[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.97,0:00:06.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These days, it feels like you can’t release\Na big blockbuster action game without one
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.76,0:00:09.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of these things: a skill tree.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.45,0:00:13.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You’ve definitely seen them before, in games\Nlike Tomb Raider and Watch Dogs.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.85,0:00:19.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They often have three distinct branches, with\Ncute names like innovator or hunter.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.95,0:00:24.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In these games, you accrue experience points\Nby playing through missions, and whenever
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.16,0:00:27.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you hit some sort of arbitrary threshold you\Nget a skill point.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.82,0:00:31.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A skill point, which you can spend to unlock\Na new ability.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.72,0:00:35.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This might be something funky like a brand\Nnew move, or something a little less exciting
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.48,0:00:37.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like a few extra health points.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.88,0:00:42.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Skill trees like this were first found in\Nnumber crunching RPGs like Diablo 2, but have
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.94,0:00:48.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since become ubiquitous in big budget action\Ngames - in everything from Spider-Man to DOOM,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.32,0:00:52.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the point where it’s now just an expected\Npart of a modern console game, like climbable
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.82,0:00:55.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,towers, and microtransactions.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.51,0:00:59.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But while I find a lot of these tropes to\Nbe pretty cliched and tiresome, I can totally
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.90,0:01:03.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,see why skill trees work, and how they can\Nbenefit certain games.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.57,0:01:08.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For one, they can be used to trickle out complexity\Nover the course of the game.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.80,0:01:13.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you started God of War with all of Kratos’s\Npowers, it might be completely overwhelming
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.44,0:01:17.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and some players might stick to the simple\Nstuff and never delve into the finer details
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.81,0:01:18.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the combat system.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.99,0:01:25.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when you earn new powers from a skill\Ntree, your mechanical move set opens up incrementally
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.07,0:01:26.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over the course of the game.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.46,0:01:30.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And because you spent some kind of currency\Non that move, you’ll probably feel compelled
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.94,0:01:32.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to actually use it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.98,0:01:37.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Skill trees are also a nice way to make players\Nfeel like they’ve grown in power over the
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.64,0:01:38.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,course of the game.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.88,0:01:43.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At the start of the adventure you’re weak\Nand have only a few special powers - but by
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.28,0:01:47.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the end you’re a walking tank with armfuls\Nof abilities.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.23,0:01:49.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This also can be used to keep players engaged.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.51,0:01:53.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can scan the skill tree to get a preview\Nof abilities they’ll be wielding later in
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.66,0:01:58.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the game, and then stick with it until they\Nget to to that point, excited about the prospect
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.14,0:02:01.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of playing with all those new powers.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.08,0:02:04.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Skill trees also add meta level decision making\Ninto a game.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.38,0:02:07.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can create a different experience each\Ntime you play.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.44,0:02:09.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they give the UI team something to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.60,0:02:11.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Someone’s go to draw all those icons.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.81,0:02:18.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for all their benefits, most games squander\Ntheir skill trees by making really poor choices
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.12,0:02:20.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about what to put on those branches.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.68,0:02:25.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so in this video we’re going to talk\Nabout some popular mistakes that skill trees
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.09,0:02:28.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,make - and how we might be able to fix them.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.54,0:02:33.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For starters, a lot of games that feature\Nskill trees will allow the player to unlock
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.42,0:02:37.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most of the upgrades, if not all of them,\Nby the end of the game.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.64,0:02:39.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just through a normal amount of play.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.40,0:02:44.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this really misses an opportunity to make\Nplayers think hard about their choices.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.05,0:02:47.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They’re only thinking about what order they\Nunlock the skills - when they could be thinking
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.85,0:02:50.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about which upgrades they’re actually be\Nable to get.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.95,0:02:55.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I personally enjoyed the skill tree in Assassin’s\NCreed Origins, because I definitely wasn’t
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.81,0:02:58.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,able to afford all of the skills by the end\Nof the game.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.82,0:03:04.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, I had to specialise - I focused on\Nthe hunter and seer branches, which were all
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.45,0:03:09.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about improving my abilities in stealth, and\Nincreasing my options in taking out camps
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.09,0:03:12.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through tricking the AI and causing chaos.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.39,0:03:18.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This created some cool outcomes: like how\Nthe Bayek in my game felt personal to me and
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.29,0:03:21.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,his skills fit the way I chose to play the\Ngame.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.03,0:03:26.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there were also interesting repercussions\Nfor my choices: by neglecting the warrior
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.07,0:03:29.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,branch, i was pretty lacklustre at one-on-one\Ncombat.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.14,0:03:35.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I often had to run away from direct encounters\Nand find new ways to approach situations.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.07,0:03:39.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Immersive sims are also good at showing the\Nrepercussions of picking certain skills.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.95,0:03:45.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the Deus Ex games, certain paths and options\Nwill be locked out based on the upgrades you’ve
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.38,0:03:49.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,chosen, forcing you to find alternate routes\Nthat better suit your character.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.33,0:03:54.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in Prey, the more skills you unlock, the\Nmore alien you become - right up to the point
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.55,0:03:59.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where friendly turrets now consider you a\Nthreat and try to kill you.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.62,0:04:05.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another way skill trees screw up is simply\Nby making the skills just really boring.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.47,0:04:10.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Making your attacks do a few percentage points\Nmore damage, or giving yourself a couple extra
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.02,0:04:13.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,health points… is just not very exciting.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.66,0:04:19.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So brand new powers in Dishonored and exciting\Nnew attacks in God of War are far more desirable
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.62,0:04:24.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than a few extra numbers on the game’s underlying\NExcel spreadsheet.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.05,0:04:29.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And don’t forget the rules laid down in\NMetroid: one ability can serve multiple purposes,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.34,0:04:33.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like the ice beam, which is both a weapon\Nand a way to navigate the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.81,0:04:39.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ultimately, a good skill will make you excited\Nto finally unlock it, and then eager to go
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.45,0:04:41.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into the world and use it.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.87,0:04:47.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Back to Origins for a second, I find myself\Ncaught in a really engaging loop where I’d
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.10,0:04:51.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,unlock new abilities - excitedly test them\Nout on a few camps and missions.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.24,0:04:56.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which gave me enough experience points for\Nanother ability… and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.48,0:05:00.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That being said, skill trees should generally\Navoid mechanics that the player should already
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.90,0:05:02.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have by default.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.87,0:05:07.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When i played Horizon Zero Dawn, I was peeved\Nthat I couldn’t grab enemies from ledges
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.43,0:05:12.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like every other game of its ilk - until I\Nfound out it was an unlock-able skill.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.62,0:05:18.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Same goes for Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, which\Nlocked Faith’s leg tuck move behind an upgrade
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.71,0:05:22.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,menu, despite it being accessible from the\Nstart in the first game.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.53,0:05:27.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh, and don’t feel the need to add in crappy\Nskills just to boost the numbers.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.98,0:05:32.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some skill tree designers obviously believe\Nthat bigger is better - check out these monster
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.89,0:05:39.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,skill forests for Path of Exile and Salt and\NSanctuary - but if you ask me, a tightly pruned
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.16,0:05:45.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bush with a handful of truly interesting upgrades\Nis often the best solution.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.98,0:05:51.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another issue plaguing skill trees is the\Nactual process of earning these skill points.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.33,0:05:55.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most games give you the points simply for\Nplaying the game normally, which feels like
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.26,0:05:56.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a missed opportunity.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.26,0:06:01.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let’s go back to Prey, which has these Neuromod\Ntools (the game’s version of skill points)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.47,0:06:04.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as physical objects in the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.12,0:06:08.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This means you have to go out there and find\Nthem - maybe by exploring the different nooks
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.43,0:06:11.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and crannies of Talos 1, or by doing side\Nquests.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.90,0:06:16.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Choosing how to dole out these skill points\Nallows the designer to encourage a certain
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.87,0:06:20.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,play style, or to make players check out optional\Ncontent.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.45,0:06:24.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like in Zelda Breath of the Wild, where Spirit\NOrbs, which can be cashed in for health and
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.76,0:06:27.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stamina upgrades, are given for completing\Nthese shrines.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.96,0:06:33.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That essentially turns the entire world of\NHyrule into one giant skill tree.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.44,0:06:38.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This also makes players actively work towards\Nimproving their character, rather than randomly
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.44,0:06:40.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,getting stat boosts as they play.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.68,0:06:43.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This reminds me of Far Cry 3’s crafting\Nsystem.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.26,0:06:48.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in that game, I knew I wanted a better gun\Nholster - and the menu told me that I needed
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.42,0:06:51.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get a few pelts from a certain animal.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.25,0:06:56.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I paused the main quest, found the animal’s\Nbreeding ground on my map, and went hunting
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.31,0:06:59.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for pelts until I had enough to afford the\Nholster.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.27,0:07:04.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted an upgrade and had to figure out\Nhow to get it, and had to actually work towards
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.69,0:07:05.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that goal.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.52,0:07:07.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Getting the, uh, sprint slide, though?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.92,0:07:13.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I just played the game a bit more until\NI got given some skill points.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.06,0:07:18.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Look: you don’t really need to encourage\Nthe player to simply play through the main
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.02,0:07:21.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,missions - that’s why they bought the game\Nin the first place.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.42,0:07:25.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So use the promise of skill points to encourage\Nother ways to play.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.55,0:07:30.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To play skilfully, or play on harder difficulties,\Nor explore more, and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.71,0:07:34.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But be careful about exactly the sort of gameplay\Nyou encourage.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.23,0:07:38.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Skyrim’s system, where players get skill\Npoints for performing certain actions, can
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.96,0:07:44.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,persuade players to just craft dozens of daggers,\Nsimply to boost their crafting skill.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.27,0:07:51.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You don’t want to encourage grinding, or\Ngameplay that doesn’t fit the core experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.30,0:07:55.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One final issue is that these skill menus\Nare pretty boring to navigate.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.64,0:08:00.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They take you out of the game world, and into\Na menu screen that looks like you’re buying
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.26,0:08:02.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,travel insurance or something.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.01,0:08:06.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is not a huge deal in an expansive adventure\Nlike The Witcher, but it can massively slow
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.67,0:08:10.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the pace of a lighting quick game like Doom.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.48,0:08:12.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So just make them quicker.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.06,0:08:16.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like in Downwell, where it flashes up three\Nupgrade choices between levels.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.06,0:08:18.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You pick one, and away you go.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.31,0:08:19.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or just make them automatic.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.57,0:08:24.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Red Dead Redemption 2 has skill trees for\Nboth Arthur and his horse, and these upgrades
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.58,0:08:30.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- for things like boosted stamina and sweet\Nhorse tricks - just unlock as you play.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.12,0:08:37.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Though, whether Doom even needed skill trees\Nin the first place, is another question entirely.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.58,0:08:41.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The thing about skill trees is: there’s\Nloads of fun stuff you can do with them.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.73,0:08:46.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How about skills that offer both advantages\Nand disadvantages to the player?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.15,0:08:48.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or skills that can interlink in various ways?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.97,0:08:52.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or skills where you can only equip a handful\Nat a time?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.30,0:08:56.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Skill trees feel like one of those systems\Nthat’s in every game nowadays - simply because
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.76,0:08:58.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they’re in every game nowadays.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.46,0:09:02.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that doesn’t make them bad - it’s\Njust very easy to get a bit lazy with them,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.76,0:09:08.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and do what everyone else is doing, regardless\Nof whether it suits the game, the experience,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.05,0:09:09.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the pace, and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.100,0:09:11.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So get creative with them!
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.49,0:09:16.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A skill tree isn’t about making the player\Nwait half the game to get all the mechanics
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.03,0:09:17.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they should have at the start.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.36,0:09:21.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or going into a boring menu to get a boring\Nhealth boost.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.46,0:09:24.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They’re about customising your experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.35,0:09:26.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About rewarding different ways of playing.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.07,0:09:29.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And about forcing difficult choices.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.34,0:09:33.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lemme know about your favourite skill trees\Nin the comments below, and I eagerly await
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.29,0:09:38.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a million comments about this crazy Sphere\NGrid nonsense from Final Fantasy X. I have
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.79,0:09:40.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no idea what this thing is…