ETA on Advanced Class change?

[Basreia]

I do not feel that Advanced Class should have a change option. That's one of the things in this game where you pick one or the other and you are stuck with it. That's why it says "choose very wisely" and "are you sure this is what you want? after this, there is no turning back"

 

Advanced Classes have no going back because that's the way it is for the roleplaying part inside the game. Once you start down a path, forever will it dominate your destiny. That's how it goes. I don't think you need people to constantly be changing the path of their character with a simple go back and go "you know what...i feel this is not right for me"

 

But on the other hand. I can understand and see why people want a change. They love their class, thought they would like the Advanced Class they chose, but now that they have most abilities, powers etc they feel underwhelmed and wonder "should i have picked the other one?" But they don't want to level a new character so soon and go back and start from the beginning. I can see why some would want a respec in the Advanced Class field.

 

Anyway, I understand the complaints and really really wanting it bad but you need to be realistic here. It's one of the core mechanics of the game for the lore and for Star Wars. Once you start down a path, it will always be with you with THAT character. If you want an Advanced Class change start a new character. I know you may not want to do it, but for right now, and I think for a LONG time, if forever, you are going to need to start a new character and start over if you want to change your advanced class

[Whojoo]

I do not feel that Advanced Class should have a change option. That's one of the things in this game where you pick one or the other and you are stuck with it. That's why it says "choose very wisely" and "are you sure this is what you want? after this, there is no turning back"

 

Advanced Classes have no going back because that's the way it is for the roleplaying part inside the game. Once you start down a path, forever will it dominate your destiny. That's how it goes. I don't think you need people to constantly be changing the path of their character with a simple go back and go "you know what...i feel this is not right for me"

 

But on the other hand. I can understand and see why people want a change. They love their class, thought they would like the Advanced Class they chose, but now that they have most abilities, powers etc they feel underwhelmed and wonder "should i have picked the other one?" But they don't want to level a new character so soon and go back and start from the beginning. I can see why some would want a respec in the Advanced Class field.

 

Anyway, I understand the complaints and really really wanting it bad but you need to be realistic here. It's one of the core mechanics of the game for the lore and for Star Wars. Once you start down a path, it will always be with you with THAT character. If you want an Advanced Class change start a new character. I know you may not want to do it, but for right now, and I think for a LONG time, if forever, you are going to need to start a new character and start over if you want to change your advanced class

 

Couldn't have said it better

[Ratajack]

I'm sorry, why is losing everything after you have swapped AC's a reason to allow AC swapping??

 

The best answer is still.. Not to allow AC swapping and people roll new characters.. Problem solved..

 

I agree that they should not allow class changes, but I also recognize that people may have that "main" who has several unique and no longer obtainable items.

[Vhaegrant]

Why stop short of allowing creation of max level characters with all companions at max affection with all companion unlocks and BIS gear if a player has already achieved all those things on one character. That player may not find those things to be "fun", and instead simply "time sinks". It really has little to no impact on how player A plays the game if player B creates that max level character.

 

I should probably have listed a longer list of game aspects that can be considered to give an advantage, my fault. Companion affection gives a very minor boost to crew mission/crafting critical results and could give a resultant advantage to anyone playing the GTN economy.

 

Where most draw the line for what affects them in game play is another players access to end game BiS gear and the ability to generate credits. With the introduction of the cartel market and the ability to resell packs and gear on the GTN (a de facto ingame gold seller, that is real cash for ingame credits) this second factor has become less of an issue. The major concern for most would be a players ability to completely bypass the gear grind aspect of the endgame.

 

Even then, I am not opposed on a fundamental level, to allowing for the purchase within the cartel market of a level 55 character equipped in level 72 purples, with all companions at max affection. They have essentially paid to bypass the content but that would be their choice and would still not detract from your achievements made in game in any way.

 

I spend time running dailies and fps to earn credits, it does not offend me that other players chose to pay cash for packs and vendor them on the gtn so they can spend more time doing the content they like.

 

I think what cause most offense on this issue is the attachment of a real world price against the time I have put in.

 

Run Ilum, Black Hole and Section X takes anywhere between one and a half to two hours and nets me on average 400,000 credits.

Purchase a cartel pack for 360 ccs and vendor it on GTN for 400,000 credits (usually about this price for the most recent pack) costs about £2 and takes virtually no time.

Most people would be offended to think their time is only worth about £1 an hour

[LordArtemis]

Well, for me it's a meaningful choice issue. I want the role I play in a game to have meaning....not be arbitrary.

 

Now, in my opinion....just mine mind you....it is already arbitrary enough. Adding AC change into the mix would make the choice of AC next to meaningless to me.

 

Remember....I will regrettably accept this if the majority desires it. I will even support some of the more restrictive options when it comes to AC change, abet with little enthusiasm.

 

But I would be happy to see this never come to pass.

[Vhaegrant]

I do not feel that Advanced Class should have a change option. That's one of the things in this game where you pick one or the other and you are stuck with it. That's why it says "choose very wisely" and "are you sure this is what you want? after this, there is no turning back"

I think many of the arguments against allowing an AC change, or even the chance to discuss such a change, fall back on this wording. While I was never in Beta I did follow the progress and seem to recall the wording was less definitive, I can only assume it had to be beefed up due to players wanting the AC change option at the time.

 

I would agree with you however on the point that it is 'one of the things in this game where you pick one or the other and you are stuck with it' I would say beyond the initial choice of class it is the ONLY aspect of the game that is a meaningful and permanent.

 

With the customisation booth aside from gender all aspects of the characters appearance set on creation can be altered.

 

During the story your conversation choices are more for flavour, there are no branching paths, with virtually no significant outcomes that I can think of.

 

 

Sith Warrior has the Light side Jaesa or Dark side Jaesa.

Jedi Consular has follow up as to whether you make a Dark or Light side choice on Balmorra.

 

Most choices are reflected in the e-mail you get.

The story has to be linear to make sure you hit all the set piece elements.

 

Light/Dark side choices are largely irrelevant. Can go back and rerun FPs to alter or maintain a neutral position. Items with a requirement are not BiS and are usually a straight mirror so it only affects those that are attempting to stay grey. Dark side appearance can be turned off, their is no light side appearance change.

 

Advanced Classes have no going back because that's the way it is for the roleplaying part inside the game. Once you start down a path, forever will it dominate your destiny. That's how it goes. I don't think you need people to constantly be changing the path of their character with a simple go back and go "you know what...i feel this is not right for me"

And yet you can rerun Heroics, FPs and OPs and choose to take different choices in the conversation options every time you run it. Light side one day Dark side the next. Nothing in this game is truly permanent aside from the initial story you chose to play (which I agree with) and the AC you choose (which I disagree with).

I feel the roleplaying aspect would actually be enhanced by allowing for an AC change as I see the AC as a sub-set of the core class and a mechanical means of separating abilities that may cause balance issues.

My main is a Light side Bounty Hunter, more a gun for hire with a conscience, as likely to hire himself out as a bodyguard and protector as he is to go after criminals that have evaded the local authorities. In this role it is just as valid to see him want to go the healer role (Mercenary) as it is tank (Powertech), which is a choice based on the particular ability set and equipment (both of which see similar variation when choosing a different skill tree within an AC).

 

But on the other hand. I can understand and see why people want a change. They love their class, thought they would like the Advanced Class they chose, but now that they have most abilities, powers etc they feel underwhelmed and wonder "should i have picked the other one?" But they don't want to level a new character so soon and go back and start from the beginning. I can see why some would want a respec in the Advanced Class field.

This is one of the main reasons I seem to be such a passionate advocate for allowing an AC change in the future. You really don't get a feel for how an AC is going to play until quite late in the game. The full rotation only becomes available in the mid to late 40s. By this time you have made a considerable investment into your character. To abandon it and relevel the alternative class knowing the story will be the same (minor changes if you chose a different gender/ convo choices) and not knowing if the issues are one of the class itself or just the AC.

 

Anyway, I understand the complaints and really really wanting it bad but you need to be realistic here. It's one of the core mechanics of the game for the lore and for Star Wars. Once you start down a path, it will always be with you with THAT character. If you want an Advanced Class change start a new character. I know you may not want to do it, but for right now, and I think for a LONG time, if forever, you are going to need to start a new character and start over if you want to change your advanced class

I don't think it is a core mechanic with regards to Lore or Star Wars. Obviously it is a current core mechanic of the game and one I would like to see altered sometime in the future.

I think this issue would have been lessened or even eliminated if the AC choice was made at first level before you even start playing. You would not experience any part of the game as just a Bounty Hunter and there would be no connection to the thought that the Mercenary/ Powertech is just a subset of the Bounty Hunter class.

Only on replay would you realise that the two share so much like initial appearance, story, companions, legacy buff, restricted gear, and a core of abilities.

Edited July 26, 2013 by Vhaegrant

[Pagy]

i still dont understand how anyone can think this is a good idea or a valuable use of bw resources

[Vhaegrant]

Well, for me it's a meaningful choice issue. I want the role I play in a game to have meaning....not be arbitrary.

 

Now, in my opinion....just mine mind you....it is already arbitrary enough. Adding AC change into the mix would make the choice of AC next to meaningless to me.

 

Remember....I will regrettably accept this if the majority desires it. I will even support some of the more restrictive options when it comes to AC change, abet with little enthusiasm.

 

But I would be happy to see this never come to pass.

 

I'm not sure it does makes the choice you make for your characters 'Role' less meaningful it just allows players to find their preferred style without having to retread old ground.

I think it is very important to make a characters 'Role' such as Healer, Tank and DPS have meaning. With regards to this a character specced as Healer should not be outhealed by a character specced as DPS. If such was the case then the choice really would be arbitrary.

I would like to see the gear a 'Role' requires to also be separated out to make more of a distinction. While it is obvious that a Tank needs different gear to a DPS most Healers can get by in exactly the same gear as they use from their DPS spec (this may not be the case in top end nightmare mode min/maxed raid groups but for general average gaming it is).

I also think that all of the class stories should have had access to all of these Roles. Maybe in the future if the suggestion of new ACs ever comes to pass this could be resolved.

For some gamers they chose a 'Role' to specialise in and perfect, for others they like to dabble across the spectrum.

[Yungscion]

Well, for me it's a meaningful choice issue. I want the role I play in a game to have meaning....not be arbitrary.

 

Now, in my opinion....just mine mind you....it is already arbitrary enough. Adding AC change into the mix would make the choice of AC next to meaningless to me.

 

Remember....I will regrettably accept this if the majority desires it. I will even support some of the more restrictive options when it comes to AC change, abet with little enthusiasm.

 

But I would be happy to see this never come to pass.

 

You'll have to forgive me, but I just can't understand this point of view. Meaningful, just seems so incongruous with a video game.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love gaming (been doing it for almost 30 years) but I just don't understand why people attach so much importance to it. I'll couch that by saying I don't see any form of entertainment as meaningful. Fun and engaging sure, but meaningful no.

 

That said, while you see it as something you want to have meaning, but others don't, locking them into the AC choice, which lets face it at level 10 is pretty arbitrary because even if you want to heal or tank (dps is pointless as it is only a different way to dps) you cant know whether you like it or not until you play it for minimum 15 levels.

 

Me, I enjoy the story of this game, which doesn't change based on AC (only parent class), so for me the more important thing is keeping my story, unlocks, pets, mounts, and what not intact and less important on how I dps. But the is probably why this debate keeps raging, I have no way of comprehending where you coming from and seeing why a concession would be so important to you . But I can still respect your opinion and appreciate the none rage filled troll manner in which you have presented it.

[Vhaegrant]

i still dont understand how anyone can think this is a good idea or a valuable use of bw resources

 

While I don't have the on hand metrics BW has, and many of the gamers who the idea of an AC change would be appealing to have either unsubbed or don't frequent the forums, I know from friends (at least two, maybe more) they can't be bothered to play certain classes because they don't want to relevel.

 

Anecdotal evidence is always the poorest and they may be telling me this to spare my feelings rather than tell me the truth such is the case with any feedback.

 

But it suggests that there are players out there who started playing and stopped because the AC choice they made was the wrong one and the lack the time and or incentive to relevel the alternative AC in the hope that it offers what they wanted.

 

I'm not a programmer, although I have brushed shoulders with those who are and fumbled around under the bonnet of game editors such as the Aurora toolset. I would hope all the class abilities have unique identifiers. You need to recognise which AC is currently active, switch between two ability lists, and keep track of advancement of abilities. But it is very easy to be a backseat programmer

 

Valuable use of resources? The more attached a player feels to their character, the more potential use they feel they have with it, the more choices available, the more time they are likely to spend playing it and purchasing nice shiney items for it from the cartel market.

[LordArtemis]

I can explain the meaningful part if anyone is interested.

 

I get into my characters role in the universe. His AC is his "specialization", his ability set that defines him in that world.

 

I like this definition because it adds some uniqueness to him as a character in gameplay...unique specials, unique animations, etc. I want to feel like I am playing a real commando, not just a toon with a fancy name.

 

This game fails at that in a bad way IMO. Yes, it offers some unique animations, but the specials are almost exactly the same as it's mirror class....no real uniqueness there except for visual cues. Heck, I even set up my quickbars the same way on both factions....the same rotation works.

 

Second, I keep getting referred to in the game, in different areas as my base class, as if my specialization does not exist. It's like being called a grunt all the time when you are a Green Beret....it just cheapens the overall experience for me.

 

So, this choices only real meaning comes across as a silly message that says it's important and permanent, and an opportunity to see some neat animations and add dps or heals perhaps....not my idea of what an AC should be.

 

That is where it falls short, and allowing AC change, IMO, would further erode what little meaning the choice has.

[Yungscion]

I can explain the meaningful part if anyone is interested.

 

I get into my characters role in the universe. His AC is his "specialization", his ability set that defines him in that world.

 

I like this definition because it adds some uniqueness to him as a character in gameplay...unique specials, unique animations, etc. I want to feel like I am playing a real commando, not just a toon with a fancy name.

 

This game fails at that in a bad way IMO. Yes, it offers some unique animations, but the specials are almost exactly the same as it's mirror class....no real uniqueness there except for visual cues. Heck, I even set up my quickbars the same way on both factions....the same rotation works.

 

Second, I keep getting referred to in the game, in different areas as my base class, as if my specialization does not exist. It's like being called a grunt all the time when you are a Green Beret....it just cheapens the overall experience for me.

 

So, this choices only real meaning comes across as a silly message that says it's important and permanent, and an opportunity to see some neat animations and add dps or heals perhaps....not my idea of what an AC should be.

 

That is where it falls short, and allowing AC change, IMO, would further erode what little meaning the choice has.

 

You want to hear something funny.

 

I can actually understand that, and some what agree. But as an Imperial Agent I would find it more believable if the military allowed me to get additional specialized training. As real military's allow their service members to continue to gain specialized training, effectively not allowing me to do that doesn't make sense to me (from a story perspective).

 

In fact as an Agent I see my job is to get the job done by any means necessary, which would mean I should be able to do it from a distance or up close and personal.

 

So I actually can understand what you mean as you describe it in that sense, to me allowing me to change actually is more 'immersive' as that is what a real military would do.

Edited July 26, 2013 by Yungscion

[Vhaegrant]

I can explain the meaningful part if anyone is interested.

I'm interested

 

I get into my characters role in the universe. His AC is his "specialization", his ability set that defines him in that world.

I couldn't agree with you more on the first part, although as the game is laid out with a focus on the story and this story is defined by the class you choose, I've always seen the Advanced Class as a subset.

 

I like this definition because it adds some uniqueness to him as a character in gameplay...unique specials, unique animations, etc. I want to feel like I am playing a real commando, not just a toon with a fancy name.

In more roleplaying terms my character can acquire all the skills and abilities but needs to focus on one aspect (role) at any particular time, requiring a different rotation and gear setup. I've always found in table top games you are able to get more unique and individual characters by playing in non-class based systems. I feel my character should be able to cope with learning more than one skill set but should be restricted to only employing one at a time (In many respects I feel the current ease with which you can respect as a subscriber is a step too easy, I would like to see it restricted to a terminal on the character's ship)

 

This game fails at that in a bad way IMO. Yes, it offers some unique animations, but the specials are almost exactly the same as it's mirror class....no real uniqueness there except for visual cues. Heck, I even set up my quickbars the same way on both factions....the same rotation works.

I'd say the mechanics behind the abilities are identical after all they are mirror classes. The story elements and class restricted creation choices/ gear provide what limited uniqueness there is, and even then the appearance aspect has faded with the introduction of Adaptive gear.

 

Second, I keep getting referred to in the game, in different areas as my base class, as if my specialization does not exist. It's like being called a grunt all the time when you are a Green Beret....it just cheapens the overall experience for me.

It is one of the small drawbacks of making a game fully 'voice over'. It becomes increasingly prohibitive to cater for all aspects that could vary. While I wouldn't want to go back to games that are purely text based it was nice to see a character referred to by their actual name. Maybe one workaround would be a computer terminal/ communications interface that reads out text based information like the e-mails. But then with the ever increasing weirdness of names players are required to take I could imagine this would be even more jarring for some of the late arrivals

 

So, this choices only real meaning comes across as a silly message that says it's important and permanent, and an opportunity to see some neat animations and add dps or heals perhaps....not my idea of what an AC should be.

I think an AC should be a subset of the main class, a game mechanic to restrict access to abilities that may have balance issues if available at the same time.

In wanting to see uniqueness I would love to see the skills and abilities opened up so I can have more input into how my character plays. Class based systems always feel so artificial and claustrophobic to me.

If lightning attacks have always been the bread and butter of the Darkside why restrict it to Sith? Why can't a Darkside Jedi use lightning? Why can't Lightside Sith throw pebbles and rocks? Darth Vader made more use of Project than lightning attacks.

True uniqueness of character would come from having an unrestricted abilities system, however in a large scale game this would issue in any manner of synergy/ balance nightmares and inexperienced players finding they never have the right build. In many respects the class system is the developers way of giving premade templates of optimal builds with a little bit of room for a player to define their role.

 

That is where it falls short, and allowing AC change, IMO, would further erode what little meaning the choice has.

I feel the choice if it has to be there at all is ten levels too late. I think, as I mentioned in a previous post, it is the only choice you will make in the game that has any permanency, all other choices that previously existed having been removed. I would have much rather seen companion death left in, species selection made permanent, story choices have real impact, but I guess that is not the way of an MMO these days.

Edited July 26, 2013 by Vhaegrant

[olie-flight]

U guys need to go with cloning and push for that. That way u can have a sent and a guard or a shadow and a sage or a mando and a van or a scoundrel and a gunslinger and only have have to go thru the story line once. This really is the best option and fits the timeline perfectly........

[Vhaegrant]

U guys need to go with cloning and push for that. That way u can have a sent and a guard or a shadow and a sage or a mando and a van or a scoundrel and a gunslinger and only have have to go thru the story line once. This really is the best option and fits the timeline perfectly........

 

No thanks. That opens up the very valid argument that you are getting an ADDITIONAL character that you have not levelled. Not the choice to use one set of abilities OR the other on the SAME character.

 

The choice of which skillset a character has available to them is the biggest concern. Not effectively giving them a high level toon they have not levelled.

 

Besides a clone of a Powertech would still be a Powertech

[Pagy]

While I don't have the on hand metrics BW has, and many of the gamers who the idea of an AC change would be appealing to have either unsubbed or don't frequent the forums, I know from friends (at least two, maybe more) they can't be bothered to play certain classes because they don't want to relevel.

 

Anecdotal evidence is always the poorest and they may be telling me this to spare my feelings rather than tell me the truth such is the case with any feedback.

 

But it suggests that there are players out there who started playing and stopped because the AC choice they made was the wrong one and the lack the time and or incentive to relevel the alternative AC in the hope that it offers what they wanted.

 

I'm not a programmer, although I have brushed shoulders with those who are and fumbled around under the bonnet of game editors such as the Aurora toolset. I would hope all the class abilities have unique identifiers. You need to recognise which AC is currently active, switch between two ability lists, and keep track of advancement of abilities. But it is very easy to be a backseat programmer

 

Valuable use of resources? The more attached a player feels to their character, the more potential use they feel they have with it, the more choices available, the more time they are likely to spend playing it and purchasing nice shiney items for it from the cartel market.

im wondering if these people have ever played an rpg before?

 

the same would be true for people and choosing classes, ergo we should have class changes as well?

 

how much effort do you want developers to put into changing the fundamentals of rpg games to satisfy people that have no wish to play one?

 

as opposed to "adding content" ?

 

Im sorry, this is a complete waste of time when they could be working on actual story content, or resolving the 1001 pvp bugs.

[branmakmuffin]

I can explain the meaningful part if anyone is interested.

 

I get into my characters role in the universe. His AC is his "specialization", his ability set that defines him in that world.

You don't mean role playing, do you? Character class and skills are OOC things, totally unrelated to RP other than the extent the player chooses. If you want to RP and melee Mandalorian, your characters OOC game class is some kind of Sith, but that doesn't require the player to use a light saber and play as a Sith.

 

IC, you can't look at a Powertech and a Mercenary and see any meaningful difference. You can reasonably say, IC, you have 1 pistol? You must be a Powertech."

 

IC, any character can be a "commando" or a "bounty hunter" or a "mercenary." Certainly if you want to RP as some kind of healer or medic, the character having healing abilities is going to make that easier.

Edited July 26, 2013 by branmakmuffin

[LordArtemis]

You don't mean role playing, do you? Character class and skills are OOC things, totally unrelated to RP other than the extent the player chooses. If you want to RP and melee Mandalorian, your characters OOC game class is some kind of Sith, but that doesn't require the player to use a light saber and play as a Sith.

 

IC, you can't look at a Powertech and a Mercenary and see any meaningful difference. You can reasonably say, IC, you have 1 pistol? You must be a Powertech."

 

IC, any character can be a "commando" or a "bounty hunter" or a "mercenary."

 

You have actually stated the core of the problem as I see it. The AC is supposed to have meaning IMO, and it has little to none at the moment. Allowing AC change would make it even more meaningless.

 

Note: I will not campaign to prevent AC change like some others have done, or argue with those that desire it. I will even support certain compromises, abet with a bit of disappointment. I will not try and dictate how others play.

 

At the same time I feel I should express my personal views on the matter as they relate to the thread. That is not an attempt to change anyone's mind...just adding my two cents.

Edited July 26, 2013 by LordArtemis

[branmakmuffin]

You have actually stated the core of the problem as I see it. The AC is supposed to have meaning IMO, and it has little to none at the moment. Allowing AC change would make it even more meaningless.

AC does have meaning from a game mechanics perspective. A Sorc can't sneak and an Assassin can't heal, e.g. Class, AC or basic, has nothing to do with RP and it never has in any class-based game. Paying attention to class IC is meta-gaming, like old AD&D players saying "Leather armor? You must be a Thief."

[FeelFlow]

Being able to swap AC and spec changes is a very good idea and I'm sure the game will get it.

 

I'm sure it's taking a while to do as as well as a pure spec change/swap, you'll want:

- action bar and wardrobe configs that you can save

- then what happens if you're a SW Jugg with heavy armour and you swap to your SW mara spec?

 

Basically I'm sure that this is harder to implement than most of us think.

 

Finally - please, enough of the 'just reroll another character and level it to 55' crowd. Most people don't want to do that and remember a game is meant to be fun.

 

Maybe you want to DPS as you level, then quickly switch to taking or healing for groups. Maybe you've invested hours in a character but at 30, you're not enjoying your AC and want to try the other side,

 

The game will surely get some form of AC & spec switching. Lets hope it's soon.

[LordArtemis]

AC does have meaning from a game mechanics perspective. A Sorc can't sneak and an Assassin can't heal, e.g. Class, AC or basic, has nothing to do with RP and it never has in any class-based game. Paying attention to class IC is meta-gaming, like old AD&D players saying "Leather armor? You must be a Thief."

 

....fair enough, but I fail to see how that should define my personal experience. My experience is what it is. It is just as individual as yours and everyone elses.

[Vhaegrant]

im wondering if these people have ever played an rpg before?

Most of the gamers I know have, many online friends (well associates, well people I know ) have been accumulated from time spent on Guild Wars, SWG, WoW and LOTRO. The trouble here is that in nearly all those cases the class is chosen before you enter the game and the further subsequent specialisation is able to be changed. I think this is what they were expecting.

 

the same would be true for people and choosing classes, ergo we should have class changes as well?

I wouldn't go that far for the same reason as above. You make your class change before you start. And you have to draw a line somewhere. My distinction has always been one based on the focus of story and while it is not totally inconceivable that a Bounty Hunter could be found to be force sensitive and lured to the Sith it doesn't quite mesh and to go through that development you'd need to go back to level 1 (so in other words make a character that looks the same but has had an unfortunate vocal incident so they sound different). An AC change ammounts to little more than using different equipment and employing a few different abilities aspects that are already there in the skill trees.

 

how much effort do you want developers to put into changing the fundamentals of rpg games to satisfy people that have no wish to play one?

As much as they can afford. There should be effort placed on satisfying existing players as well as attracting back players that have left. In fact it stands to reason that existing players have been happy to play the game in its less than perfect state and are unlikely to leave if they are still playing more effort should be placed on attracting back those players that have left.

 

as opposed to "adding content" ?

New content is always nice

 

Im sorry, this is a complete waste of time when they could be working on actual story content, or resolving the 1001 pvp bugs.

I suspect if BW operates like any other development house they have several teams of programmers focused on different aspects of the game. Story content would be separate form the PvP team would be separate from the QoL team.

[branmakmuffin]

....fair enough, but I fail to see how that should define my personal experience. My experience is what it is. It is just as individual as yours and everyone elses.

If letting the game's choices re: class and its associated abilities lock you into a particular style is fun, fine. I can only assume you do not like to RP, which is also fine. I don't RP in TOR, although I do in LotRO.

[Vhaegrant]

Bounty Hunter, Trooper, Warrior, Knight, Consular, Inquisitor, Smuggler and Agent are STORIES. They are not classes.

 

The only change they ought to make is to have you select your AC from within your STORY at character creation.

 

This all hinges on your definition of class. In game Bounty Hunter, Trooper, Warrior, Knight, Consular, Inquisitor, Smuggler and Agent are all referred to as the characters class.

 

Out of game and referring to the way other games use their classes as mechanically distinct entities brings us to the second definition that an AC is a class.

 

And I've always preferred options that increase player choice and ability to determine their path, not be more restrictive.

[Vhaegrant]

AC does have meaning from a game mechanics perspective. A Sorc can't sneak and an Assassin can't heal, e.g. Class, AC or basic, has nothing to do with RP and it never has in any class-based game. Paying attention to class IC is meta-gaming, like old AD&D players saying "Leather armor? You must be a Thief."

 

Or an Assassin or Druid

Dear me I feel so old knowing that off the top of my head, a sign of a childhood misspent