ETA on Advanced Class change?

Even with an AC change, as long as it operates under the restrictions I outlined (fixed location, timed lockout, reasonable cost), you would not have a class that could cover all roles.

Bounty hunter, Powertech can Tank OR DPS, Mercenary can Heal OR DPS.

At no point would my idea of an AC change allow a Bounty Hunter to Tank AND DPS AND Heal at the same time.

The utility of the class is extended the power is not.

Allowing class changes would still allow a single character to fill all three roles, which goes directly against the devs design intents.

Allowing class changes would still allow a single character to fill all three roles, which goes directly against the devs design intents.

My Option as formatted for LordArtemis


Level 10 to 55 - Allow AC Change - no maximum number of changes - must change at AC trainers on fleet - 1 Week cooldown - Option for AC change unlocked as Character Perk for 600 cartel Coins (or 1.5 million credits) - Each subsequent AC change costs 40 cartel coins (or 100,000 credits).

The main issue with Advanced class change is to retain the same power within the class and not increase it or alter the spread of abilities available within a class. The biggest threat to power balance within class design as I understand it is to allow for Tanking and Healing abilities at the same time. I have made sure any of my suggestions to the idea of an AC change avoid this scenario.

Okay I've bolded the bit I don't understand.

With an AC change you are not getting a new character, you are altering an existing characters skill set.
With an AC change you are not getting any BIS gear.
With an AC change you are not getting any additional character slots, inventory slots, or class buffs.

The only aspect of the game an AC change would facilitate is a reduction in time to accomplish the same feat of levelling a second character. While I can understand a certain reluctance to allow a second wave of players a chance to accomplish something you have achieved but in less time, you have to accept this is pretty much a part of the MMO lifecycle. All that time spent grinding end game gear prior to 2.0 pretty much wasted a new player can get that stuff (or better in some cases) pretty easily.

Still at the end of the day you can't use ability set A AND B, you can still only use ability set A OR B. The class utility has increased not its power.

Even then it's more about supporting a player base and allowing them more ways of playing the character they have identified with.

It's not really a point I've gone into in much detail as it is very subjective. With Bioware's focus on storytelling, the full voice over and the cinematic cutscenes, people who have identified strongly with their character on the first play through start to struggle on the second playthrough. Now this is somewhat of a problem on any class with regards to the world quests but at least the class quests give some sense of identity and relate directly to the companions, another integral aspect of the PvE experience. Take that away and your first character is lessened.

Allowing for AC changing helps to forge a stronger sense of connection/ ownership with the character and a greater chance the player will try out a new style of play rather than put the game down altogether.

While much is made is made of the difference between class and advanced class, Bioware have chosen to blur the lines significantly with their choice to blend the two Advanced classes around one core class/ story. In many peoples mind a Powertech is just a Mercenary who uses one pistol and carries a shield generator, or a Mercenary is just a Powertech that uses two guns. This is the power of the story. It convinces you the character is more than just a set of arbitrary mechanics.

While I understand how some other MMOs have set up their Class structure I feel it a shame to want SWTOR to follow it as rigorously.

I honestly feel the Class Story forms the core class experience. For example this would be the Bounty Hunter. The Advanced Class is a subset that is a game mechanic to keep two skill sets exclusive from each other at any particular time (you really don't want tank and heal abilities on the action bar at the same time) so you have the tanking abilities with the Powertech and the healing abilities with the Mercenary. Both Advanced classes have further skill trees that allow them to fine tune their role/ playstyle.

I see the advanced class as a form of specialisation and a step that should be retrainable at a slightly higher cost than that of a regular respec.

it is a class change. You are getting a class YOU DID NOT LEVEL at max level. That is a pay to win option. It does not matter how you see it the devs (the people who matter) see it as different classes.