The confidence mechanic allows players to construct
fluid characters with diversity and flexibility. The player does not simply
choose an archetypal class and race, but crafts the history of his character by
choosing his cultural and occupational backgrounds. The prominent goal with
character creation in Golden Oceans is that upon completion of his character,
the player has a very clear idea of exactly where his character has been and
what he has accomplished thus far in his life. Unlike other games which
restrict player's choice by randomized factors (such as die rolls) this game
promotes storytelling first, allowing the players to follow their own paths of
logic in order to create deep and interesting characters.
Besides the variety of different cultural,
occupational, reputational, and motivational confidences, the players can also
choose from a dozen different specialized classes, potentially unlocking
hundreds of unique special abilities. This adds an additional level of
complexity and diversity to the game, allowing each member of the party to feel
"special" while giving players incentives for advancement. For
instance, the player can choose to be an Inventor, allowing him access to
technologies not acquirable by other players. Or perhaps the player would
prefer to focus on combat, in which case he might rather be a Marksman or
Martial Artist, which would grant him a variety of combat bonuses and special
attacks which are not obtainable others.
Overall, Golden Oceans unlocks a unique plethora of
adventures with a focus on engaging storytelling.
