Will the combat-class changes go live pre-expansion?

[Pintsized]

Because Blizzard does it SE should too?

Because "not invented here" is a good reason for not implementing something if it can be shown to be useful?

The idea has merit since it decouples the launch of all new content with a re-engineering of basic play mechanics, however I don't see SE doing it.

[KusoWat]

combat system reworks also effect content balancing, not just some skills. Because of that it is part of the big package and don't come as a own package.

While true, content balance really shouldn't matter at that point. There will probably be 20% echo by then anyway, just as they did with coil leading up to HW release.

[Felis]

While true, content balance really shouldn't matter at that point. There will probably be 20% echo by then anyway, just as they did with coil leading up to HW release.

But not before 4.0.

[Narthice]

I don't see much point to this, since we will soon be going to level 70 and getting new skills that will likely alter rotations. So if they were to do this, we have to get used to the new system at current cap (60) and then have to readjust at 70. That being said I wish they had test servers though =/

[Pomelo]

I'm not too fussed, all I know is that Early Access for me, will be looking at which job I want to continue with in SB, and levelling RDM to 60 at least.

I used the EA of HW to level AST/MCH/DRK to 50...

[Airget]

I wouldn't say it's a case of "well WoW does it so why not SE." Cause in this scenario if the changes are going to be somewhat drastic what would be better for a clean launch? To have players download 4.0 get into the game and spend the next hour trying to figure out what changed with their job before they can even start the main story because what they've been use tto these last few years has suddenly changed or Roll in the changes heck even in 3.55 so players are prepared but heck June would work to. Though there are other ways they could go about this rather than put it into the game.

They could provide a Benchmark which showcases the changes to job from 1-60 but not showing off any of the new abilities. Let the player pick out a job, and show them what their new slotted abilities are for each job. This would at least help them to prepare for the expansion instead of again being thrusted into it and unable to progress forward til they know what changed.

[Atoli]

Why should they? Half of the classes' gameplay will end up changing from 60 to 70 anyway, so what would be the point of learning a new 60 rotation based on the changes?
Additionally, everyone starts at exactly the same starting line, so everyone will be equally bad once SB comes out, if the changes end up being that big. So really, putting that in earlier seems completely pointless to me.

[MilesSaintboroguh]

I don't think a beta test for the new battle system in just a few months is going to be enough time to make any changes before launch. People are making this seem way simpler than it seems.

[Malzian]

Because of the nature of this change and the fact that it is a complete overhaul and change of a deeply integrated system that has far reaching effects beyond battle classes (remember that crafters and gathers have cross class skills as well), it fits much neater into the release of an expansion than it does a basic content patch. If it was a smaller change or a simple addition to the current system it could go into a content patch like the W-cross hotbar. However, since we are talking a fundamental shift in how these skills are distributed to all the classes and how much underlying code could be affected in unknown ways, it is better to release it in a way that can be more richly tested by the devs in a build that has been specifically developed with this change in mind.

[Fluffernuff]

So... how will this updated combat system work for those who don't buy the expansion on launch day? it's part of the expansion, right? Guess that means the system will be locked behind a paywall.

in that same vein, what about those peeps that don't even have HW bought?

How do you introduce such a system as an expansion feature when your game supports players without expansions? you can gate content, but how do you gate systems?


I for one think this change should probably be implemented beforehand