities are staggering. The system can be overwhelming for the seasoned MMO player and the new player alike.

I have to admit as I studied over the class/role/soul combinations there was a definite information overload. With there being so much to choose from I decided to break the process down into smaller more manageable pieces.

My first step was to choose an appropriate class for my play style. Knowing my personal challenges with melee classes I avoided anything that remotely resembled melee. My first toon in Telara was destined to be a caster. The Mage class seemed to be the obvious choice, so that is what I went with.

Upon character creation you are given the choice of a single soul. In any one role you will be afforded the opportunity to choose talents from three souls but it takes a bit of questing to earn the remainder of your classes’ souls. Souls trees are the equivalent of talent trees in other MMO’s and Roles are the equivalent of specs.

With all the available talents and specs afforded to each class, the “holy trinity” of pure character classes is but a distant memory. Of course there are those that will still think within those boundaries but truth be told, it is no longer a necessity. With this new freedom I have decided to push the boundaries as far as I can, as I level.

I have designed my souls/roles to specifically fit me. It is nice to have the ability to individualize what my character can and can’t do based entirely on what I like and don’t like. I really think I have the ultimate hybrid at the moment and as I play, I feel like I am the only one running around with my spec! Not only does it feel completely individualized, it is effective.

So what exactly are my roles and how did I come up with them? Right now I am making use of three of the four roles (specs) available. I have a healing/dps role, a dps/healing role and a PVP/Heal/dps role. The first role is for group play, things such as instances and Rifts. The second is for solo play such as questing. The third is my PVP spec for Warfronts (battlegrounds).

To explain each talent in each role would be exhausting. In order to make it relatable, I will describe what each role feels like to play. I know that sounds strange but if you bear with me a minute or two, it will all be more understandable. I will take each role individually and explain the basic premise behind each.

First up to bat will be the role I use for solo play, the dps/healing role. This role is primarily like a Frost Mage that can Life Tap. That’s right a Frost Mage with near limitless mana. Not only that but it has strong aoe and can self heal. Yes I know it sounds crazy but I self heal as I dps. The more dps I do to a mob, the more healing I receive. Oh and did I forget to mention the 75% slow on my target as well as a knock back for those pesky melee mobs? Nasty, I know!

Role number two is my group role. In group play I am primarily a healer, but 1 am a healer with a twist. I only have three direct healing spells. One of those is useable on an individual target and the other two are group heals. The rest of my healing is a by product of my DPS. Realistically the majority of my healing comes from my DPS. As long as my dots are up on the mob, my group is getting healed, and as I nuke, my group gets healed. Throw in two CC spells and endless mana and you have what I would consider the perfect healer.

Role number three is my PVP role. It is a lot like role number two but I have some PVP talents thrown in the mix as well. Damage and crit resist as well as snare removal. Right now this is a role in development. I have done a tone of PVP but I have just recently purchased my PVP role so I am still playing with it. Soon enough I will come up with what is most comfortable for me and then I will tweak it to be effective.

I have all of this going on and I am still no where near the level cap. Not only that, I still have another role available to me. I think that I will use that role for a pure dps build. Because it is the most expensive to purchase, it will have to wait for now. There are plenty of other things to spend my platinum on.

Rift is allowing players to create characters that are truly individualized to their play style. Groups with no primary tank or primary healer are not only possible they are viable. To break from the old mold might be uncomfortable but when you do the possibilities are limited only by your creativity. If you had the freedom to create a toon that fits your play style specifically, what would you create?