NCsoft has announced that players can now purchase Character Respecs in City of Heroes/Villains.

City of Heroes has expanded their suite of available purchasable services to include Character Respecs (short for Respecifications). Over the course of leveling up, there are many powers that a character can choose from. A Character Respec allows the character to re-select their powers from their chosen primary and secondary powers, along with any other pools of powers they have access to. To be clear, this optional purchasable Respec does not allow the primary or secondary powerset to be reselected; it functions like existing respecs currently available in game.

Optional Character Respecs are available via the in-game store found at the character select screen for the per transaction price of $9.99 USD.

There are already multiple in-game methods that players can obtain a Respec. Now, if the convenience of purchasing a Respec is desired, it is available. Having a purchasable option has been an often heard desire from the game's customers.

Read more here.

Personally I'd think they'd make more money offering paid "Costume Setups" than respecs. I can live with my character personally, but I can never get enough of the costume generator. Would be even better if they offered both options personally.

I'd hate to see even more pay costume pieces.  I really don't like that they went with even the few costume pieces they have that are pay-only.  The costume creator is indeed the game's greatest strength, that's a very good reason to keep it as open and free as possible.  Unfortunately I see a lot more pieces being added that will be pay-only in the future, and that's a real shame.  $10 for a costume set is just rediculous.

IMO this is a good move. Good way for them to make a little more money without impacting the game a great deal. Might cause a few people to just purchase their respecs instead of going through the process to earn them...but I don't think that will be too big of an issue.

Would be nice to see a way to completely redo the character...including powersets. That should be epic level though...meaning it takes a lot to earn. With powerset proliferation I'm sure there's plenty of people who would like to change a primary or secondary to one of the new ones to fit their character idea more...or simply for a change of pace.

If there are already ways to respec in game free of charge, I don't understand why someone would pay 10 bucks to do it?  Can someone explain this to me?

Because the current methods require time that some people may not have. However, those people that don't have the time are the also the least likely people to want a respec anyway.

I'm guessing the people that end using this service are more likely to be long term players that respec all the time (have used up all of their free ones) and don't really want to repeat another respec trail they have done many times before.

Originally posted by Draenor

If there are already ways to respec in game free of charge, I don't understand why someone would pay 10 bucks to do it?  Can someone explain this to me?

You know what they say: "There's a sucker born every minute"...

Some people have more money then time available (or sense...) and will be willing to pay for something they would have to grind for (or do a TF) to obtain.

Me, I got enough Respecs thru the Veterans rewards program for my needs, but someone who wants to max / min their toons every other levels will pay for it, sure...

The old guys used to give free respecs away... now you have to pay for them?

I'm seriously becoming more and more disgruntled by all of this micro-transaction crap in pay to play games. The companies that are running these games have just gotten out of hand. You used to have free to play games with microtransactions, or you had a pay to play game.

Now the two methods are becoming one big way to suck every last cent from online gaming.

Just about every new MMORPG that's in development now has had an article or comment by a CEO or developer about how they are "looking into alterntate payment methods". If these guys were as focused on making fun and engaging games as they are as focused on milking the genre for as much cash as they can squeeze out it, there would actually be some decent titles out that have apeal that last more than a month or so.

It's really designed for those who don't want to take the trouble to get one for free.  I personally would never pay real money for virtual goods or services, but clearly if there is a demand for it, why not.  If I worked for that company, I would definately see this as a great way to bring in new revenue for virtually no effort.  Interesting to say the least.

Originally posted by Draenor

If there are already ways to respec in game free of charge, I don't understand why someone would pay 10 bucks to do it?  Can someone explain this to me?

I have more respecs than I can use on any character myself.  However, consider this...

- You have 3 respec which are given throught a quest mission at level 24, 34 and 44...characters which are lower level or player that don't want to do the mission miss this one.

- There is 1 free respec given from time to time, especially when a new expansion is live...many player mess up this respec, and you can't stack these, so it is a use or waste respec.

- Veterans rewards give you a few free respec.

Either new players, or players that are changing their character a LOT may find use for this payment...as there is a limited amount of in-game respecs you can have...rarity create value.

NCSoft is becoming like the person who starts digging between the sofa cushions looking for change. I thought paid subscriptions were supposed to drive content and development. Now it seems like they are looking for any way to squeeze more money out of their player base. What's next? Power-leveling? Influence for sale? Special costumes that only those with money to burn can buy? Oh wait, they already did that one.

With no expansion on the horizon, just what are they adding these new "services" for? It's tacky and very, very said.

Originally posted by Kryogenic

The old guys used to give free respecs away... now you have to pay for them? 

They still do.

I am glad to see them offering new options. I'd like to see more 'for pay' costumes, as well.

The bottom line is, no one is forcing anyone to pony up any more cash for the game than they have since day one. Are they still giving Veteran Reward Respecs? Yep. Are they still allowing you to earn them in game? Yep. Nothing has changed for anyone who doesn't want it to change. Just ignore the 'paid' ones, and play your way.

Same with the 'for pay' costumes. Don't like the price tag? Don't buy it. Me? I bought the Pocket D VIP upgrade, the Wedding Pack and the GvE upgrade. On more than one account. If they offered another costume I wanted? I'd pay the ten bucks, or whatever.

One of my other hobbies is 3D Art (http://www.daz3d.com). The program is free (YAY!), LOTS of content is free, but there are also TONS of things that you can buy, ranging from $1.99 (for the Platinum Club members) to hundreds for bundles. It doesn't bother me to pay $10-15 bucks for a dress I like, or a new set of wings, or a new 'character' (morphs and textures).

I am glad to see NC Soft offering these options. It isn't like they are forcing them on anyone, and they are still adding LOTS of new costumes for free. The costume creator has grown immensely since I made my first character, years ago. They added sliders, to make it easy to make your character truly unique. They added lots more faces. They added a ton of new hairstyles. I am enjoying all of it, including the bits that sometimes cost me extra, but usually less than dinner for the family at McDonalds.

This is a nice option for those that want it.  Myself, I am rather selective on what powers I pick so I don't make that many mistakes.  However, I have respecs from my vet rewards to draw upon too.  I enjoy the respec TF/SF, so that is another way to get one if I ever run out. 

If someone is new to the game and hasn't earned one through vet rewards and doesn't want to do the TF/SF I don't see any problem with offering this.

No thanks Ubisoft. I have better things to spend money on like  Dc online sub or CO.

---

Originally posted by LordDraekon
NCSoft is becoming like the person who starts digging between the sofa cushions looking for change. I thought paid subscriptions were supposed to drive content and development. Now it seems like they are looking for any way to squeeze more money out of their player base. What's next? Power-leveling? Influence for sale? Special costumes that only those with money to burn can buy? Oh wait, they already did that one.
With no expansion on the horizon, just what are they adding these new "services" for? It's tacky and very, very said.

---

It's an option for those who want it. Don't want it? Don't use it. It's that simple. Clearly there is a market for this. And if it means the company can get more money from people willing to spend it...then so be it. Just means they will have more money for future projects. If you enjoy the game...why look down on it when they offer additional options. They aren't forcing anyone to pay anything more than they are already paying. With Champions Online and DC Online (even though, IMO it looks like a freaking joke) coming their subscriber base will no doubt take a hit. If them offering this kind of stuff to people who want it means they will be able to continue development with lower subscriber numbers...that's a great thing for the game.

All i have to say about this is look out corporate greed in action lol.

They give out plenty of free respecs, they give out respecs for veteran rewards and there is 3 task forces you can do for respecs.  I am up to my eyeballs with unused respecs.  I honestly cannot ever imagining using the ones I have if I play for another 10 years.  However I see posts in the forums all the time asking for a way to get more respecs.  I always thought if you can't get it right with the ones available you are a fool.  NCSoft just saw the opportunity to part a fool with some of his money.  We all know it is morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep his money.

?Now that the developers have added real numbers into the power selection screens, I think the need for constant re-specification has gone way down.  Take an energy blaster for example.   If you are trying to choose between power blast and power burst, you can now see exactly how much damage each power will do.   No more relying on sometimes erroneous descriptions like 'short range high damage attack'.

In a sense  there has been purchasable respecs for while, in that you could always buy the necessary influence from some third party to acquire a respec recipe at the market.  If this means taking a bit of business away from the influence peddlers, then I am all for it.  I just hope they use the extra cash to do something useful, like doing a complete overhaul of  the game engine. 

~nox

---

Originally posted by noxdraconis
In a sense there has been purchasable respecs for while, in that you could always buy the necessary influence from some third party to acquire a respec recipe at the market. If this means taking a bit of business away from the influence peddlers, then I am all for it. I just hope they use the extra cash to do something useful, like doing a complete overhaul of the game engine.

---

I can't agree more about taking business from the influence spammers, er, peddlers.

I cannot understand the whining. PLAYERS asked for this (just as they have asked for special costumes for which we are willing to pay). I have said MANY times that I would be willing to pay to get more slots on a server. NC Soft (not Ubisoft, rofl) is just answering a demand from their players. This answer does not affect ANYONE that does want it. If you don't want to pay for a respec, you STILL have all the FORMER options to obtain one (including sinking to the pits of moral turpitude by giving business to the influence peddlers, if that is what you choose to do).

Other people having an "OPTION" to buy a respec (or a character slot, or a special costume pack) does not affect anyone but those who wish to purchase it. Whining about this is akin to whining because there are Lexus cars on the market but I can't afford one so NO ONE should be able to buy one... please.

Answering a demand with a supply is the business model of any successful company. There are MANY things I would pay to add to my game. I'd pay for more enhancement slots on my Warshade. I'd pay for a real 'formal' (long) dress. I'd pay for the ability to swap characters between accounts. Yes, I can afford it. I understand there are some who can't. I don't know what to tell them, but they don't have the right to limit what is available to those who can afford it. Want and need and the ability to purchase creates a market. How can you fault a business for utilizing that market.

You know, no MMO 'owes' us a say in how they run things. You can't please every customer. But one thing I have noticed since Cryptic is out of the picture is a serious effort to give players things they have been asking for, for years. I think NC Soft is moving in a positive direction. They have my vote of confidence, in the form of a few subscription fees.

For those who don't like it? All I can say is, you have the right to take your subscription to any other game.