Would you pay for a new e-spec?

So, in the latest Guild Chat, there was a random line, that was immediately corrected. It was talking about how build templates might not be completely valid for a particular character. It was something like (going from memory): "So, if you haven't paid to unlock that e-spec yet... I mean, paid for the expansion that has that e-spec". Now, that could easily just be misspeaking and correcting... or it could be more along the lines of "Oh crap, we're not supposed to talk about that yet".

Anyway, I thought it might be a good idea to get people talking before they get too set on a path, on the off chance that this is another expansion-level feature they are looking to independently monetize. So:

1. Would you be willing to pay outright for an e-spec?
2. Would you be concerned that it could introduce a genuine P2W element to the game if the new e-spec starts off a bit OP?
3. Would it make a difference to you whether they were sold one by one, or in a pack of all nine?
4. Would it make a difference if some professions received new ones before others?
5. How many gems would you pay for one e-spec? How many for a full set?

Only if it was included as part of an Expansion or Living World side story. Anything else is unacceptable.

A stand-alone elite spec "package" I'd pay for depending on the price of it, but despite that I wouldn't want it implemented in such a way. If it's an improvement to something (which is almost always the case) as opposed to just an alternate playstyle yet equal, then that'd be suspiciously "pay to win", which would be a first for the company, and definitely something they shouldn't endorse.

What is an e-spec? Elite specialization? If so obviously it would depend on the class and spec and they (Anet) would be opening a can of worms selling specs because with how much nerfing this game receives, and customers paying real life money for them etc..

Also paying for specs would in my opinion be entering pay to win style gaming as customers with less money might not be able to join groups that require paid specs.

No. Lol get free champs.

Personally, I would love to pay for a full-fledged new extension, including new elite specifications, and new cards for all game modes, etc.

i'd drop the game faster then a mafioso with concrete shoes

If it was monetized the same way templates are, no way. Seriously, i might buy a set of expansion-like content, packaged together in an expansion. If they'll try to sell each of the features of said expansion piecemeal to me, hoping i won't notice how all that stuff together costs a ton more than an expansion would, then i'll pass. Frankly, at that moment i;d rather pay subscription than see them trying to twist every single feature into direct income source.

Included in an expansion of the same size and scope as HoT and PoF? Sure

Piecemeal? Not in a billion years

I cant even see how that would work. If ANet nerfed it after you bough it, it'd easily be grounds for asking for refunds, such a headache for them

Prob just a slip, but especs are expac or LS content. Not separate to buy. Doing that could instigate irreparable damage to the game

I am ready to pay for any convinience additions and features that are useful in WvW. Only content I wouldn't pay a dime is living world stuff just because I don't see any fun in that area even if I sometimes try.

@"perilisk.1874" said:

1. Would you be willing to pay outright for an e-spec?

No. E-specs already have very little connection with the rest of the game (lore/acquisition), they need to tie them better with the story. Selling them outright is the exact opposite.

2. Would you be concerned that it could introduce a genuine P2W element to the game if the new e-spec starts off a bit OP?

Technically the expansions are also P2W already, because elite specs offer some really powerful options. Of course this is mitigated by having them as part of an entire expansion, if they offer them individually it would be a rather clear P2W feature

3. Would it make a difference to you whether they were sold one by one, or in a pack of all nine?

Pack of all nine, bundled in an expansion is the only way I'd accept paying for elite specs (see also point 4)

4. Would it make a difference if some professions received new ones before others?

I wouldn't mind that at all. In fact, if they don't plan on releasing future expansions (which is the current plan) I'd like to see them releasing a new elite spec with every LS episode. Releasing them one-by-one has the potential of better story tie-in (specific LS episode), better lore tie-in, better acquisition options (talking with npcs, completing specific tasks that prove mastery over the new spec). Finally from a balance perspective it would make things easier since they'd have to balance a single e-spec at a time.

5. How many gems would you pay for one e-spec? How many for a full set?

0 and 0

They were obviously referring to the Revenant.

Anyway the questions.

1. Would you be willing to pay outright for an e-spec?

Hell no!I don't mind paying for account upgrades and cosmetics but I draw the line at paying for actual character progression.

2. Would you be concerned that it could introduce a genuine P2W element to the game if the new e-spec starts off a bit OP?

Absolutely, locking E-Specs behind a gemstore purchase would absolutely count as pay2win, specially when you factor in powercreep.

3. Would it make a difference to you whether they were sold one by one, or in a pack of all nine?

No, I wouldn't buy them regardless.

4. Would it make a difference if some professions received new ones before others?

Yes and I can only imagine the utter Kitten storm it would cause.

5. How many gems would you pay for one e-spec? How many for a full set?

None, I wouldn't pay for this under any circumstances nor would I spend money on Gw2 ever again.

I can pay for additionnal maps, can pay for house, but will not pay especs if they are sold independantly of the rest.

Should we remember they said that game isn't pay 2 win?Paying for them will make this game p2w. What's next, paying for increased better loot chances?

People said the same about build templates… behold

@Regh.8649 said:People said the same about build templates… beholdPrecisely. Inviting monetization of more and more elements of the game never ends well.

Personally, I am expecting each new non-Expansion release to include additional convenience fees. When they say they are not doing expansions but plan on releasing expansion level content then the first thing that comes to mind is that the expense for these releases will be in added gem store content. Example, was cooking 500 expansion level content, by itself, no. Would it have been an added feature in an expansion, yes. With an expansion there are many elements, some being headliners and some being added features. So yes when they release the next elite spec, which would normally be a headliner, during the LW I would expect there will be some price related to them. Now be that in the form of you have to buy the e-spec or in something else like they release something of it that's free and some other bit of that's not, it won't surprise me. That's part of the difference in the people for or against another expansion. To me I am for an expansion since I know what I would be paying for, versus doing it ala'cart. There will be more back and forth that it's being monetized if they go the piece meal route since there will be some people thinking that there should be none since living world features usually don't include additional gem store content. The build templates to me support the concept that this is the route they are going.

1. I would indeed buy an E-spec pack, simply because of the value. I also think them charging for what is essentially new classes is not a bad thing its one of the few things I agree there could be a good reason to charge for them.
2. they are already breaking down and charging for the utility and QoL of build templates.
3. I bet alliances for WvW will have an entrance fee as well, anything they make going forward outside of the living world episodes has the potential of being charged for.
4. It may be part of a larger package, such as it may also come with cosmetics for each class unique to the spec.
5. Since there is no expansion they seem determined to make money elsewhere.

When everyone said they didn't want a new expansion we who did warned of the outcome, and it seems we were not wrong. Eso breaks their game down and sells each snip-it individually. Im actually thinking they might come out with a "Fractal/Raid pack" where if you want entry into the next raid or fractal, you have to buy them in a pack along with additional content to go along with them. And since if it seems successful you can expect more going forward, perhaps even an optional subscription which unlocks everything for you as long as you pay. (Same with Eso) and this has been proposed by the community at least the loud vocal portion as being ok, because not enough people actually speak or offer criticism or evidence for them to see if it will work. Time will tell if they actually manage to make something of this, on the flip side this could push the community and population further into the gutter.

I consider Elite specializations to be in the unique purview of expansion content and only expansions. I'm only putting up with the sagas right now because I want to see what they have in mind when they say that they will pay attention to other aspects of the game and older maps. By the time the Icebrood Saga concludes I will have a much stronger opinion about whether or not expansions are worth pursuing although, I doubt I will see it change much. Right now the biggest features that change gameplay are Elite specializations, regardless of anything else that happens in the game. Because of that aspect alone, I really don't see Anet being able to dole them out in any smaller quantity than the full 9 that they can release during an expansion.

Yes p, I would pay for the especs. Pretty much did for PoF. Story/mounts were just a side option for me.

@Trise.2865 said:Only if it was included as part of an Expansion or Living World side story. Anything else is unacceptable.

expansion content imo otherwise it goes over the top P2W QQ

I would buy new elite specs no matter what.

Things like Especs are the type of content I want and i absolutely would be willing to pay for, especially as set of Elite Specialisations.

Pricing is difficult to say, since we had entire expansions with Elite Specs, Story, Voice acting, tons of new enemy types and models, maps, masteries, game features like mounts and on and on for 30€, but they are also selling single mount skin models for 25€ on the gemstore, so really, value is completely arbitrary at this point and just whatever you can get away with charging for unlimited digital goods.

I personally would prefer a complete set of Especs to be under 20€, but I can just as well see them being sold for 10€ each or even more, milking the hell out of the game, which could be pretty devastating to the game.

If they are fairly priced, it's not much different than purchasing them as part of an expansion imo, but again, it's fairly unlikely we will get a full set of specialisations for 10€/800 gems considering gemstore pricing, so it's probably a pretty bad idea.

Id rather they drop these through ingame gameplay be it lw or an expansion.

How would that even work? Will a single new map or two give enough points to unlock the spec? I know there are extra hero points out there now, but if a new e-spec(s) was added, I would expect a number of hero points added similar to what PoF brought.