Restructuring Classes in SWTOR

When you oversimplify things like this, there WILL 100% guaranteed be that "one best" spec for every class, and be no diversity in between classes. So idk about doing this. I mean if you can wield 2 sabers as knight AND tank, why wield 1 lightsaber?

Some people might prefer the damage mitigation of a shield in some fights, and then bump up there output in other fights. Like a Warrior in WoW. Sword/Shield, 2 one handed swords, or specialize into Titan grip with 2 two-handed swords. Every fight is set differently, so allowing a tank to change up his gear based on the fight would actually allow for a marginally higher success rate.

This would be nothing like the NGE. The NGE took 32 completely different classes and mushed them into 9. Most of them got the axe, but they consolidated the Crafters.

This wouldn't change an awful lot, rather than picking an AC when you reach the fleet, your AC would be determined by the majority of your skillpoints. You'd just have access to all five trees. It provides more choice, as "AC Swap" becomes as easy as spec changing is currently. The difference being, the ACs themselves kind of go away.

OK, so you know already this is a lot of effort. If you want to sell it to the devs (I don't really care either way, like how it is now but I'm not married to the idea) then you're going to have to tell them WHY they should trash the system they've had in place since... forever.... and streamline things like this. What problems are you solving? Why do these problems exist? Are there other less... disruptive things we can do to address these issues? What is the greater impact on player content consumption patterns that this change will create?

Basically... why should they bother?

what significant advantage will your idea give over the existing model?

I could give my opinion here, though you certainly didn't ask me.

If I was asked this question and I indicated I supported the idea, this would be why in a nutshell....

1) Current system offers a set of utility options that is more complicated than it needs to be.

Almost every utility option offered could be offered with a simpler system. In fact, I would have removed ACs all together, moved the current class names to specs instead and had 4 specs instead....tank, healer, DPS, hybrid. Every spec would be culled down to around 10 abilities max and the rest would be boosts and enhancements.

2) AC change, as some seem to desire, would not longer be needed by those folks.

Removing AC, adding a 4th spec would allow folks to respec to what they wish when they wish it, since it would no longer represent class change.

3) Easier to expand abilities and to balance as level cap increases.

Having a 4 base spec loadout with no ACs makes it much easier to design proper content to join level cap increases, as well as balance play and add abilities. Only one mirror of an ability will exist (mirror class).

4) Options for impressive custom builds would be almost endless.

Folks could actually create custom loadouts for Solo PVE only, or flashpoint runs, operations, PVP, etc. Having more refined but simpler specs also means changes to one spec would be less likely to effect another spec that is generally for one side of the game, like PVE vs PVP.

Overall it gives a player more options with less work and more potential (less work past the initial rebuild of course).

Now, what is important is that there would have to a long testing period and a "transition", where players could try out the new system and abilities without losing the current setup in the live game...eventually, after a bit of work, all players could be transitioned to the new system.

I am of the belief that the current system actually hinders growth, and a change is need. Though not the only cause, it is a contributing factor IMO.

So what would happen to the extra 8 alts many have spent a lot of time and money on? I only have 11 and some are exact clones so I can raid more with my favorite class, but what would happen to the extra alts we have? This game was built with rolling multiple alts in mind so why fix something that isn't broke? The devs already work on class balance and have been doing a good job so far imo so there is no need to change what we have now. Seriously, what would you tell someone who took the time to gear a Merc and Powertech in full Dread Forged sets?