Like most aspects of Fallen Earth, you are left naked in the dark until you stumble across the answer. Some could argue that this lack of handholding creates a frustrating and even insulting experience, but I was so excited when I first saw the variety in the AH that all I felt was joy. The struggle I went through in those first few levels made my shopping spree all the more rewarding. I don't feel resentment for not being given gear, I appreciated the fact that I had already acquired enough cash to get everything I wanted, and that I was given a glimpse into the powerful items that I could obtain or create myself.
Currently, the game does not offer players a way to re-train their character's stats. The character creation process covers the gender, appearance, and name only. There are no pre-defined archetypes, classes or factions. In the tutorial players have the opportunity to try melee and ranged combat, Fallen Earth Gold and are introduced to a representative from each faction. During the game, players will have to determine which faction's bonuses best suit their play style. The rest of the decisions affecting a character's strengths and weaknesses are made throughout the course of the game based on how players choose to spend their Advancement Points (APs). Because players do not have to label themselves at level 1, they are free to evolve naturally based on what they enjoy doing. I found this form of organic character development wholly inspiring. Right now I smash stuff in the face, but later I may choose to complement my brute force with some long-range marksmanship.
It is not necessary to reroll to try something different, and players who just want to min-max their way to a powerful character will probably not find Fallen Earth palatable. The Game Masters claim that players can max 4 or 5 stats, and 4 or 5 skills. This information excites me when I think about all of the variations in combat strategies this could potentially create. Every player will have their strengths, but they will not be able to compete by depending on just just one dimension of their skill set. It is the very lack of archetypes that makes the prospect of high-level PVP so intriguing to me. The first time we meet, you won't be able to judge me based on my appearance, nor will I have any idea what you are capable of. Factions and mutations should create even more dynamic PVP and combat in general.
The game is also so open-ended that many players will wish for a little more direction and guidance. When we are paying for a game we want to maximize our potential for fun. If there is a straight line we must follow to ensure we will have the most powerful character, we will follow it. Fallen Earth will give gamers with that mindset a bad taste in their mouth. If this MMO is anything, it is unapologetically mature, and I get the impression that the developers knew the audience for their game would be those that desire the freedom to make mistakes. I am one of those players who likes a challenge, and I applaud Icarus Studios for having the guts to try something different. They've created a game that stands on its own two feet, and asks gamers to do the same.
