[Suggestion] simpler alternative to build templates

Appreciate that the effort to produce build templates is substantial, for example needs a GUI, database etc. As an intermediate option I propose build commands:

/setspec : sets specialisations/getspec: gets specialisations

For example, for mesmer:"/setspec dom123 due313 chr132"Would set active spec to domination/duelling/chronomancer allocated top to bottom.

• Users can paste in from build template websites
• Much lighter coding (just need to validate and apply)
• ANET can log usage and use to determine viability for a full build template system

Thoughts/comments? Would a similar system work for healing/utility/elite skills?

after soo many years i don't think arenanet know how to do it properly... but we are lucky that we have arc....

This is similar to the way GW1 works and the way most build websites work already. The skills and other choices are encoded into a string (usually a hexadecimal string) that can be copied and pasted allowing you to easily share builds with others.

https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Template

I think that your chat commands should be "easier" to implement than a UI option but all that UI option really needs to be is a text field that shows the string for your currently encoded build and allows you to paste in other builds (of course the ability to save a number of named builds would be great).

Pasting in a new build should simply start a "best effort" attempt to apply the template, if the game can't fully apply the template because you don't have a spec or skill unlocked or if it can't find a piece of equipment with the correct rune or infusion then it simply prints an error (e.g. "Unable to find Ascended Berserker helm with Scholar rune") and moves onto the next piece.

If you wanted to get fancy then it could automatically change legendary equipment stats and upgrades but that could be a future feature (although hopefully that would be in the next release rather than three years later).

I would guess that this is what ArcDPS does.