ETA on Advanced Class change?

So let me get this straight:
- A guardian wielding one lightsaber and has a tank tree is the EXACT same as a sentinel wielding two sabers and is pure DPS?
- A scoundrel wielding a blaster and scattergun, is mostly melee dps and has a healing tree is the EXACT same as a gunslinger wielding two blaster and is pure ranged DPS?
- A sage wielding a single saber, that is exclusively ranged DPS and has a healing tree is the EXACT same as a shadow wielding a double-bladed saber, that is mostly melee DPS, and has a tank tree?
- A commando carrying an assault cannon, that is near exclusively ranged DPS, and has a healing tree is the EXACT same as a vanguard that carries a blaster rifle, that is mostly short range and melee DPS, and has a tank tree?

Oh yeah, those ACs are exactly the same....

Ok. You give me a VALID reason why class changes should be allowed. Remember, though, I get to decide if it's valid, since you seem to want to decide whether a reason NOT to allow class changes if valid.

What part of "BASE CLASS" didn't you understand? Does "Hammer shot" differ between Vanguard or Commando? It doesn't matter what the hell weapon I fire it with, it's the same freaking skill! So is HiB, and Cryo grenade, and Full Auto and HtL and my stun break and my defensive cooldowns and my ammo recharge and my free shot...the BASE skills are identical...no matter what freaking weapon you use to animate the move.

1) AC ties the player to a specific main hand weapon. Allowing AC changes causes the player to incur an extremely high cost of acquiring new gear and gearing a companion.

2) AC swapping reduces the number of quality players for a particular class. Playing a class effectively requires some level of practice and time investment. Swappign AC eliminates that practice reducing the quality of the overall player base for the class.

3) There needs to be some level of "investment" by a player into their characters otherwise there is not sense of long term commitment. Thus allowing AC swapping removes the long term investment cost of a player into their character.
4) reduces replay ability since wanting to play additional mechanics would simply cost a person credits/money and not require any time. MMOs are typically fighting for your time (i.e subscriptions) and thus are filled with ways of spending that time, in the hopes that you will continue to play AND (in the new f2p market) invest $$ for cosmetic changes to enhance your time.

So there are 4 off the bat..any further questions?

Sure...but then you answer my question.

I'd rather have someone who called heads instead of tails at level 10, be allowed to swap their AC if they think it would improve their experience in the game.

1) The need to buy/acquire new gear would BENEFIT the game. Crafters would sell more, GF queues would have more players who need their new gear and WZ's would have players regrinding new gear.

2) That's an assumption, not a fact. I'd argue that any player willing to change their AC, is likely a better player than your average player because they are probably swapping for a reason.

3) I'd argue that the ability to swap AC's would ENHANCE the connection to the character because you'd be on ONE toon vs swapping to alts.

4) Replayablity? It's 100% the EXACT SAME experience AC to AC. This has NO impact on that at all.

Nope. I decide that's not a valid reason. They can re-roll.

Seriously, every player is given plenty information in game about the classes. If they do not feel the information in game is enough, then there are plenty of websites that could provide more information.

For better or worse, 6 of 8 ACs has the ability to do this today, without any leveling experience.

Talent trees evolved to provide more customization on a per class basis.

Allowing AC changes would just be the next evolution of that.

The biggest difference between ACs is playing a melee class versus a ranged class.

I would suggest that people tend to enjoy playing what they are good at, so unless you're good at both, you won't switch repeatedly.

At minimum, you should be able to switch your AC before you hit 50 because you may not even know you are better at melee than ranged or vice versa.

Ok, so you just want to make it punitive. Got it. I'm actually trying to support an option that would IMPROVE the player experience, not punish players.

This is not my con list.....this is the threads con list, compiled from all the reasons given against by folks that participated in the thread. The pro list is there as well.

So I am letting you know...it is the actual con list according to those that participated in the thread. Whether or not you accept them as valid is up to you.