The Hidden Beauty Of Skill Trees

23 responses to “The Hidden Beauty Of Skill Trees”

1. 

   pylgrim

   January 26, 2013 at 6:15 pm

   Definitely needs to include the skill tree of Xenoblade Chronicles. Also, that Path of Exile’s tree seems to borrow more than one thing from FFX, does it not?

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2. 

   Coltzer

   January 26, 2013 at 6:15 pm

   Seriously you are not doing POE’s passives tree any justice, thats just a tiny zoomed in section of the whole thing. I think it was most recently stated as having ~1300 passives in it

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3. 

   Marquis

   January 26, 2013 at 6:37 pm

   I think the research tree of Sword of the Stars is also quite good – and a bit randomized as well! 🙂

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4. 

   germinalconsequence

   January 26, 2013 at 6:42 pm

   It’s interesting just how common the “Three class aspects” skill tree is. More games need to use a skill graph rather than tree.

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5. 

   bangers

   January 26, 2013 at 7:12 pm

   FFX’s sphere grid sure looks different to how I remember it.

   Reply
   1. 

      mistwolf

      January 27, 2013 at 12:56 pm

      If you played an early version in the US, you may have had a much simpler grid, it wasn’t until the international versions came out that they added the ‘expert’ grid, which was much larger and offered a lot more by way of chances to change things up.

      Reply
6. 

   Neo Kaiser

   January 26, 2013 at 7:25 pm

   The sphere grid in FF10 shouldn’t really be on that list since it’s just a straight line.

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   1. 

      videk_2012

      January 26, 2013 at 8:37 pm

      It isn’t though? You can follow paths and unlock extra things by going out of your way.

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      1. 

         gintoki

         January 26, 2013 at 8:54 pm

         Especially if you used the advanced grid, you can get all sorts of high stats if you go different ways.

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      2. 

         Neo Kaiser

         January 26, 2013 at 9:24 pm

         Nnno not really. The only path you can follow is already pre-determined for each character. There’s only a few small branches that only have an extra stat point or ability. The only time you can “explore” into other character paths is after you’ve already fully followed a characters path. By then you’ve already beaten the game.

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         1. 

            vegemite

            January 26, 2013 at 10:15 pm

            Nop you are wrong, it takes some effort to deviate from the intended path but it doesn’t take as long as you said. I remember tuning my Rikku to Auron’s path so that she would be a badass.

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            1. 

               Neo Kaiser

               January 26, 2013 at 10:41 pm

               Well someone did take the time to prove it.
               http://gameinternals.com/post/3364162387/straightening-out-final-fantasy-xs-sphere-grid

            2. 

               bangers

               January 26, 2013 at 10:53 pm

               From that link:
               The “Expert” grid in the PAL/International version is completely different, however.

               Yeah… the expert sphere grid was actually pretty flexible. The last time I played FFX I sent Yuna to learn Black magic and Lulu, White, just for fun. And I was able to do that pretty close to the start of the game. I think Tidus and Wakka switched places after learning most of their core skills.

            3. 

               Neo Kaiser

               January 26, 2013 at 10:57 pm

               Regardless, most players would have opted for the default grid, looking at the “expert” grid as something more suited for players on a second run.

            4. 

               vegemite

               January 26, 2013 at 11:45 pm

               Well you are no badass 😉

            5. 

               vegemite

               January 26, 2013 at 11:43 pm

               I didn’t realise there was a difference but yea I did play the international version because I wanted to battle those dark versions of the summons. Good times

   2. 

      shadeaurion

      January 26, 2013 at 9:17 pm

      nah dude.. It’s anything but a straight line.
      But you’re right, it shouldn’t be there as it’s more of a level system then a skill tree as it’s where you get all of your stats. =/

      Dunno what Gergovas was thinking adding that in. It doesn’t fit at all.
      Should’ve thrown in Ragnarok Online or Diablo 1 and 2 or something.

      Reply
      1. 

         Neo Kaiser

         January 26, 2013 at 9:27 pm

         Someone once created an image where he took all the sphere nodes and arranged them in a straight line to show how many paths there were. It showed that the majority of the time you level up in a straight line.

         The sphere grid just gives off the illusion of choice by curving those lines around in circles.

         Reply
         1. 

            shadeaurion

            January 31, 2013 at 2:07 am

            Well it was an image of lies since they expect you to return to earlier sections and unlock nodes to get to additional paths. In the end the whole thing could be considered one path yes, but when you start down the healer path with Aurion instead of getting his heavy attacks and stat effects, you pay for it. Plus blocking of nodes = blocking off paths dude. =/

            Reply
7. 

   Aetherax

   January 26, 2013 at 8:16 pm

   The tech tree in Endless Space is pretty nice.

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8. 

   Steven

   January 26, 2013 at 8:54 pm

   Endless Space has a solid research tree.

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9. 

   Ippy

   January 26, 2013 at 9:27 pm

   Nothing from RIFT? That MMO has one of the more innovative skill systems around.

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10. 

    Mad Danny

    January 27, 2013 at 12:42 pm

    I quite liked the circular skill tree layout from The Darkness II

    Reply