ETA on Advanced Class change?

I don't necessarily disagree, but to me this is telling. Correct me if I am wrong bran....that probably goes without saying

IF...a big if mind you...if they had designed the game with stories that were matched to each current AC they would be viewed as classes. Would you still see them as classes if the stories for two classes shared some common elements...in other words if two of the storylines were similar?

If that is the case, this falls in line with what I have been saying all along...poor design has made the AC choice lack meaning, and therefore some folks do not see them as classes. That is the fault of the devs, not the players IMO.

This could be remedied. That does not mean it needs to be remedied, or more exactly everyone will agree, just my view. They could simply add AC specific story elements into the current storylines.

This at the very least IMO should have been how it was if they expected players to accept them as actual classes and not just specializations that serve up unique spec sets.

You dream the impossible if you want story variations, especially for old content.

Changing advanced class as a sub perk would be awesome and a great reason for being a sub. Above all it would help community when there's lack of tank or healer when needed. And another reason to grind second (or third if you count pvp) set of gear for one character. How can it be bad from BW perspective?

I can't wait until I can switch ACs. I have at least two toons I'm going to do this on.

How I view them is irrelevant. It's all about how easy it is to do technically. Right now, AC change may or not be easy, but however hard it is, it would certainly be easier than class (or gender or faction) change.

I still have no idea what you mean by ACs having "meaning." If I thought you meant in a RP sense, I would have a reply for you, but I don't think that's what you mean.

While some may wish it was not a class change, in the eyes of the devs it IS.

Until, and unless, the devs actually issue a statement that the AC's are NOT classes, their previous statements hold true. They CAN change their minds and stance at any time, but they have not yet done so.

I think you are finally making some progress.

Allowing AC (class) changes WILL cost BW subs, even among the so called "casuals". There are many people who are adamantly against allowing class change, in any fashion, and in the eyes of many players and in the eyes of the devs, AC's are separate classes and not just a "spec" of one "base" class or story line.

I've pointed out before that right now as things stand they have both sides of this issue paying and playing. If they allow AC (class) changes, they risk alienating those against class changes and losing the recurring revenue from those subs. If, on the other hand, they come out and issue a statement that AC's are classes, or that they are no longer even considering allowing AC (class) changes at this time, they risk alienating those who want to change their AC (class) and losing the recurring revenue from those subs.

Allowing AC (class) swaps may bring in a quick one time burst of revenue and maybe even a trickle of revenue if they allow multiple or even unlimited swaps, but will the quick burst and the later trickle be enough to offset the loss of the "guaranteed" recurring revenue of the subs they WILL lose. Issuing a statement that they are no longer considering allowing AC (class) changes will cost them subs as well and there will not even be a quick burst of revenue in that case.

So, the question is "Will BW make more money by allowing or selling AC (class changes) than they will potentially lose by allowing them"? Only BW would be able answer this question, and I'm not sure even they can.

This is the reason I think the devs are remaining silent. I think they may have made their decision not to allow AC (class) changes and are remaining silent since by remaining silent, they do not risk alienating either side and they continue to rake in those recurring subs.

I've freely admitted many times that they CAN change their minds at any time. I've also noted that even though they CAN change their minds, this does not mean that they HAVE TO, or WILL, change their minds. Again, to date they have NOT changed their stance or their minds and class changes are still NOT allowed, thankfully.

Oh, please. If it's not a strawman it's hyperbole. Only a few forum control freaks give a rat's butt if others change their AC. People won't even notice.

As an aside, I don't even thin the OP even plays any more.

If it helps you sleep at night, keep telling yourself that. You might even be right. I may be wrong, but I think if they allow class changes, you will see the population drop markedly further than it already has.

That said, I do not think they will allow class changes until, and unless, this game really starts to fail and is in desperate need of something other than the CM to save it. The CM appears to be thriving and the revenue continues to roll in for BW, so I don't see them allowing class changes anytime in the foreseeable future, as I said earlier.