"One of the challenges that we saw with the skill tree is that we didn't really see the utility of having multiple different selections in the tree. So we have removed some skills and we have added a bunch of new ones. On top of that, you now have to choose between a couple of different abilities. Instead of unlocking everything, you have to select a few.
"We believe that creates more interesting choices and supports more playstyles. It follows the same general structure as before, but with more interesting choices. Hopefully the players will find new builds to play around with, and if it's not your style, you can always change them and try a different build instead." (via press Q&A)
Skills didn't get much attention in Embark's stuffed Frozen Trails reveal video, but the rework sounds like a pretty big deal. It was the first topic addressed by Grøndal in a recent press Q&A, and he seemed excited by the build opportunities that'll come from the new abilities. The current tree is pretty forgettable as is: I dumped all of my points into mobility and ended up slightly better at running and sliding.
Unfortunately, Grøndal didn't go into any details about what those new skills will entail, so my imagination is forced to run wild: Can I spec into a double jump? Learn to tame an Arc as a pet?
