Original message:

Elwendryll wrote: »

Hello. With the introduction of the respec 2.0 on the PTS, this old subject has been mentioned again, it's nothing new, but I'd like your input on this.

What would you think of the introduction of build slots? They would work like outfit slots when it comes to unlocking them, and they would allow us to save a specific allocation of attribute points, skill points, and CP.

EDIT:
With the undaunted event coming, I wanted to talk about that idea again, but I didn't want to create a new subject for that, so I edit this post in order to add some reflexions.

What am I talking about?
A drop-down list, that would allow you to select a loadout of attribute points, skillpoints, CP, gear and skillbars. It would be similar to an outfit slot, in the sense that you would be able to edit it, at the cost of a regular full respec for the points, and that you would need to unlock it from the crown store for each character.

What would it bring to the game, according to me? It would allow people to play other roles, and experiment unusual builds without having to lose their meta optimized setup in the process. As a consequence, a player could tank a dungeon with pugs, and in the same evening, go in a raid as a DD with their trial guild, on the same character, without having to lose time and gold. As a result, roles like tanks, that may be unappealing for most because it has no purpose when playing solo, may be played more, and it would lead to faster forming of groups. As an addition, console players could get the benefit of what we PC players have with AlphaGear, DressingRoom and other add-ons.

This should not be a "Swap on the go", and changing build should be locked to outside of dungeons and cyrodiil/BG, or tied to an item in a house/alliance base, or maybe even to a role in the group panel, so that when you select tank, you switch to your tank build.

This would be less efficient than just reloading to an other character, as you would still remain on the same class and race, what it would add is the ability to play different play styles on the character you like the most. This is important for two things, the sentimental value a character has for a player, and the achievement points, obviously, none of which bring any combat advantage over other players.

This would not be a replacement for respec scrolls, as it would just add a loadout, and would be useful only for people that often change between two fixed builds. Any change to those builds would still cost a full respec cost.

This would not allow you to be more efficient during a leaderbord run, or in pvp, or to change role in the middle of a pledge, as you couldn't change during an activity.


This part is personal and doesn't add any real value to the concept, you don't have to read it if you're already bored from the previous part.

As you can tell from the date of the original post, I've been thinking about this for quite a while. What drives me away from the game currently and makes me lose my enjoyment is that I can't really play what I want. I mean, I spend a lot of time theorycrafting original builds for alternatives roles, but I never experiment them. Because it would mean losing the optimized build I have for a time; as a long time player, I want to be competitive, and at the same time, having fun. And I no longer have fun, because I feel like experimenting something unusual or suboptimal is a direct loss of resources and time.

I play a single character, I have 8 slots filled, but if I ever use them, it's for event rewards and crafting writs. I have a healer (and a tank incoming), that I use to help when needed, but when I do that, I do that for others, not for me, and it feels like time lost, like helping a player complete a quest you've already done, I'm glad to do that, but I get no benefit from it, because I don't care about what my other characters achieve.

Sure, I could get over it, level an other character, even with the same race and class... But I'm very attached to my main character, and I like the progression over years I have with it. I don't have a lot of time, because of my work and my studies, and I can't afford to invest time in leveling other characters for a future source of fun, I need my fun now. The crown store is about allowing people without time to use their money instead, I have money, and I'd like to use it to play the unusual builds I dream of on the character I love without keeping me away from the endgame trials.


TL;DR: Let us change build on a character outside of activities. It would be pure quality of life and not bring any advantage over other players. Faster queue time, more diversity.