I’ve had an idea floating around in my head since I started PvP in this game about a year ago- why not have “build slots” for PvP? Something available only in the Heart of the Mists, and something that lets a player save his/her build before trying to make a new one.
There are many benefits for this, such as…
- Being able to quickly switch back to an old build upon finding that this one is complete bullcrap, or does not fit your current needs or desires.
- Removing some hesitation from players who wish to try new grounds- for instance, a Power-based Phantasm Mesmer would find it much easier to play a Mantra build if they knew they could switch back and forth.
- New players can easily change back to their starter build, once they realize their homemade or internet builds don’t provide the slight level of OPness required- thus making them forever discouraged from a huge aspect of the game.
- Not having to memorize everything about your current build.
Zerker players can try something different
- It would make Tournament team-building so much easier. Imagine switching from your well-practiced Meditation Guardian to your (oh-so-glassy) cannon-of-a-man Spirit Weapon Guardian with just the click of a button.
I realize there will also be many drawbacks to this, such as…
- There are none.
But there will be, however, many people who believe me to be a blithering idiot, and whose responses may be as follows..
- “Yeah, well having multiple builds available at once would just unbalance the game because nobody would try anything new!”
I honestly hope that this is not an actual response.
- “You’re just trying to take the fear and thrill of experimentation out of PvP!”
By asking to let players experiment more freely? Gotcha.
- “Hmph. Having such an imbecilic mechanic implemented into an otherwise perfect game will disrupt the Tournament process if players can just change their builds all willy-nilly in the middle of a fight!”
Just like we can change gear and skills in the middle of a Tournament, right?
- “Pah! Make a new character if you want a new build so much!”
Oh, yes. I’ll just spend money I don’t have to buy a character slot to make a nearly identical clone of a character I already have, instead of having fun with one of the three classes I have yet to fully explore. This should also be noted as sarcasm. Because I won’t actually do that.
- If you’re not willing to spend the money for an extra easy build slot, then you don’t deserve one!!
Or perhaps I’d just like to enjoy the game to its fullest as soon as possible, rather than being required to pay more money to play content I’ve already played?
- “But you can just.. you can just modify your current build easily!
Not so easily, due to having no way to refund specific trait lines. Still, you’re mostly right- it’s free and can be relatively quick if you know exactly what you’re doing and going for. However, it would still be so much easier to be able to have a set of 2-3 builds (with the option of purchasing more slots on the BLTP- hint hint, Anet, there could be money) to change to a modified version of your build instead of respeccing back and forth each time you’re needed for a different role.
Which brings me to my second request- refundable PvP traits.
“But Zhang, but Zhang! We already have refundable traits in PvP for free!”
This may be true, but it’s a hassle to be trying something new and- woops, now there’s 11 points in that tree. Darnitall… And I was on the second-to-last trait line, too. Well, let’s try again, this time carefully, and spend more time preparing for content rather than playing the content. Individually refundable (or by 5’s, 10s, or even complete lines) traits would take a lot of the hassle out of making a new build, especially on newer players/the physically older playerbase/clumsy people.
Perhaps this entire post is but nitpicking, but these are still things I would personally (along with many players I’ve asked) like to see implemented in some way. It’s not huge, but it would help.
Thanks for reading, whether you cared or not! I’d love to hear your feedback on this.