ETA on Advanced Class change?

The devs have NEVER changed their stance that AC's are different classes. There is no more recent quote from the devs regarding AC's being different classes. This is one area in which they have remained steadfast. AC's are different classes.

The most recent quote of which I am aware simply stated that AC changes would "likely happen" at some point in the future. This is a far cry from saying that they will happen, though. Although there are those that do not share my opinion, my opinion is that this most recent quote was a "soft no" to AC changes. By saying that they would "likely happen" at some undetermined point in the future, they can placate those who want to change class while remaining true to their earlier statement that they would not be implementing AC changes.

Am I correct in my interpretation? Who knows. I do not, nor does anyone else. Only the devs know, and they're not saying. This lack of any further mention of AC changes lends credence to my interpretation, IMO, as I think if they had any intention of implementing class changes we would have heard at least a smidgen more by now.

That is not exactly accurate. Not only did they not design or intend for them to be individual classes but simple playstyle choices INSIDE 8 classes in the beginning, they also wavered on AC change and allowed it at one point. The contention that it was a unique class came MUCH LATER as an explanation as to why they took the option away...it evolved into that position to save face. Proof below.


1) Originally the Advanced class system was not designed as an individual class, but actually was a refinement of a current class to cover play styles...

Georg Zoeller - Principal Lead Systems Designer

“As you know, a core feature of Star Wars: The Old Republic is that we are shipping the game with eight classes – each with an epic story, full voiceover, quests and cinematics. This creates a very unique game experience for each of them, something never done in an MMO before.

Furthermore, we wanted to ensure that we had the flexibility to support several play-styles within each of these eight classes. So we built Advanced Classes into the game from the ground up to provide us with the ability to create and support different gameplay and roles inside each class. “

Can't find the original developer's blog, but I have the article that refers to it with the quote here.


2) Originally they intended for AC choice to be permanent, then decided to allow open changes...see the video here, SWTOR Q&A session, 7-21-11 Comic-Con - 7:40 to 8:40

James Ohlen - Game Director

JO: So the question is, um, in Star Wars the Old Republic you have advanced classes that you get to pick at a certain level, um, where you specialize your class...can you, uh, switch once you have made a choice in advanced class, that's the question? So, currently we are going to be allowing you to respec your advanced class... and the reason we went that way is because it is a big choice and some people might make the wrong choice.

So, the very first time you decide to respec your advanced class it's not going to be super expensive, uh we are going to make it relatively affordable, and then after that it will become a lot more difficult. We're going to let you correct your mistake...so for example, if your a Sith Warrior, you decide to pick the juggernaut route, and then two levels in you are like "i didn't want to be a juggernaut"...that first correction will be easy, but then after that we"re going to make your advanced class choice very difficult to respec.


Dallas Dickinson - Director of Production

July 2011 - Interview at SDCC 2011

What prompted the class design change from choosing a permanent Advanced Class to having the ability to switch?

DD: I think we just decided that it is just such a significant choice that you make. We try to give you as much information as possible so you make a good one, but we know that there are some people who choose to play as a Juggernaut, play for three levels, and are like "aww man!" We want to make it so that the first time you choose to respec your Advanced Class, it is relatively painless; it is going to cost some credits, but it is not going to cost a ton. Though after that, we want to make it very difficult. We don't want people to hot swap their Advanced Class willy-nilly; we want to make sure it is something you don't do all the time.


3) November of 2011 they decided to remove the option to change advanced class and make it a permanent choice.

They spoke of this in a german interview...if anyone has the translation please post it, as I no longer have it. But I do have the gist of what was spoken with relation to AC and AC change....

From this recent Interview Bioware has changed their mind again about Advance Classes and the ability to respec between them. (eg. Juggernaut to Maurader or Powertech to Mercenary)

They have decided that your AC choice will be a permanent one at level 10. They believe that once you choose your AC at level 10 you are to stick with it since if they allow you to switch between AC's it will allow for FOTM gameplay and thats not something they want.

Is it possible to change his Advanced class?

We have changed her mind again. It will not be possible to modify the Advanced class. We believe it is currently not necessary. Talent trees are to be reset but can not continue to the advanced class. At least not at launch. Probably not.

Just to bring some clarity. Never did they indicate in this process that AC was a unique class...rather a refinement of the current class with respect to new abilities for playstyle choice. It also demonstrates that they, at one time, did allow AC change for the reasons demonstrated, and chose to remove that option out of fear of abuse..NOT because the AC was considered a unique class.

The unique class viewpoint was one that Bioware evolved into to explain removing the change option. It is as simple as that, and WAS NOT in place at the very beginning.

This also proved that, before launch, Bioware had intended to allow AC change and stated the reasons clearly, ones that line up with the most common reasons posed here.

It is just not accurate to claim that they have always called advanced class a unique class, designed them that way from the beginning or that they have never allowed AC change.

At this point, my position on AC changing is id like to see it, but if not ill reroll and that has been my position all along. Ive said numerous times id like to see a dev post something recent on it as there has been rumors about it happening and rumors saying no. The past posts have been simply arguing about is AC classes or not, which they are, but there classes that are branched off a base class, so its not a normal class change, it could happen without the game breaking in any way.

the difference is - marauder and jugg share a story. marauder and vanguard? do not.

Personally I'm for being able to switch ACs (within the main class ofcourse). What I don't get is all the cry babies who keep on going on about having to lvl in order to be able to play the class. What BS! There are many ppl out there that have done this and they still suck. Bad players will always be bad but there are many ppl out there who could easily switch ACs and out perform a large proportion of ppl that play the AC already. The combat system in this game is not complicated, with some general knowledge of the game and some research on the AC then it would be easy to pick up.

Wait. So, that would already make this one of those things that BW changed.

It may be possible that BW simply chose to spin the decision as to not allowing AC changes at launch as being different classes. That does not negate the fact that they have remained steadfast in that regard since the previously mentioned quote.

I also find it very interesting to hear you say that the devs removed AC changes due to fear of abuse, which just happens to be one of the reasons many people are against class changes. Why would the devs be so afraid of abuse if it were not a class change?

and every class in wow LOTRO DDO and basically every other MMO all share the same story... what is your point?

Is changing from vanguard to commando a class change? YES

Is changing from vanguard to sentinel a class change? YES

They are both class changes. If we're going to allow class changes, then those that want to be able to switch from vanguard to sentinel should be able to do so. It's a little hypocritical to allow one and not the other. If we're going to disallow changing from vanguard to sentinel, then we should also disallow changing from vanguard to commando.

the point is juggernaut and marauder are from the same base class, juggernaut and vanguard arent. it wouldnt be hard for a marauder to decide to go to a juggernaut. its in the same base class frame

but a vanguard to a commando is not a class change! let me go back to my previous argument, lets use wow analogy, as a paladin you get certain abilities for being a paladin, then you pick retribution, you get abilities for picking retribution. its the same concept! you get abilities for being a trooper, then abilities for picking vanguard.