ETA on Advanced Class change?

Above quote snipped for some brevity.

Anzel also fails to mention things like Bolster, which people were afraid of, that caused massive anger in the community and was improperly implemented. In fact, it still isn't working as intended.

TOR cannot have an edge on games with more than double the development team. They've already shown that these aren't seasoned developers with years of experience -- we've gotten an incredible amount of bugs every time they've attempted to implement a new system. I don't think AC changes will be any different.

As far as TOR vs ESO -- two different styles. FFXI has a multi-class system that works great -- but it was also planned from day 1, and implemented properly.

AC changes, if released in a state similar to Bolster-2.0 -- will drive MORE people away from the game, as opposed to getting people to stay. And, I don't believe for a moment that this is worth implementing to get people to stay. It also isn't worth saying "So many people will leave if you DO implement it."

Neither being true is the most likely reality. The majority of people I know, who actually enjoy the game, re-rolled instead of complaining for months that they wanted to change the AC. I'm re-rolling an assassin right now, because I forget 99% of the SI story (first story completed at launch). Most of the others, I've made a Republic toon of the other AC.

Both sides are blowing it out of proportion. This isn't an incredibly requested feature. It isn't a feature people expect. It isn't something people will ragequit over if it is or isn't implemented. At most, it is a QoL issue that ranks below dozens of others that people have asked about.

If it is a simple system? Put it in sooner than later. If it isn't? I don't want to see it in-game until it has been properly thought out and tested. If there are no limits on AC-changes, I will leave, and call BW out on the moronic business move.


TL;DR - AC change is not wanted enough, or "change" enough, to make this game magically better. There are far more important things to fix and implement, and my fear comes from a completely logical place. If AC changes are another Bolster, there will be many ruffled feathers.

If i remember correctly, similar arguments were made against respec, especially when it was going to free for subs. Many folks were dead set against the idea.

I all honesty, I am enjoying the game too and not having AC changes will not really be the reason I would jump ship, all this game lacks I really wanted was more in the way of exploration, but that is a different topic. I am sorry i am not educated enough on the bolster issue, since I do not enjoy PvP, i generally do not follow those issues, but I am not going to discount the fact you are accurate on that.

I would also agree that a poorly implemented AC change could be a problem. I am also not sure you are aware, but I am not for an all out change, i want one with limitations, so its not used like its a field re-spec of the skill tree. I want to see it as a way for someone to correct past toons they made before they knew any better. I know the motivation of others wanting this may not be on the same page as myself, but I will support the change idea, up to a point.

I would like to see the change happen, but if it does not, Ill just play the IMP side until I am board and move on.... If they allow AC changes, Ill go back to playing pub side as well.

Either way, im in the game for fun, unless ESO does come out and score big with the fans.... the only game I would jump ship for.

A tad bit about me, this is my first MMO, like many others, came here to play KOTOR 3, I did not know anything about classes in a traditional MMO, or what they even did in a team. Once I did learn this, I was already getting into the tanks and none of my pubs are, so I only play Imp now. I will never make toon 13, I am at my limit with leveling and burnt out on it.

I am not the only one...

NOW, if many are wanting change and they only have one toon, they should roll another alt, I am on here to defend the change idea only, but with limitations and for people that earned it through leveling enough other toons. Lets say, a min of Legacy level 25, only one change per 30 days and a few others that have been mentioned perhaps, like it needing to be expensive, the toon must be a lvl 50/55 first.

Based on these thoughts, and unless we know there would be bugs or issues, the change itself would not chase people away as long as it goes smooth and they do implement limits, even if for nothing more than "compromise". If we have learned one thing in the forums lately, there is plenty of people "claiming" to quit, but the game is still doing well. so far.....

I love to venture into the unknown... I see it as exciting.

Hey thanks... and while I may not always have a, "cool head" I really do care about this game and its success. I loved SWG and I hated to see it drown the way it did. My nerd rage does sometimes boil over when I see some of the same mistakes being made all over again. It's like Groundhog Day LOL.

One thing I always tell customers here at work is that you first have to get people to use your product, then monetize it. Look at Google. Look at Facebook. Look at YouTube. Three of the biggest online IPs and they are all free to use. FREE. They are also all worth billions of dollars. Why? Because people USE their services. They brought people in and then they found a way to monetize.

The good folks at EA need to take note of this. Their revenue model has always been the exact same. Gate gate gate gate. Want more ammo in your clip? Pay up. Want that DLC? Pay up. Want that shiny new armor? Pay up.

Now look at WoW. It's a really good game. I understand and I appreciate both what they've done technically and artistically but it's not THAT much better than the competition. What they've done is make their game accessible. They've made it enjoyable. They understand that you don't have to make the game "easy" in order to make it "easy to enjoy". There is a huge difference.

For this game to succeed EA needs to rethink their revenue model. They need to make this game more accessible. They need to make it easier to enjoy... and they need to find different revenue opportunities than they have in the past. Star Wars is such an amazing IP to have and it kills me to see them squander it like this.

And a bunch of people did quit... Just you got a wave of fresh f2pers!

This is not as out there an idea as some are making sound. SWTOR wouldn't even be the first MMO to do it. I can think at least a few MMO's that allow players to switch between classes. Freely, I might add. That's not to say it might not be problematic here. First it would be kind of jarring from a truel role playing stand point to go from being a Jedi to smuggler and the class specific story content causes a problem, though I suppose they could keep each story line seperate for each class.

^ This. Advance class change would be a huge mistake!

Anzel,

I am not sure when or if we would ever see "free" like Facebook or others you mention, since they do get money through advertisers and ongoing investor interest. However, I have been standing with you one some of their practices, like gambling packs (especially jawagrams as rare items) and gamble dyes, as if they needed to do that to the community that was wanting it from day one, but without the need to gamble for color.

I don't want to change the topic... we will fire up the few that constantly defend all things BW does. lol. You know who they are....

AC changes, to me would be positive as a whole, some will always gripe, no matter the change made, you know this all too well. I do think both sides love the game, but one side wants it to evolve, the other, leave it alone, its fine as it is.... You other post, was a great example of changes that were feared, but overcame and the sky is still blue and never fell.

Kilora made a good point about it though, if its too wide open, it could create too much anger and more than desired would quit. Also, if not tested, they could break things, which, as we know, this dev team is very good at doing, not because of incompetence, but more likely because they rush out the updates without proper testing.

Keep up the good work in the forums.....

Without the complaints, this game would probably already be dead....

Care to enlighten us?

I've yet to see a single game with a "permanent" class choice allow you to switch. If you can think of at least a few, why didn't you bother to list them?

I do not think I could support a base class change.... If they keep it to only the AC, so a Jedi Knight Sentinel, can only switch the a JK Guardian, for example, at least the stories and romances do not get affected, as well as all the companions remaining the same. The way this game set up its classes, AC changes look logical, without a big impact to story progression, however, that same story progression, would make base class changes a disaster, IMO.

i do not suspect, RP'ers would be on board with AC changes.... I am curious though to where that community does stand.

from my perspective, I want people to be able to correct past mistakes, after already pulling time, effort and money, real or in game, into a toon, they discovered does not play as they wish, or to a style they have developed.

In the end really, as long as new features to not impact my game play in a negative fashion, I am on the side of change is good, it shows the game evolving into something more, better or different, and sets it apart from the others.