So, I thought about how to go about representing the other "elements" without adding another tier or whatever.
Perhaps some kind of elemental attunement can be implemented.
What I mean is that each class has a default element (fire) and when the player acquires another element, the class becomes a different version. A class doesn't need to have different versions for all elements. A knight might have fire and water attuned versions, but no earth or air attuned.
For example: the Sorceror is a fire-attuned 3M class. When it becomes air-attuned, it can become an Electromancer (which is similar in terms of player role but dissimilar in terms of style of play).
The elements I have in mind:
Fire - Default element. Focus on dealing damage to targets.
Water - Focus on slowing and debuffing targets.
Air - Focus on pushing targets.
Earth - Focus on manipulating map elements.
Some examples:
Sorceror (3M):
- (FIRE) - Sorceror. Duh.
- (WATER) - Hydromancer:
Z skill: No Idea!
X skill: Torrent - Fires a projectile that travels in a straight line, leaving a trail of water that slows all enemies that walk into it. Deals 2 damage
C skill: Deluge - Fires a projectiles that floods an area, damaging and slowing all affected enemies
- (AIR) - Electromancer
- (EARTH) - Terramancer:
Z skill: No Idea!
X skill: Fissure - Creates an unpassable fissure in the ground, 4 tiles long. All enemies caught in the fissure upon casting is damaged for 2 damage. The fissure disappears after 5 seconds.
C skill: Quake - Creates an unpassable fissure in the ground that branches out, up to 12 tiles long.
Rogue (3R):
- (FIRE): Rogue
- (WATER): Pirate Lord
Basic Attack: A cleaving saber
Z Skill: Musket. Shoots a bullet. 2 damage. Consumes a little aura
X Skill: Cannon. Shoots a projectile that explodes upon impact or upon reaching its 6 tile range. The explosion does 2 damage and slows all affected targets.
C Skill: No Idea!
- (AIR): Steam Engineer
Basic Attack: Wrench. Equivalent to Wood Sword.
Z Skill: Musket. Shoots a bullet. 2 damage. Consumes a little aura.
X Skill: No idea!
C Skill: Steam Turret. Places a steam turret (stationary summon type) that rapidly fires numerous bullets in one direction for 5 seconds before disappearing. These numerous bullets should be capable of pushing enemies very far.
- (EARTH): Miner?
This kind of time and effort can be better spent on projects of a larger scope.