Topic/Poll.

I find myself trying to play Free-Play. And at sometimes I find I don't even need my Engineer for alot of missions (like Reactor).

Which I then have to go Operative, then Soldier usually almost all the time cause most my teammates will be Engys or Medics?

My solution, how there's a "Change Weapon/Class" button, there should be a "Change Character option". The only problem I find with this being able to work, is LV gaps between players. You could be playing with all 18-20's, and then use a LV10 Character and get mauled...

I just wish there was a way I could switch between games for the actual RIGHT class I need, instead of just going Operative to be the only one hacking basically. And, to not have anything to defend myself with really either (Not having Caltrops', etc.)

So discuss....

A good mix between your classes can solve that problem. You don't need all the ability points in one set class.

But what about body types? Generally heavy is the best for being a medic, but good luck being an operative as one.

I think part of the game's charm is being able to develop a character based on your playing style and not what you need for such and such map.

Develop a guy to do one thing well and one thing well enough, or a few things well enough, or take a guy and give him a specifc role (for example I have a bomb squad guy that is an engineer/soldier, but only uses the explosives related abilities, so no turrets) and learn how to use him to help the rest of the team be what they are.

Being able to change chars mid game would pretty much invalidate any sort of hybrid builds, in which case we might aswell drop the rpg element and just add the 4 classes without exp at all.

being able to change body size in the middle of a match would be odd to say the least, "damn I want that guys diet".
Besides It would cheapen the actual choice, as people would choose what ever is best for any given situation.

Good point, but the topic is between games, not midgame. IMO there is no problem in getting to change your characters between the games, because the most you'll be adapting to is the relative skill of the teams.

Between games allows you to pick a character spec'd for a particular map. I could spec each one of my guys for most effect on one map, my team could do the same. It won't take long before all you get on such and such map is 8 engi/Op hybrids, or 8 medic/engi hybrids.

We're already seeing a bunch of players specing for the best "win" ability on the most maps (lots of Engineer builds) and it leads to a lack of support characters, which then leads to very predictible playthroughs. I think it's best the way it is now, although I could see it as an option in private games.

In Private games maybe but I dont think it would end up too well in every game mode we have here. As others have said, it's important to make players choose at some point. With Command Posts in the game the choice is no longer in Death, as is standard for other class shooters, so really, at any point in the match can you switch between the primary abilities. If you then say you can change between whole different builds of those sets (albeit only between matches) you make too much available.

The leveling in this game is a character building exercise, you make a build that you split between the 4 classes, or strengthen across 2, or focus on 1, and then to play the game you're stuck with that choice. That is what creates the diversity because you're stuck with those decisions in-game. In the same lobby you won't find 2 people the same (okay, that's a little unrealistic but it's the idea).

I fear, as above, that if you allowed pre match full character switching, builds for maps would appear, and then eventually you might as well just unlock all enhancments for everyone and make them base-class abilities.

IDK, I guess i'll make a "hybrid" character. What sounds better?:

Soldier/Operative

Engineer/Medic?

I tried making Soldier/Operative... but picking for the Operative is kind've a pain in the buttocks. AND the Operative really doesn't have anything to "buff" himself with.. which I find extremely LAME. And to me makes a terrible build!

Engineer - Weapon Buff
Soldier - Ammo Buff
Medic - Health Buff
Operative - ...

And I was actually looking forward to making a Light Operative before release...

EDIT: There should be a buff for them. Like say... buff your OWN Sprint Speed (and not others). OR, something... They need an edge...

Operatives can't resupply their ammo, health, or anything pretty much. They're bullet sponges...

Ops don't buff, but between disguise, homing beacon, and Comms Hack they've got multiple tools for gaining an edge in combat. But they're not for everybody so I don't fault you for not liking them.

Engineer/Medic is definitely more useful as far as an Objective player, but Soldier mixes well with anything so you could make him your main ability set and back him up with your prefered choice of Objective player.

Before a match starts, you can change class, weapons, and everything except your appearance and ability customisations.

That's fine, BUT...

What about giving us the ability to swap body types in the pre-mission screen? Not a huge deal, but it would be nice.

Also, Heavy isn't necessary to be a good Medic - I'm a good Light Medic (and Operative).

And Heavy Operatives are also a good class/size combination - ever had a friend show up at an objective where half your team is camped, then turn into a massively buffed enemy with a Maximus? I have, and he cleared the room pretty fast.

i voted yes and here is my reason why. I have three characters each specializing in different classes so far. Each character also has a specific body type that helps with their role. My main is a medium engy/ sodlier, then i have a heavy medic / soldier, and finally a light oper/ medic. Being able to just switch my body types in between games would be only partly useful because you still have to play with the classes that character is focused on. So my engy/ soldier may be able to become a heavy or light from a medium but that doesn't really help in his role for the team.

I try to play with other people and communicate with them what classes my character is using. I cant tell you how many times I have played on my engy/ soldier char with other people who are full engys and then having to switch to a medic to be more useful but not having any medic abilities. If I could switch my characters mid game I could switch to my heavy medic / soldier character once I have seen (or been told) that my teammates are all going to be engies. Or switch to my operative/ medic char if the level called for that.

Granted there are problems with this such as level gaps and over saturation of a certain class/ builds but it would def add something to the game play. The reason I voted yes over no though is also due to the lack of a party system. In order to change your character you need to hop out of the game and go to the main menu. This means that you are not necessarily going to be able to rejoin the game you were just in or regroup with your friends

You do make a good point, I would still like to see the ability to change body types between matches, cause otherwise I get stuck with the same one so that I don't have to leave the game I'm in to fix it.

This issue has come up in several threads and my suggestion in another thread was that it might be acceptable to switch between freeplay games and only before the map is chosen to avoid people stacking teams for a particular set of objectives.

makes sense as you are in a reinforcement group, when you respawn...

Between matches, definitely. I don't want to have to leave the fireteam and rejoin with the chance of not being let in, just so I can fill a missing role right.

Maybe during the cut-scene Spawn Menu, the one that lets you change class & weapons but not teams.

^^ This.

Exactly bumpity bump bump

I don't mind people changing their characters, I hardly notice how they look anyway due to the red and blue silhouettes...I just shot the red guys and aid the blue ones. I do think its cheesy to change sides during the match. I'm hoping that was an error on the developers part that will be fixed soon enough.

My only problem is that you lose your fireteam when you change character, but it was a good idea to force players to have to stick to one character during matches, the whole point is to force the decisions you make ability wise really reflect your role and playstyle.

I do alright....just don't try to disguise yourself. But if you can sneak behind enemy lines as a heavy operative, it's all over. You all like "CALTROP! STICKY! NADE! EZ-NADE!" and they're all like "ahhhh he got me pardner"

Im shocked this topic is STILL going... lol.

I kinda contradicted my own thoughts when thinking about this in the first place. Now being able to change BODY types MAYBE. But all together character switch even I am going to not want... (because then like stated, people could STACK like a mofo...)

This is my 1st topic with more then 1 page, holy :celebration: !!!

Lol...

You should be able to see enemies' names when you sight them.

I would personally love it because I have found I like to put most of my points in one class for each character. Same with body type. It would nice to switch from playing a quick running medic, to a the heavy engineer the same way you would a class. As for the level gap, I personally don't see that much of a problem since I had times where while playing a new character the game continued using my high leveled character as the base for bots. So I was a level 2 fighting level 20 bots and still doing all right since being higher level does not mean you have bigger badder guns. It just means you have more abilites to play with.

Of course they could always just make it so you only need to make the one character, but can then make several different builds with your character. Each one would basicly be for each class with the ability to have different clothes, body types, weapons, and abilities for each different class build of your character. And then when you go to pick class it uses the version of your character build that was set for that class.

This is pretty much my reasoning as well. I dont switch up my body types on my characters, I build a specific class/es around the body type. I have a medium engy / soldier, a heavy medic/engy, and a light operative/medic. I invested in abilities that would compliment their body types. I can see the problem with stacking but I hate hate HATE using my heavy while on offense. He takes forever to get to the objective and isn't suited for all the running that generally goes with offense he is more suited to be plunked down on defense somewhere near cover.