I think when a player graduates from the upcoming Academy battle mode they should get a respec option as a reward. This encourages them to experiment and allows one to determine their preferred role without gimping specialization. Once you play in the big leagues no more resets.

While i like the idea of respec, it defeats the purpose of "living with your mistakes". However, if CCP DOES intend to implement a respec option, i think the best route would be similar to that in MAG. In mag u get respec points per match (similar to war points). When the respec bar fills, you are allowed to spend the respec points and they reset, but each time they do, the required points for respec again increases by double/triple/etc.

in addition, you should NOT be allowed to respect ALL of your stats, but only category at a time. For instance, assume you have assault rifle and sniper rifle fully speced, you should NOT be able to respect BOTH back into light weapon, but only ONE of them. Sort of like a backtracking. This way, players will be able to experiment with weapons and take back their mistakes, but not ALL of them.

I really don't think this has a place in DUST. It violates the basic principals of the skill system. Your choices are supposed to have consequences. They are supposed to define you.

Being able to reset that, even infrequently, removes the consequences of your skill choices.

I do agree though that it can be harsh for new players, especially those unfamiliar with EVE. I would rather the new player experience be targeted directly, rather than use blanket resets to try and address its shortcomings.

A VR training room where weapons and fits can be experimented with might help, with the added bonus it would be beneficial to older players as well.

Actually this isn't a bad idea.

Consider the following. We, experienced players have been through x-teen million resets and respecs. We have had the opportunity to play around with things and see what fits. This has given us a distinct advantage when it comes to choosing a specialization. If the reset can only happen once, at a preset sp limit, and even then can only be exercised for a limited time new players would not only have a more even playing field but would have at least some of the same advantages that we have had.

Now please note, I have been one of the largest anti-respec folks on the forum. Having spent hours pummeling those calling for a respec just because they made a skilling mistake I find myself surprised that I am supporting this idea but it is a well thought out one.

Here are the restrictions that I would impose upon this respec.
1) The respec becomes available at around 4 mil sp. This is enough sp that a player has a taste for what dust has to offer and a pretty good idea about what they would like to specialize in but not enough to have truly delved deeply into a single facet of the game. There is still plenty of space for a player to make a mistake post reset and thus set back their development quite a bit. This respec does not free a player from the responsibility to make informed choices about how to use their skill points.

2) If this respec is not used before the the character reaches 4.5 million sp (a few weeks worth of skilling) than the opportunity to reset is rescinded. This will prevent players from holding their respec indefinitely so that they can put millions of sp into the next great thing on day one and be competitive while they wait.

I'm sure that there are issues with this limited respec idea but this seems like a pretty solid idea to me so far in that it can, with my restrictions, encourage new players while discouraging manipulation that could disadvantage older players who have spend months or years grinding for their skills.

Please let the flames and criticism fly. Lets burn this idea down so that we can build it up.

Edit: A VR training room would be a viable alternative that I would support even more by the way.

I don't think I agree with this, honestly.

EVE players have to stick with their choices. They only get refunds when a skill is removed from the game. Every choice you make, you live with and put up with. The long and short of it is as well, there are no bad choices.

If you absolutely MUST respec it shuould be like, 3 Million SP max per year for Aurum. The moment you go further from this is the moment you get FOTM builds all over the place. Wanna try and new weapon? Make an alt.

Perhaps you're not playing EVE but you're playing a game made by CCP who want EVE and Dust to slowly become one game. That means sharing the same rules, and those rules say "Spec wrong? Tough luck." I mean, yeah, i'd LOVE to be able to spend a few ISK to have the last 10 years of my EVE character refunded to me and re-spend all those skill points differently, but I can't. Because that's now how CCP role.

If you don't have the time to make an alt... well too bad. Better spec it on your main then too. All respeccing does is create FotM builds and causes the devs to chase power creep. One gun is SLIGHTLY too powerful (Tactical AR right now, for example) everyone catches on, makes that build and EVERYONE uses that gun. CCP nerf that gun a bit. Turns out now the, I dunno, let's pretend the Mass Driver is now SLIGHTLY more powerful. Everyone resets, specs into Mass Drivers, so CCP have to nerf it and the cycle continues.

No. Either do your research, make an alt or perhaps come up with a good suggestion. Respeccing is NOT a good option.

I played MAG since the early beta stage as well. MAG was a different beast than what CCP is trying to accomplish with DUST. Ultimately, DUST is more MMO, and CCP has stated multiple times that they want to blur the line between EVE and DUST. I believe that we as a community need to be willing to own our past choices in DUST, and giving up on the idea of full respecs is a part of that.

If we allow CCP to entertain the idea of respecs for AURUM, then we are allowing a particularly sinister element into DUST. CCP may be honest today, but if CCP sees DUST failing to pay them back, then it would be all too easy for CCP to begin to frequesntly overnerf and overbuff, in order to entice players to buy AUR for frequent skill respecs. I am in favor of forgiving players short term mistakes, and I am in favor of allowing newbies to try a variety of builds before locking themselves into a particular role. But I am entirely opposed to a system in which players are rewarded for chasing the FotM.

More like 200Mil and then we're in the ballpark of reasonable for the first time and then exponential gain. 200k ISK is... pocket change. Especially when they link Dust and EVE markets, I mean hell the day that happens i'm sending over about 3 Billion. Minimum.