Dual Specialization (Update)

[Ubung]

A lot of talk went into Dual specs earlier in the year and I personally havnt heard anything since. Blizzards latest view:

Talents - Dual Specialization

We're defintiely pursuing the ability to switch specs. The details are still being debated internally but we do have plans that would allow for players to switch between specs.

We want every spec to be viable, as you say. But the truth is, in end game raiding or end game PvP (Arena in particular), there is a big difference between "viable" and "the best". Players will always perceive certain specs to be better than others in end game activities and it would be misleading to imply that all specs are going to be universally ideal for all situations. But viable is a different story.

I imagine by this stage we wouldn't see it until a patch after release?

Most likely in a patch but it's not too far off. (Source)

A post by GC explaining the details of the dual spec idea including what he feels about cooldowns on speccing can be found on page 18 in a post by Grimmal

EDIT: Now we have more information on the nature of the dual spec I have set up a poll. Is dual speccing a good idea.

[Warcraft]

I've never understood the need for this... The respec fee caps at 50g and there is SO much gold in the game now from dailies, with absolutely nothing else to spend it on.

[KysenMurrin]

I don't believe the issue was the cost so mcuh as having to reallocate your points every single time.

[Ubung]

It all depends really on when you can activate your dual spec and what the cooldown is.

[daemonym]

i foresee it being more of a conveiance thing rather than something zomgz this rocks!! like the main concearn would be switching spec during raid for <some buff> then going back to your first spec to continue. it'll mostly be so you can save a spec template and not have to port to shat, port to <city> run to trainer, put points back in, wait for re summon.

will probably have to be an in town only sort of thign else it'll get crazy in raids i'd bet. not sure how to make it work but as a tiem saver it would be totally awesome.

[uke]

Biggest advantage for a paladin would be if you have to multi-tank one fight in a raid, but the next fight is a one-tank fight...and you're not the tank. Currently in live, most pallys then throw on their healing gear and FoL spam the tank still specced prot.

Dual specialization lets you instantly switch to another role as needed.

I could tank one fight as prot, then switch to a PVE Ret spec and throw my Ret gear for the next fight instantly. This as opposed to hearthing out, spending 50g to respec, putting all my points back in, and getting summoned back.

Same could apply to all three talent trees, allows hybrids to easily switch between roles without leaving the raid, as needed.

[Warcraft]

Biggest advantage for a paladin would be if you have to multi-tank one fight in a raid, but the next fight is a one-tank fight...and you're not the tank. Currently in live, most pallys then throw on their healing gear and FoL spam the tank still specced prot.

Dual specialization lets you instantly switch to another role as needed.

I could tank one fight as prot, then switch to a PVE Ret spec and throw my Ret gear for the next fight instantly. This as opposed to hearthing out, spending 50g to respec, putting all my points back in, and getting summoned back.

Same could apply to all three talent trees, allows hybrids to easily switch between roles without leaving the raid, as needed.

Actually, I'm pretty sure that respec fees are exactly what Blizzard is talking about with this multi-spec thing.

If it was just the issue of putting your points back in then they wouldn't have to "consider" anything. They would just make an interface to let you save spec templates.

And I highly doubt that they are leaning towards letting you switch specs without hearthing, considering that they've just made it so you can't even switch glyphs without hearthing.

[fuzzygeek]

they've just made it so you can't even switch glyphs without hearthing.

Really? That's pretty stupid.

[Lumenos]

I've never understood the need for this... The respec fee caps at 50g and there is SO much gold in the game now from dailies, with absolutely nothing else to spend it on.

You obviously don't spend 500g+ a week in respecs like I do. My typical sunwell night consists of me starting holy usually on kalecgos and brut, then prot on felmyst, then holy on twins, then prot on m'uru. If we even do BT or Hyjal i'm usually holy for BT and prot for hyjal. Then there's my weekend ret pvp fun, of which i'll frequently spec out of to do a bear run or something, then switch back to continue with some pvp.

The one advantage to this is i get to claim holy and prot as my "main" spec and can bid on both sets of gear with top priority, but still, it's quite expensive and really the only reason i don't have piles of gold ready for wotlk.

[cigar3tte]

Actually, I'm pretty sure that respec fees are exactly what Blizzard is talking about with this multi-spec thing.

This can't be it, otherwise they'd just wave the respec cost.

[Ubung]

Dual Specs do conjure up ideas of switching specs on the fly in raids. However I expect there to be a reasonably large cooldown on its use.

[ydraw]

The fact is once Warlocks gained the ability to summon players directly into instances, the Respeccing question was moot. The only thing to stop people respeccing between each and every boss is 50g and 2 minutes. Blizzard might as well get rid of the annoyance factor and let people respec at will.

[Ubung]

Would be awesome for any future Shade of Aran type fights where tanks are usless.

[Morendin]

I've never understood the need for this... The respec fee caps at 50g and there is SO much gold in the game now from dailies, with absolutely nothing else to spend it on.

nothing to spend money on? try raiding sunwell, land of 30second wipes that cost about 15g apiece even with the guild bank picking up repairs.
(agi V, prot V, Ironshield potion, food)

[fuzzygeek]

Dual Specs do conjure up ideas of switching specs on the fly in raids. However I expect there to be a reasonably large cooldown on its use.

Seems more like "hey switch spec for PvP then go back to PvE spec for raids." I don't think it's intended to be used for PvE at all. A long cooldown would make it useless for situations it would be most useful for -- grats on being locked into your offspec for X hours for the sake of a 10 minute fight!

Betting they dumped the idea, or moved it way down the priority list. While it'd be a nice feature to have, it solves a minor game mechanic that isn't game breaking and only affects a handful of people.