Board Thread:Online Discussion/@comment-144.64.116.243-20130211195141/@comment-8267436-20130502125905

Birchman wrote: I have liked Skyrim's system without classes. At least when playing with harder difficulties it really gets hard unless you are strong in some skills; being average in every skill is not good. But classless system gives you the freedom to get interested in new skills - if you are persistent enough to learn them in later game.

As for ESO, I understand why the classes are there, but I hope they won't be as restricting like in some MMOs. It's fine if picking a certain class will gently guide you towards using certain skills, but I would really like to have an option to change my gaming style a bit by, for example, starting to use heavy armor instead of medium armor, or by learning a few useful spells so that my greatsword-wielding warrior brute doesn't get too repetitive to play with. As far as I've read from various sources, including the article I'll post a link to at the end of this post, it sounds spot-on on how it will be implemented. Heavy armor helps, in conjuction with the Health attribute, in mitgating damage. Light armor favors Stamina-related skills, such as executing special attacks, while Clothing boost Magicka and its recovery. While this is the basic concept, there will be secondary status for the armor types that makes it possible to aquire Heavy armor that favors Spellcasters.

Altso, there will be some sort of mastery for each weapon type, allowing you to equip attacks with each weapon based on class as well as weapon mastery.

As for the classes, there are currently three that has been (un?)officially confirmed; the Templar, Dragon Knight and Sorcerer. There is altso (at this time) speculation of a fourth class.

Templar skills are, as the name suggest, deeply connected with the Divine sphere of things, allowing the player to execute holy attacks and invigorate allies.

Dragon Knight is the most physical of the revealed classes, but allows the player to mix in some magic should they feel it gets the job done.

Sorcerers are the Arcane spellcasters of the game, their skills often involving mastery of summoning, harmful and disorienting energies. That does not stop them, however, from getting physical if they choose to.

I think it is important to note that all classes (supposibly) can fullfill any role. A Dragon Knight may become a healer, and a stealth-oriented Templar could dash out sneaky, divine punishment. It depents much on the cdecitions the player makes when it comes to skills, talents, armor and weapon choice.

Link to Article: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/previews/10239-The-Elder-Scrolls-Online-Preview-Mud-Crabs-Joe-DiMaggio