Games 13 Mar 2007 03:06 pm
WoW: Two Specs (or N Specs?)
Theres lots of discussion around This Tobolds Post, regarding Talent builds/specs in WoW. The main request here is to be able to have two specs, one for grouping (raiding), one for pvp.
Heres a possible implementation:
- Buying an extra spec slot is much like a Hunter buying a pet stable, it costs money, and to switch it, you have to go to a stable master. Much the same way, class trainers (why not use the current class trainers, since they already do the talent reset functionality) would be able to sell you a slot - for a pretty penny (probably as much as the upper cap of talent reset, 50g?).
- To add a spec to an empty, you must reset your talents at the going rate (max 50g) - your previous build then gets saved in that slot.
- To switch between specs, just visit a trainer and select the spec (no, or low, ongoing charge)
- To change the stored spec is just like adding a spec, you must reset and your old spec will be saved
- You could buy extra slots (for extra money), and it would work like a first-in first-out queue, where resetting ’saves’ your spec, and the last one falls off.
I’m actually somewhat questioning the FIFO mechanic there, though. I think it provides a challenge and prevents template-of-the-day syndrome better, but it could be a bit of a pain to manage. Maybe the better way is to just have multiple slots that can be changed out with an interface just like the pet stable.
Challenges:
- Interface - though it could be pretty simple (represent a talent build via an icon you can drag around, just like the pet stable
- Talents that are Skills/Spells - when you change spec, those items need to go away, which means removing or greying them out from an actionbar - certainly not a showstopper, just somewhat inconvenient, but the talent reset already has this issue
I’ve always been a big fan of flexibility - frankly, I think you should be able to switch your class for work/money something like you can in FFXI - it helps those of us with major alt-itis. Doing this with the talents is definitely a way to get there.
