The educational potential of class-based achievements
Early this morning, a player by the name of Koosh posted an idea to the official achievements forum: Why not add class- or role-specific achievements? If implemented, could these achievements be used to help players learn the specifics of their class? Koosh uses Team Fortress 2 as an example, and I think it's an excellent one. If you're unfamiliar with the game, Team Fortress 2 is a competitive (but light-hearted), class-based first-person shooter.
Here are some examples of Team Fortress 2 class achievements:
Scout Brushback: Stun 50 enemies while they are capturing a point or pushing the cart.
Pyro Hot Potato: Reflect 100 projectiles with your compressed air blast.
Soldier Death from Above: Rocket jump and kill 2 enemies before you land.
Achievements like this push you to learn how to play your class and how to play it well. It might be a very strong tool for training players in World of Warcraft. Interrupt 1,000 spells as a rogue? Use Anti-Magic Shell to absorb 1,000,000 damage? Replenish 150,000 points of other players' mana with Innervate, as Koosh suggests?
Readers, do you think this would be a viable way to teach players how to use all of the tools at their disposal? What achievements do you think your class should have?
