DCUO is completely different from both EVE and Dust so the whole DCUO did it so dust could too, is a bad argument to start with. I'd really like to see that be removed.

Otherwise I get what you're trying to say.

So you are saying that you have trouble figuring out how the skillpoint system works.

You do know you can train multiple races of suits and you can even train both Assault AND logistics of suits, you don't need a respec to try something different, you can just train it.

also; Vets aren't the ones who benefit most from respecs, since they have enough skills to train multiple races and weapons anyway. Respecs are only nice for those who can't train a single suit up to lvl 3 with the appropriate gear and weapons.

I'm a 22 Mil SP, 600 Mil ISK, Top 50 Killboard, Top 20 WP Board, Tanker Main w/ Minmatar Logi Sub who dabbled in Caldari Logi OP TAC AR Hacked EXO FOTM for ***** 'n giggles (All on just this Character). You obviously did not learn reading/comprehension if you are making these utterly ignorant assertions. You even further validate my point in your final "paragraph". You must also be new to DUST 514 if you did not know these facts and are now entitled to a Respec. You provided nothing valid to this discussion and have thusly been deemed Irrelevant

The question is, is the skill system ineffective because we have a lack of content, or is there a lack of content because the skill system is horrible?

Or is it both? Are we stuck in a cycle of no escape?

I'd say yes. Implementing a respec system implies that the current system only needs a few changes to be worthy of the title of "the thinking man's FPS". Not so. I'd say the whole SP system needs a revamp. Something like tiercide.

A big issue I see with releasing new content is balancing it across standard/advanced/prototype tiers. This is probably why we haven't seen prototype vehicles yet, and is probably why the Sagaris/Surya were removed. They needed to be revisited to fit into their role as HAVs of the highest tier.

If tiers were flattened there would be none of his hassle and the game would expand with variation. Where now you put SP into prototype gear, with tiercide you put the same amount of SP into multiple variants of a single item, but can specialise into one variant.

Furthermore, there would be no need for respecs. This is a good thing, because we lose the feeling we're in a persistent universe if we can rectify mistakes so easily. With tiercide, since we unlock things very easily, it's possible for someone like the OP to have all items unlocked. Thing is, if you unlock everything you're still not as powerful as a newbie who has spent all of their SP specialising into one weapon. But that gap is not has big as the difference between militia to prototype that we see today.

well reasoned, an utter lack of self interest as the basis for your arguments.

bravo,

mostly i'd just like there to be no respecs promised to punish any notion of FoTM, I can see that now.

danke.

This "Tiericide" seems an intriguing notion, but it begs the query that this "Specialization" you propose is what we already have, but with less of a gap.....which entails "Tiers", thus negating the initial intention of "Tiericide". My understanding of this may be vague at best.....but wouldn't true "Tiericide" entail only having variations and no "Tiers"??? Wouldn't that essentially be like most base shooters and not an MMO (Equipment determines playstyle and nothing more)???

Nonetheless....either of the 2 changes would require a rather extensive overhaul that would take an enormous amount of time, thus still validating the necessity for Steps 1 & 2 of my presented proposal. In order to better facilitate the testing phase it is necessary to have ample "Breathing Room".

Iv allready manufacturerd the no respec t-shirts so huh no. Good post. But need to understand they can cross train. HOWVER I am for unlimited respecs until u pass 5mill mark so u can learn what everything does and change ur mind if u Made a mistake

Knocking on 20 mill SP here and so I think I could be classified as a vet. Here's a pearl of wisdom that has been finely refined over the course of my merc career: spec into what you want to play, not FotM.

Seriously...if people did this you wouldn't need respecs. I'm full on proto gallente logibro with every single skill under DS core upgrades maxed, now I'm moving on to vehicle core upgrades and will be a gallente LLAV and LDS pilot (the power of OCD compells me to train whatever has 'logistics'on it). I have ALL of my SP 100% exactly where I want it, and I know exactly where the next 6 months of SP is going (literally, I have the list of skills ordered by priority :P). I love my merc and have no insecurity over my SP allocation.

You guys aren't getting respecs...you need to let go of this dead horse and just smarten up.

"I don't think this game is good enough yet" is a false dilemma. CCP doesn't have to be apologetic, not even to you.

I'm OK with a respec a year, but it absolutely must cost Aurum. It would be like an optional subscription fee and everyone who doesn't have the patience to save up SP could at least put some money into this project. Plus, like you pointed out it would punish everyone who went FoTM in a month's time. Also it would be similar enough to Eve's attribute system.

I don't understand how you have 22 mil SP and haven't figured out what you like. It sounds to me like you just want to train something to 5 RIGHT NOW, just like all the scrubs do. That is perfectly understandable, even I'll admit that grinding is a pain in the ass. However, it isn't exactly fair or noble. To someone like me with half your skill points that has invested them patiently, put in a lot of time in playing games, and spent a good amount of money in boosters, it really does take a huge amount of meaning out of this game. At your level you should know what kind of advantage you would gain. In fact I'm sure you do.

Just play a few matches. Damn. Protostomp if you must.

Because of your corp obligatory 10/10 if troll.

If you believe a company does not have to be "apologetic" for a fatal flaw (IE: My baby carriage is faulty, malfunctioned, and my baby is dead)....then you sir are a rather uninformed, complacent, intellectually lacking, and terrible consumer/customer. Also read my previous response above this one in regards to yet another ignorant poster who assumed wrong as to my SP investments. These 2 points are indefinitely Irrelevant to the discussion.

On the AUR per 1 year Respec I can agree as this would generate revenue for CCP without a frequency that entails "Pay-to-Win", should it be accepted by the majority. This would fit decently into Step 3 of my proposal. There is still no valid argument to devalue/alter Steps 1 & 2, as you surely have presented Nil in those regards.

I say partial respecs at least for those people who miss out of upcoming options. Like Heavies getting respecs due to only having the option of Amarr when the other suits come. Its only fair when us meduim suit users got plenty of options when the respec came as opposed to heavies and scouts.

@OP:

Although I agree with your several points, most importantly concerning DUST being an unfinished product which will probably see some major changes/balances in the future, the general idea of giving regular respecs to players is bad. While it would certainly help new players to learn the ropes and give them a chance to try out different roles / playstyles, it would completely kill the "character development" concept of the game, including the "decisions matter" part.

So, with respect to that, here's my suggestion:
Every new created character gets, say, 3 respecs from day one. He can use them any time they choose, but they have to be spent until a certain SP cap is reached (10M SP?). If you still have respecs left when you hit the cap, you are allowed one last respec, and that's it.

Here's my reasoning:
Since making wrong decisions regarding SP investment can definitely be painful to new players, it shouldn't be as painful to those with significant SP pools. I'm speaking from my EVE experience here. At the current stage of my EVE character development (>120M SP), it doesn't really bother me whether CCP buffs or nerfs any ship (or entire class of ships). As far as subcapital ships are concerned, I can fly them all, with almost perfect skills.

So, respecs give new players the option to try out different playstyles before committing to any one specific. But once you reach a certain point, you have enough experience (both as a player and SP-wise) to know what you want, and how to get to it. At that point, you should have adequate skills to be reasonably competitive with at least one loadout (meaning, proto suit, weapons and gear), and have decently trained core skills so that if you change your mind for any reason, you can crosstrain in a reasonably short time.