Normalizing Skill Point respec costs

idk · December 2019

The current design of for respecing skill points is heavily punitive to those who actually spend skill points. I do not think Zos actually intends to encourage minimalist play styles or to bash those who try to do the most with a character, but that is the literal effect the current design for changing skill points does. It is a rather short sighted design.

My suggestion is a flat fee for respecing all SPs and a smaller flat fee for respecing morphs. It would not matter if someone has 150 or 400 SPs spent the cost would remain the same. This fee could be setup to scale for players below lvl 50 just as other fees scale with level now.

What the flat fee should be would need to be determined but it should be normalized as it does not make sense to make this aspect of the game harsher for the most avid players in the game.

Donny_Vito · December 2019

Makes sense, but then they'd also need to adjust the crown cost for skill respec, or at least I would assume they'd need to in order to keep the costs consistent for sub-50 characters vs CP characters.

zaria · December 2019

You have an point however with lots of skill points you only need to remove some if you changing the build totally like switching between magic and stamina or creating an tank.

Changing morphs is cheap and you only need to release skill points to free some up.

idk · December 2019

Donny_Vito wrote: »

Makes sense, but then they'd also need to adjust the crown cost for skill respec, or at least I would assume they'd need to in order to keep the costs consistent for sub-50 characters vs CP characters.

Good point though I do not think adjusting the crown price is really necessary since we do get a free respect or two when leveling up a new character.

idk · December 2019

zaria wrote: »

You have an point however with lots of skill points you only need to remove some if you changing the build totally like switching between magic and stamina or creating an tank.

Changing morphs is cheap and you only need to release skill points to free some up.

Changing morphs is cheaper. It is still more expensive for someone who has multipole weapon lines and other skill lines vs someone who has limited skill lines.

It just does not seem very bright to tell players to limit how many SPs you spend because we are going to punish you for it. Idk, maybe it is just me that thinks having deterrents like this is backwards thinking.

bakthi · December 2019

Maybe they could charge based on what you're changing? Doesn't really make sense to charge someone the same amount for, say, reclaiming a few points from Carpentry (once all Woodworking traits are researched) versus redoing a dozen skills in 4-5 trees.

Then again, that would make the system more complicated, which at this point is the last thing I want to request (simpler = less to break).

idk · December 2019

bakthi wrote: »

Maybe they could charge based on what you're changing? Doesn't really make sense to charge someone the same amount for, say, reclaiming a few points from Carpentry (once all Woodworking traits are researched) versus redoing a dozen skills in 4-5 trees.

Then again, that would make the system more complicated, which at this point is the last thing I want to request (simpler = less to break).

Yes, cost per SP changed would be another option. Considering Zos could have easily taken that step when they allowed us to change individual SPs but did not I am thinking they want to make us think twice before respecing.

However, as they add more SPs and more lines to spend it on it becomes more about making us think twice about spending that skill point to begin with.

FierceSam · December 2019

F the fee.

It’s extortionate for those who don’t have a load of cash and pitiful for those that do.

ZOS should provide a simple mechanism for players to reequip their characters - skills, attributes, CP and gearsets. And this should be free.

The choice limit should be how many bar slots I can equip, not what morph I want. I shouldn’t have to pay to reconfigure my character for different content. Or alter my CP because this trial or that dungeon requires it.

SirLeeMinion · December 2019

I agree, OP. Not that it matters, and not that they will do anything. I have numerous alts that have no points in any morph simply because I don't want to pay to re-spec them when the combat team messes something else up. Sometime when the race / class / playstyle becomes fun or viable again I'll re-spec them. Meanwhile they craft with no morphs.

Why does it matter? Just yesterday, I was going to show a newer player how to do a basic mag. rotation. I realized that toon had no skills morphed and hadn't for months. Did I quickly morph the skills to show the best rotation? Sadly no. Not worth the effort / cost. Instead, I simply waved my arms a bit, showed the non-morphed rotation and said, "You get the idea..."

To recover the lost crowns, ZOS could offer a station or assistant that would allow you to morph anywhere. It would be handy when I want to switch from sorc damage bird to heal bird in a PUG.

validifyedneb18_ESO · December 2019

The only reason I dont like the current system is I dont WANT to respec all my points. How many times have I had to reset my racial trait points only to buy them right back again

Starlock · December 2019

I'd prefer they develop a new system that allows players to create two skill/gear load outs at an in-game gold cost.

Well, I would prefer it if I didn't know the scammers - pardon, "monetization designers" - would inevitably charge exorbitant amounts of real world money for it.

Linaleah · December 2019

bakthi wrote: »

Maybe they could charge based on what you're changing? Doesn't really make sense to charge someone the same amount for, say, reclaiming a few points from Carpentry (once all Woodworking traits are researched) versus redoing a dozen skills in 4-5 trees.

Then again, that would make the system more complicated, which at this point is the last thing I want to request (simpler = less to break).

this would be the solution I would support, honestly. because as a flipside, if there is one flat fee that is the same whether you spent 20 skill points or 200? it seems like it would be pretty unfair to someone who spent only 20 skillpoints.

charging per skill point changed IMO is the only fair compromise

Royaji · December 2019

Changing morphs costs peanuts. Even with a whole bunch of skillpoints it's about 3k, you get that back in 1.5 dungeons.

All skills migth be a bit pricey but at the same time, the more skillpoints you've spent the less likely you are to require a respec to do something else.

It's a small goldsink and I don't see too many problems with it.

Shantu · January 2020

While I have enough in-game gold I don't have to think about it, personally I think it's baloney. We earned the skills. Why should we have to pay to redistribute them (apart from the old gold sink argument)?

But look at it this way: As long as ZOS sells a Skill Respecification Scroll in the Crown Store, it's to THEIR advantage to make a purchase through in-game gold feel punitive. Just like the ridiculous 6 months it takes to level a mount, as long as they sell Riding Lessons in the Crown Store, it's never likely to change.

It's one of the primary development balances of any MMO...to annoy you enough to make you want to spend real money to avoid it, while still providing enough entertainment to make it feel worth it.

codierussell · January 2020

Just wait until the next dlc, they will make more combat changes and offer free respecs because of it.

Asardes · January 2020

I rarely do a full respec. Almost exclussively to clear the research passives when I'm done. And I do that on multiple characters in the free respec windows after certain patches. Uncommonly I change morphs but 2-3K/char every few months is peanuts. Most times when I need to change morphs it's after one of those patches so it's free anyway. I have no reason to complain.

kargen27 · January 2020

FierceSam wrote: »

F the fee.

It’s extortionate for those who don’t have a load of cash and pitiful for those that do.

ZOS should provide a simple mechanism for players to reequip their characters - skills, attributes, CP and gearsets. And this should be free.

The choice limit should be how many bar slots I can equip, not what morph I want. I shouldn’t have to pay to reconfigure my character for different content. Or alter my CP because this trial or that dungeon requires it.

It is there in part as a gold sink. Not a huge one but it does help remove some gold from the game. Removing gold from the game is good for the long term health of the game.

Na0cho · January 2020

Make one skill point change cost x amount and the more skills you change, it starts to increase. Most people don’t change that many at once with the exception of going mag to stam or vice versa. Most people keep skills in passives weapon skill lines etc.

Sometimes I just want to change one or two skills or morphs and shouldn’t get a blanket charge for it.

Aisleyne · January 2020

I would like to see a change in the way skill point fees are calculated. Having to pay 15k+ just because you happen to have a lot of skill points, even when you're only changing a few points seems ridiculous to me. I know there are plenty of people for whom the money isn't an issue, but I also know a lot of people who consider 15k a huge deal. Base it off how many points are actually reset so people can feel free to experiment and enjoy the game.