Class Changing?

[Sobx.1758]

1 hour ago, Ashantara.8731 said:

The point is that you love a character you have created and have them "maxed out" content-wise (including map completion), and years later you realize that you prefer to play another profession and would like to swap.

From my perspective it doesn't sound like you "love" your character so much if you're bored with them and want them to be something else (in this case: have a different class). At that point you might as well just play another character, maybe make them all look the same if that's supposed to somehow help with the immersion and feeling as if it's the same one. The chances you keep scrolling/reading through your already completed story journal for it to be remotely relevant to anything are near 0. Personally I don't see any relevance of full story completion to the ability of normally playing the character and for now nobody presented any relevance of it as far as I'm aware.

1 hour ago, Ashantara.8731 said:

The fact that you cannot relate to this, because you have no attachment to your characters 😉, doesn't mean that there aren't people out there who would appreciate having the option to swap professions if they so desire.

"Attachment to your character", but "I want my character to be something else!", eh? 😄 As mentioned above, just make another class with the same look as your previous one. 

 

Apparently I don't even know what "being a completionist" means anymore. There were times on this forum where someone said they need x reward "because they're completionist", but they need to be able to get it in a different way because they don't want to play y content.
In context of this thread, what does it even supposed to mean? Personally I'd say it would be "playing through the full story at least once and having all related achievements".

Edited October 15, 2023 by Sobx.1758

[Apraxis.4803]

I don't understand what some of your poll options even are lol... What does "I was thinking x could be y" mean? Why is "eh, hem(sic; you mean"ahem"??) let's talk numbers" even an option and what does it mean? I can't vote cuz I don't understand what I'm voting for, lol

[evilcat.6817]

I think i get the attachment thing: You can imagine playing Big Norm with Big Sword or stick and anger issues. You thought that warrior is the way to go, but over playing the game you get to conlusion that best class to ease your anger with bonking baddies is Ranger, or Revenant is relevant. It is same character RP wise, but the true primal furry could be express only through soulbeast ranger.

I can sympatyze with ppl who like their character, and dont want to repeat crafting leveling, personal story, early game leveling in general.

So option to swap class, keep everything else could be a thing.

There is also a power gaming aspect, that you can have set of soulbound items and just getting evertying for new character is extra pain.

I do not worry about players not playing game, as even if someone only buys class swap every mounth and that is all, well they fund the game, so i will have more content, works for me. But it is more possible, that they will keep playing some late game content and go for that map completicion just with different class. They could have made another character, but they prefer to have only one. Their choice.

 

Edited October 15, 2023 by evilcat.6817

[Darklord Roy.2514]

2 hours ago, Ashantara.8731 said:

If the point was "just to play another profession", we wouldn't need Profession Change options, because a person like me* would simply play their already existing character(s) of that other profession.

The point is that you love a character you have created and have them "maxed out" content-wise (including map completion), and years later you realize that you prefer to play another profession and would like to swap.

The fact that you cannot relate to this, because you have no attachment to your characters 😉, doesn't mean that there aren't people out there who would appreciate having the option to swap professions if they so desire.

*) who is a completions and a role-player at heart (to answer your question of "Why...?")

This has nothing to do with how attached someone is to their character. I'm personally attached to 4 of my current characters and swap between them routinely when I feel like playing a different way and have all of them geared out and each has their own aesthetic.

And I still can't relate to this.

This is a game that has the idea of alt characters ingrained into its existence, and it has made it incredibly easy to do. You can boost up new characters, gear them out, AND open up almost every map in the game with almost 0 story involvement. All of this with incredibly minimal effort with systems that already exist.

On top of the fact that, from a coding perspective, this is not something as simple as changing a character's appearance. I cannot even imagine the technical nightmare that would be trying to implement a one-click full class change into a game where the class you pick effects an aspect of your character backstory. The amount of bugs and glitches with this system would be too high to count.

[SoulGuardian.6203]

7 hours ago, Ashantara.8731 said:

The whole point of Profession Change is to not have to make a new character.

Precisely.

7 hours ago, Ashantara.8731 said:

I have over a dozen chars, nine of them PvE characters.

I have 34.

I don't think I have the will to start any more new characters. 

7 hours ago, Ashantara.8731 said:

I complete story and maps on all of them (re: PvE chars). A new PvE character would force me to redo everything.

Right you are.

7 hours ago, Ashantara.8731 said:

Again: The whole point of Profession Change is to spare the player the hassle of redoing anything whatsoever.

Edited October 15, 2023 by SoulGuardian.6203

[SoulGuardian.6203]

3 hours ago, Ashantara.8731 said:

If the point was "just to play another profession", we wouldn't need Profession Change options, because a person like me* would simply play their already existing character(s) of that other profession.

Couldn't have said better myself. 

3 hours ago, Ashantara.8731 said:

The point is that you love a character you have created and have them "maxed out" content-wise (including map completion), and years later you realize that you prefer to play another profession and would like to swap.

This!

3 hours ago, Ashantara.8731 said:

The fact that you cannot relate to this, because you have no attachment to your characters 😉, doesn't mean that there aren't people out there who would appreciate having the option to swap professions if they so desire.

*) who is a completions and a role-player at heart (to answer your question of "Why...?")

Very well said.

Edited October 15, 2023 by SoulGuardian.6203

[Linken.6345]

36 minutes ago, Darklord Roy.2514 said:

This has nothing to do with how attached someone is to their character. I'm personally attached to 4 of my current characters and swap between them routinely when I feel like playing a different way and have all of them geared out and each has their own aesthetic.

And I still can't relate to this.

Very well said.

37 minutes ago, Darklord Roy.2514 said:

This is a game that has the idea of alt characters ingrained into its existence, and it has made it incredibly easy to do. You can boost up new characters, gear them out, AND open up almost every map in the game with almost 0 story involvement. All of this with incredibly minimal effort with systems that already exist.

Right you are.

39 minutes ago, Darklord Roy.2514 said:

On top of the fact that, from a coding perspective, this is not something as simple as changing a character's appearance. I cannot even imagine the technical nightmare that would be trying to implement a one-click full class change into a game where the class you pick effects an aspect of your character backstory. The amount of bugs and glitches with this system would be too high to count.

Precisely.

36 minutes ago, SoulGuardian.6203 said:

I have 34.

I don't think I have the will to start any more new characters. 

Then dont, 34 should be enough for all your needs.

[voltaicbore.8012]

I personally enjoy the classic rpg-fantasy of adventurers being specialists who commit to a single class. Thanks to how dramatically (some) elite specs can change a class, we even have the multiclassing aspect of things partially covered. While it would be kind of cool to not have to swap characters for group comp reasons, I'm more than fine with the status quo.

[Vain.3805]

My spouse has 3 characters of every class (it was before build templates and stuff).  I really don't get why I would want a class change.  What's next? Race changes?  The total makeover kit is enough for me.

I wanted more character slots but now that there are build templates all my issues are solved.

[Zergs.9715]

@OP

Don't be discouraged by the poll results. You've posted it at GW2 forums, a place even more detached from reality than reddit.

If GW2 forums say it's bad idea, then it's a good idea. How do I know? Just visit threads about mounts.

[Jeaellasar.2680]

I wouldnt mind this. Answers for the third question didnt really give me options to side with but went with the cashing in xD

I would not mind it being gemstore. Through achievements, I am a little reluctant since, you want to change the class so why keep playing on something you want to change.

 

Or you are still your old class but temporarily get the skills of the other profession in a trainingcamp instance. 

 

Once you accept I'd say your old gear is put in one accountbound package called x class gear for another character to open.

 

After picking your new profession you can stat select soulbound exotic gear, pick out runes, sigils, weapons and relic which cant be salvaged or extracted

[Freya.9075]

1 hour ago, Zergs.9715 said:

@OP

Don't be discouraged by the poll results. You've posted it at GW2 forums, a place even more detached from reality than reddit.

If GW2 forums say it's bad idea, then it's a good idea. How do I know? Just visit threads about mounts.

My idea is to add a nyan cat mount and a new candyland map where it can rain glitter and the river is made of chocolate. With mobs like gummy bears and gingerbread figurines. And we even got candy cane weapons already.

You better not think it’s a bad idea, cause that makes it a good one yes? Because the mounts were first frowned upon, you must agree with any ideas on these amazing forums filled with only well thought through suggestions and ideas 👍 Who cares about any nightmare coding or personal opinions.

Edited October 16, 2023 by Freya.9075

[kharmin.7683]

6 hours ago, Vain.3805 said:

What's next? Race changes?

 

There are many, many threads that have requested this very thing along with explanations as to why Anet won't do it.  Still, people continue to request it.

[evilcat.6817]

2 hours ago, Jeaellasar.2680 said:

I wouldnt mind this. Answers for the third question didnt really give me options to side with but went with the cashing in xD

I would not mind it being gemstore. Through achievements, I am a little reluctant since, you want to change the class so why keep playing on something you want to change.

Or you are still your old class but temporarily get the skills of the other profession in a trainingcamp instance. 

Once you accept I'd say your old gear is put in one accountbound package called x class gear for another character to open.

After picking your new profession you can stat select soulbound exotic gear, pick out runes, sigils, weapons and relic which cant be salvaged or extracted

That is one way to do it. Although Jea. is generous with pick your gear. I would just gave premade template to every class, and the rest to farm.

Race change: This one could mess with personal story. There are severall calls to race with story.

Class: There is no class specific stories, or are they?

[Puck.3697]

On 10/14/2023 at 4:03 PM, SoulGuardian.6203 said:

Do you believe that Arena Net should intergrate a Class Changer?

You'd get to keep all of your progress, level, achievements, Hero Points, Etc, but just class swap.

If so, what ideas do you have to make this possible?

 

No 

And most defintly not for free. 

People would fotm reroll patch to patch if they seriously implemented a free option to swap ur class. This would have to be more expensive then a boost to justify on a cash store, as the service is simply higher due to allowing u to change mains without restarting any story. 

 

[Puck.3697]

3 hours ago, Zergs.9715 said:

@OP

Don't be discouraged by the poll results. You've posted it at GW2 forums, a place even more detached from reality than reddit.

If GW2 forums say it's bad idea, then it's a good idea. How do I know? Just visit threads about mounts

Or, hear me out, players have disliked this concept everywhere. This discussion has taken place on several mmorpgs I've played and never have u seen a majority agree with the concept. 

The issue with allowing class changes. Is the sheer fact it disrupts with popularity massively. 

Character loyalty is generally the reason many don't FoTm reroll every patch, removing this would lopsided the game into having 2 classes maximising popularity every patch. 

It's not the case of "oh bad ideas" it's a case of the idea sounds OK on paper, however in the players hands would cause issues. 

Topics regarding mounts? But mounts have caused issues just as players said they would? Lol, it completely imbalanced core games map completion due to how much easier they made it by default. 

The game lost a element of exploration / wonder with the release of mounts, lol just because u dont care about the parts of the game it damaged doesnt mean players were wrong to critise the concept lol.

Mounts most defintly did damage to the game, if the positives outweigh for you, cool, but thats a opinon. There's plenty who dont like the fact skyscale became a thing. 

Edited October 16, 2023 by Puck.3697

[Remus Darkblight.1673]

In theory, if it were possible, it'd just be a quality of life change so I would see no reason to oppose its inclusion. Sadly the way the game is coded, I don't think it's possible, it would mess with personal story stuff and I think they have said before that it's simply not on the cards.

If it were possible, even though being free through a quest or NPC would be best from a user perspective, at this stage of the game lifecycle, it would likely be a gem store item.

But again, while nice to theorize, the question is moot.

[Puck.3697]

4 minutes ago, Remus Darkblight.1673 said:

it were possible, even though being free through a quest or NPC would be best from a user perspective, at this stage of the game lifecycle, it would likely be a gem store item

No it wouldn't. 😂😂 players making groups with over 90% of the population swapped to the fotm would be a absolute nightmare. 

Handing out fotm rerolling in this level of ease / lack of loss. 

- itd make players less accepting of non fotm classes, because players know u can "swap at 0 loss" players would become more against non fotm rerolls. 

- some classes would become so rare, that group comps could potientally suffer. 

- character loyalty would be entirely lost. 

Being free would be great for players looking to class swap, however would be a nightmare for everyone who's having to deal with them. Itd need to be a minimum of 3k gems, to prevent this being used ridiculously if it did ever come which I hope it won't. 

Edited October 16, 2023 by Puck.3697

[Remus Darkblight.1673]

25 minutes ago, Puck.3697 said:

No it wouldn't. 😂😂 players making groups with over 90% of the population swapped to the fotm would be a absolute nightmare. 

Handing out fotm rerolling in this level of ease / lack of loss. 

- itd make players less accepting of non fotm classes, because players know u can "swap at 0 loss" players would become more against non fotm rerolls. 

- some classes would become so rare, that group comps could potientally suffer. 

- character loyalty would be entirely lost. 

Being free would be great for players looking to class swap, however would be a nightmare for everyone who's having to deal with them. Itd need to be a minimum of 3k gems, to prevent this being used ridiculously if it did ever come which I hope it won't. 

No it wouldn't. 😂😂players already migrate to the fotm as much as they ever would because they have multiple character slots. For things like WvW and PvP, anyone who cares enough about the current meta to profession swap regularly, already has multiple character for it. In all other game modes it doesn't affect you and therefore would not be a nightmare, were it even true.

The only thing profession swapping would change in theory is letting you keep your progress and map exploration etc. Some players feel very invested into a character but grow tired of the profession they created it with. That would be the main draw for profession swapping.

If it ever becomes a thing (and it won't for reasons already stated), I can say with reasonable confidence that it wouldn't cause 90% of players to migrate to a small subset of professions any more than they already do with alts.

[Puck.3697]

18 minutes ago, Remus Darkblight.1673 said:

players already migrate to the fotm as much as they ever would because they have multiple character slots

A portion does, yes. But not everyone. 

If this was the case no one would want class changer lol, 

There are a % of players who are "completionists" so will stick to a main class as they have all story / map completions done and to play a new class would mean they felt the need to redo all of thjs. 

If everyone had that sorta mentality. Players wouldn't need a class changer, it's because a audience play 1 main due to these reasons they want a class changer. 

If people were happy to fotm reroll. No one would need a class changer. The vast majority have every class maxed, the ones who dont get free boosts every year with the expansions, etc etc. 

The only use a class changer would serve is someone who wants to carry their completed character to a new class. 

[Remus Darkblight.1673]

4 minutes ago, Puck.3697 said:

A portion does, yes. But not everyone. 

If this was the case no one would want class changer lol, 

There are a % of players who are "completionists" so will stick to a main class as they have all story / map completions done and to play a new class would mean they felt the need to redo all of thjs. 

If everyone had that sorta mentality. Players wouldn't need a class changer, it's because a audience play 1 main due to these reasons they want a class changer. 

If people were happy to fotm reroll. No one would need a class changer. The vast majority have every class maxed, the ones who dont get free boosts every year with the expansions, etc etc. 

The only use a class changer would serve is someone who wants to carry their completed character to a new class. 

Tell me you didn't read my posts without telling me you didn't read my posts.

This is exactly the type of player a class changer would appeal to. It's easy to get a class maxed in terms of gear and stats, but not everyone has visited every map (including living world chapters etc, not required for gift of exploration) and completed every story on every character. Some players may be attached to their main for what they have accomplished on it, and for ease of getting around content on a whim, not for which profession it is.

Anyone who isn't happy to reroll to fotm now isn't going to care enough about the meta to do it with a class changer either, at least not to the extent you believe. Especially since your gear wouldn't carry over, so you would still need different weapons and gear stats if you class swapped (not even mentioning different armour weights).

I'll use myself as an example. I have a main which I have spent thousands of hours on and have explored every map, completed every story and expansion with. I also have at least one (if not more) of every single class with varying levels of story and map completion on them. For WvW and PvP, I don't actually play my main as much, I tend to switch around a bit. Similarly for end game PvE I like to use the couple of professions I am comfortable with, but I also change from time to time. But my go to for doing new content first, or for just open world stuff is my main, because I know it has every waypoint, every map, and was the character I used for all the stories first. Would I like to have all this convenience, but also sometimes be a different profession? Yes, sometimes. Does not having a profession changer it stop me from playing the fotm whenever I need to? No.

[Puck.3697]

12 minutes ago, Remus Darkblight.1673 said:

Tell me you didn't read my posts without telling me you didn't read my posts.

This is exactly the type of player a class changer would appeal to. It's easy to get a class maxed in terms of gear and stats, but not everyone has visited every map (including living world chapters etc, not required for gift of exploration) and completed every story on every character. Some players may be attached to their main for what they have accomplished on it, and for ease of getting around content on a whim, not for which profession it is.

Anyone who isn't happy to reroll to fotm now isn't going to care enough about the meta to do it with a class changer either, at least not to the extent you believe. Especially since your gear wouldn't carry over, so you would still need different weapons and gear stats if you class swapped (not even mentioning different armour weights).

I'll use myself as an example. I have a main which I have spent thousands of hours on and have explored every map, completed every story and expansion with. I also have at least one (if not more) of every single class with varying levels of story and map completion on them. For WvW and PvP, I don't actually play my main as much, I tend to switch around a bit. Similarly for end game PvE I like to use the couple of professions I am comfortable with, but I also change from time to time. But my go to for doing new content first, or for just open world stuff is my main, because I know it has every waypoint, every map, and was the character I used for all the stories first. Would I like to have all this convenience, but also sometimes be a different profession? Yes, sometimes. Does not having a profession changer it stop me from playing the fotm whenever I need to? No.

I did read ur message, and I know that's the exact player who'd want it lol that's why I'm saying it shouldnt happen. Lol. 

"Anyone who wont restart their characters without waypoints, maps unlocked, story completed won't fotm reroll with class changer"

Isn't true im afraid. If anything those exact reasons are why many don't swap characters lol. However defintly would given the opportunity through class changer. 

Edited October 16, 2023 by Puck.3697

[Remus Darkblight.1673]

1 minute ago, Puck.3697 said:

I did read ur message, and I know that's the exact player who'd want it lol that's why I'm saying it shouldnt happen. Lol. 

"Anyone who wont restart their characters without waypoints, maps unlocked, story completed won't fotm reroll with class changer"

Isn't true im afraid. If anything those exact reasons are why many don't swap characters lol. However defintly would given the opportunity through class changer. 

It's still not going to happen, so I guess we'll never find out. 😅

[Puck.3697]

4 minutes ago, Remus Darkblight.1673 said:

It's still not going to happen, so I guess we'll never find out

We said that about mounts tbh. Just because they couldnt currently make it work doesnt mean in the future they won't make it work

 They said mounts were off the cards orginally

Although I think for many reasons I think it'd do more damage then good. 

It kinda gives devs a excuse to be lazy balance wise "my class sucks!!". Anet: "just class chsnge then" would become a reality you can't rly complain about balance with class change as a option for this reason 

Look at current situation. 

It's a expectation players use optimal builds, if someone says "oh hammer cata sucks tho that's why my dps is low" people meet such a argument with "well play X/warhorn".

Because as players we expect other players to use the best avaliable build that's accessible to the confines of their choices, 

With class changer, u make every class and build instantly accessible to a player in their confined choices hence why I say fotm will rise. 

If they apply to the group to play DH, but weaver / scourge all do more dps right now u prolly wouldnt tell them to chsnge class. But tell them to play willbender for higher dps output. 

With class changer players most defkntly would tell them to switch class if they're class was lower performing. 

Edited October 16, 2023 by Puck.3697

[Remus Darkblight.1673]

23 minutes ago, Puck.3697 said:

We said that about mounts tbh. Just because they couldnt currently make it work doesnt mean in the future they won't make it work

 They said mounts were off the cards orginally

Although I think for many reasons I think it'd do more damage then good. 

It kinda gives devs a excuse to be lazy balance wise "my class sucks!!". Anet: "just class chsnge then" would become a reality you can't rly complain about balance with class change as a option for this reason 

Look at current situation. 

It's a expectation players use optimal builds, if someone says "oh hammer cata sucks tho that's why my dps is low" people meet such a argument with "well play X/warhorn".

Because as players we expect other players to use the best avaliable build that's accessible to the confines of their choices, 

With class changer, u make every class and build instantly accessible to a player in their confined choices hence why I say fotm will rise. 

If they apply to the group to play DH, but weaver / scourge all do more dps right now u prolly wouldnt tell them to chsnge class. But tell them to play willbender for higher dps output. 

With class changer players most defkntly would tell them to switch class if they're class was lower performing. 

I guess we have to agree to disagree. I still think you're talking about a subset of players that already character swaps when needed.

I also think this is far less likely than mounts ever were, because firstly they aren't just adding something new, they'd be implementing a change that has to alter some very old coded parts of your character story steps. Secondly, it's been eleven years now and hasn't been done yet, there is no evidence they are even considering it.