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Understanding Characters in Out of Time

Unlike many roguelite games that feature distinct character classes with fixed abilities, 'Out of Time' takes a different approach. Players begin by choosing from a pool of 12 pre-made character body-types, which are primarily cosmetic, allowing for minor customizations like hair, skin, and eye styles. The game does not feature a traditional class system where characters are locked into specific roles or possess unique inherent skills. Instead, the concept of a 'best character' in 'Out of Time' is entirely fluid and revolves around the gear you equip and the build you construct.

The Role of Gear: Defining Your Playstyle

In 'Out of Time,' gear is paramount, acting as the foundation for your character's abilities and statistics. Every weapon and gear set in the game unlocks specific, powerful abilities and benefits, allowing players to craft their playstyle without being constrained by predetermined roles. This means that your chosen equipment directly dictates whether you function as a damage-per-second (DPS) powerhouse, a resilient tank, or a supportive healer for your squad.

Weapons, for instance, utilize auto-attacks when enemies are in range and also come with multiple cooldown-based abilities that can be activated during combat. This system encourages experimentation, as players can combine hundreds of gear pieces to create millions of possible builds.

Building Your 'Best Character': Synergy and Customization

To create an effective 'character' in 'Out of Time,' the focus shifts from selecting a base character to strategically combining gear for optimal synergies. The game promotes a 'Gear-Defined Chaos' where your playstyle is built around unique weapons and gear sets, each granting distinct abilities and benefits.

During a run, as you defeat enemies, you gain experience and levels, which offer in-run upgrades to boost stats and abilities. These upgrades often affect the entire team, highlighting the importance of considering the broader group strategy. Between runs, collected resources can be used to permanently upgrade gear and unlock stronger versions, enabling progression into higher difficulties.

The Essential 'Tether System' and Team Composition

'Out of Time' is a cooperative roguelite that heavily emphasizes teamwork, particularly through its 'Tether System'. Each player on a team has an aura radius, and if all teammates remain within this radius, they receive buffs and share stats. Any stat boosts from gear and upgrades obtained during a run are evenly shared among the squad.

Breaking the tether by separating from your team can be detrimental, leading to a significant drop in health, attack power, and other stats, effectively becoming a 'death sentence' in many situations. This mechanic necessitates careful coordination and encourages players to plan their loadouts to maximize shared benefits. For example, a support player's healing bonuses or a tank's bonus HP will benefit the entire tethered group.

General Build Archetypes

While there are no fixed classes, the gear system allows players to naturally adopt roles based on their equipped items. Effective team compositions will often include a mix of these archetypes:

Experimenting with different weapons and armor is encouraged, as the game offers a vast array of ability combos. The ultimate 'best character' is one that is well-equipped, synergizes with their team, and adapts to the challenges of each run.