Template:Hybrid combat

Alpha-1 early hybrid combat demo.^[1]

You'll notice as I go into action mode, I have my reticle and when my reticle hovers over an enemy target, it'll turn red, essentially showing like "hey we know you have a valid target hit" that you can see; and when you press 'Q' you can lock on to that target. You can also hold tab to alternate between targets. So like that's an important aspect of the combat that we're trying to incorporate, which is mixing and meshing between tab and action, so you still have that action component but also are available to use some of your tab targeted skills.^[2] – Steven Sharif

Hybrid combat refers to the choice between tab targeted and action targeted combat in the Ashes of Creation MMORPG.^[2]^[3]

A toggle button (default Z)^[4]^[1] allows the player to switch between action and tab targeted combat modes.^[5]

The action mode utilizes a targeting reticle and is very close to a third-person action game.^[2]^[1]^[5]^[6]
- The action camera is tied to the to player's reticle. There will likely be a hotkey that when held down will allow free camera movement.^[7]
- The reticle will highlight/change color (to red) to indicate if the current target is able to be hit with the currently prepared skill.^[2]^[1]
- Pressing Q while in action mode will lock on to the current target.^[2]
- Holding Tab while in action mode will alternate between targets.^[2]
- Pressing right-click while in action mode will switch to tab mode for the currently highlighted target.^[1]

The tab mode (MMO mode) facilitates tab targeted combat.^[1]^[5] A tab-targeted ability requires a target in order to utilize that skill.^[6]
- Pressing left-click in tab mode will attack the target (with the currently selected weapon).^[1]
- There will be a "target of target" capability on the user interface.^[8]

Hybrid combat is being testing in Alpha-1.^[2]^[9]

This section contains potentially outdated information from Alpha-1 testing.

Targeting modes are able to be achieved through choice of skills/abilities.^[9]^[10]
- It may not be possible to be able to fully spec into just action or tab targeted skills. There might be a 75% cap on choosing skills from any one type.^[10]
- Different ranks of the same skill can change the skill from tab to action targeted or vice-versa.^[11]

Skill progressions, skill point allocation is determined by the player. The player will be able to choose either more tab-target oriented skills or more action-based skills and customize their playable experience to what accommodates their preference. From a balancing standpoint for us developers, we need to make sure that certain abilities house certain functions so that there's a balance between skill shots and tab-target abilities.^[10] – Steven Sharif

Action oriented and tab oriented versions of skills will have different characteristics. Variables will change based on which version is chosen.^[12]

Damage.^[12]
Charge up time.^[12]
CC effects.^[12]
Cooldown.^[13]
Energy consumption.^[13]
Cost to spec.^[13]
Attack range will likely remain the same; as it is driven by the weapon or skill itself.^[14]

As an example: Let's say you're playing a ranged class. You could have an action-oriented power shot in your skill tree or you could have a single target power shot that ramps up and does more damage. ^[12] – Steven Sharif

For the purposes of balance, certain skill types will be either tab or action oriented skills. For example:^[13]

Hard CCs may be housed in action oriented skills because they are skill shots that are more difficult to land.^[13]^[10]
Softer CC's would be housed in tab-targeted abilities.^[13]