14 DAY TRIAL // The development team at ZeniMax Online that creates The Elder Scrolls Online says that it is currently working on mechanics that will allow groups of players to be proficient in MMO battles without using the classic group structure that involves tanks, healers and damage dealers.
In a forum response to a question from the player community, the team described a test run through a dungeon that used the following group structure:
- 1 Templar equipped with light armor and a healing staff, ready to heal the party - 1 Templar with light armor and dual wield abilities, again focusing on healing - 1 Dragonknight with light armor and destruction staff - 1 Sorcerer using heavy armor and dual wield weapons.
None of the characters had tanking abilities.
The team states, “This was with no real consultation with each other while making characters, other than ensuring there was at least one healer. For the sake of the dungeon we really could have used a true tank but as a group we were able to take down the Fungal Grotto bosses.”
The traditional healer role is the only one that Bethesda says is crucial to success in The Elder Scrolls Online.
This gives the players more freedom when it comes to character creation and development and brings an MMO experience where gameplay is never negatively affected by their choices.
The ZeniMax Online developers add, “as the game exists now, you can get through some dungeons without sticking to what we see as the traditional character roles in dungeons and raids. Of course, that’s only talking about a 4-person dungeon.”
Further testing is required to see whether the same system can be used for other areas of The Elder Scrolls Online.
The game is expected to go into closed beta soon and launch is set for later during 2013.