ETA on Advanced Class change?

You paid for your character? I'm pretty sure buying accounts/characters is against the eula. Reported.

I'm not sure I understand the hostility towards folk asking if there is any possibility of an Advanced Class change in the near future.

Yes, I get it if you are an end game raider you feel your position on a raid team may be threatened by some guy that chooses to change their AC to yours, or for the PVP players that were lucky enough to choose (research) the right AC to go for that gives them an in-game edge. And that's about the only two reasons I can think of.

In my experience of MMOs a significant number of gamers (type A) seem to attach an incredible amount of their real life validation to their in game achievements, this sense of achievement is threatened any time a different gamer (type B) asks for that accomplishment for a lesser investment of time/ money/ skill.

And lets be honest the hostility originates from this idea that any change from the chosen AC is a threat to your role or perceived advantage. It has to be, because other than that what I choose to do on my character has absolutely no impact on anyone else.

Opening up for an AC change would make very little, if any difference to the game.

If you are a hardcore raider doing the NiM modes the chances are you would be positioned in a raid group and unlikely to be displaced by any Johnny-come-lately that has chosen to change their AC.

If you are a hardcore PvPer I would hope you have done the research on your class and have the muscle memory to react swiftly (or at least the macros) to any players that's done an AC so they can access the 'superior' AC and PvP spec.

For many casual gamers there is a point, many hours, if not days, into the game where you realise that the AC you chose months ago is no longer the way you want to play the game and you'd like to experience the other AC with out having to sink yet more months into the same story.

This issue is largely raised by Bioware's decision to have the Advanced Classes share so much, they share the same story, the same single class for levels 1-10, the same class buff, a shared set of abilities and also share one of the three talent trees.

I would never advocate the ability to change between classes (that is go from Bounty Hunter to Sith Warrior) but having levelled to 55 on one Bounty Hunter Powertech I can't see the issue allowing a player to change to Bounty Hunter Mercenary.

Any issue with no longer having decent gear or the wrong gear type is no greater than that already experienced by those ACs that have a choice between tanking and DPS specialisations. Or if you choose to PvP and PvE. Multiple sets of gear are required already.

You may also alleviate some of the strain off the class availability when it comes to group finder.

But perhaps the biggest reason I'd be for the AC change is that asking a player to make a permanent choice on AC type early on in a game when there has been no chance to see how either type plays is a bit short sighted.

The devs did not design it so that no single character could perform all three roles at a single time, but so that no single character COULD preform all three roles. Allowing class changes WOULD negate that design intent, no matter what restrictions they put on it. II personally hope that they never allow class changes.

The problem with your argument?? AC swapping has a restriction now that some people don't care about.. What makes you think they are going to care about your restrictions??

There is no need to change your AC.. It wouldn't be in Bioware's best interest anyways.. Taking away the need to level another character is a huge loss of content.. If people don't want to play the game then they shouldn't play it.. Not to mention pollute the forums with their demands for short cuts and making things easier..

Bioware doesn't want a single class (AC) to be able to both tank and heal.. Tanks and healers need to be separate characters.. Bioware was very specific about that when this issue came up during the beta.. It really should stay that way..

That is getting a free character for free... Your AC is your class.. Each class is a character.. Changing your AC is getting a new character...

Get it now??

Besides the fact that both Powertechs and Mercenaries do share so many aspects

No harm done in allowing those who don't have the time to reroll to switch AC, people will just argue against anything. Stick it on a 30 day cooldown, slap a hefty CC tag on it. Profit/QQ solved.

slap a hefty CC tag on it. Profit

I could get behind AC change if it was only available for a hefty amount of CC. Nubs funding my game development are the best nubs.