EDIT - i Change my suggestion to just offline mode and mode support
I know that is a suggestion that is extremely unlikely to happens by the cost of implementing completely different mechanics and animations, even if by some miracle this suggestion is taken, it will probably come as DLC.
Some things that immersive old school rpg’s has in common
- No cooldowns
- Powerful items are HARD to obtain
- Itemization is more old school like
- Characters are far more unique
- You kill AND die fast
- Mechanics of the game tends to be more a reflection of the game’s world lore.
To exemplify how a immersive mode would work, examples involving potions, ammo and spells in this mode.
Potions - new vs old
On most modern games, it just teleports to your belly, insta heal but can only be used once per X seconds.
Now how a potion works on old school games? In some like Diablo 1, it can be spammed BUT on others like Gothic 1, takes time to the potion and to it have a effect. there are a drinking animation longer than dark souls estus drinking, so isn’t usable on most fights. On Baldur’s Gate/NWN1, takes time to drink potions too AND it exposes you to attacks of opportunity. since your guard is down.
Ammo - new vs old
Ammo in many modern games is unlimited and used consequence free
On FNV, a modern game made with old school mindset, you need to manage a lot your ammo. If you are with a 12 gauge shotgun, buckshot can be amazing for CQB, slugs for long range, if the enemy is weak to fire, use dragon breath rounds(…) and explosive .50 bmg ammo is extremely heavy and expensive. A similar system could work for a medieval game, but instead of armor piercing, you can have bodkin and instead of hollow point, you can have broadhead.
MAgical enchanted arrows can exist and be rarer except in high level gameplay
Gear bonuses
Gear bonuses in this mode should be very like Diablo 1 and other old school RPG’s. In other words, no 5468165165154 times multipliers and items in old school games tends gives a minor bonus from certain builds instead of determining everything about your build.
On D&D a Halberd deals d10 damage. A ultra expensive and rare halberd deals d10 + 5 damage.
I an re playing pathfinder kingmaker at moment and found a amazing staff. “Necromancer’s Staff”. It deals almost no damage. (d6+1) but it enhances my skeletons created by animate dead and create undead with a +3 weapon, which increases the damage of each one by 3 points and make then far more likely to damage enemies with DR.
If you really wanna maintain huge +skil level bonuses from LoD or huge attribute bonus, please. Make then not stack or be subjected to diminishing returns
Diablo 1 unique bows are like 3x better than non magical ones. Windforce is a example of old school itemization
Damage: 1-14
+5 Strength
+200% Damage
Knocks Target Back
Durability: 60
Requirements: 45 strength, 80 dexterity
Qlvl: 17
https://diablo2.diablowiki.net/D1_Unique_Bows
The +5 STR is just a level worth of bonus. The 3x damage is the most OP thing and the knock down. With spells, the bonus from items can make a lv 15 spell become lv 20 and that is it.
Skills(and magic) should’t be learned from nothing
The idea that everyone learns skill A on lv X makes no sense. I an glad that the tomes are coming back. But if you look to Gothic for example, in order to learn magic on G1/G2, you need to find someone able and willing to teach magic to you. Corristo only takes you as a apprentice if you joined the old camp and answered rightfully his questionnaire. A circle 1 fire mage can throw firebolts. A circle 5 can make rain fire.
Make certain skills be only available by questing. Make you need to find some reagents to research how to make a spell.
On G1, the same applies to non magical skills. On the beginning of the game, your protagonist uses a weapon like a anime protagonist. Once he pays for someone to teach him how to handle a weapon, his stance and moveset changes to something that makes sense.
If the animation and stance changes on upgrading your barbarian, it will be a amazing detail. And if he needs to pay someone for tuition once he has enough XP.