Power Respecification

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This article is about ways to acquire a respec and how to use them. For the slash command, see respec (Slash Command).

Work in Progress
This article is currently a work in progress. As such, it may contain some editing notes in addition to information. Please be patient, it is being worked on and will be in a finished state before long! The editor who marked this article as WIP added the following note:
Rewrite underway.
Date noted: 2012-06-19

Overview

A Respecification (a.k.a. "Power Respecification, "respec") allows a player to respecify a character. This allows Primary and Secondary Powers, Power Pool Powers and Enhancement Slot assignments to be changed. Power set selections (both Primary and Secondary) cannot be changed.

Respecs can be gained from a number sources, including various actions taken in-game, the Paragon Market, the Paragon Rewards Program, during some special events, and finally from the developers. These are described in detail below.

Respecs are often used to trade unwanted powers for more useful ones; rearrange hard-to-obtain Enhancements between powers; and to optimise a character once they have reached level 50. Respecs are started by visiting a specific contact (in most cases), or sometimes by using the Respec (Slash Command) (for "free respecs").

Types and Sources of Respecs

Respecs fall into two categories: earned respecs that a character receives due to some action they choose to take; and free respecs (known as a 'freespec') awarded by the developers at certain times.

Earned Respecs

A character may accrue quite a number of earned respecs. Available respecs are shown when a character logs on. A system (green) message is displayed in the chat box stating, "You have x unclaimed respecs available," where x is the number of available respecs. In addition to this, a player may have also have number of respecs they may claim for a character from their in-game mail.

Summary

A respec can be earned the following ways:

  1. Completing a Terra Volta Respecification Trial for heroes, or a Tree of Thorns Respecification Trial for villains. A maximum of 3 respecs can be earned by a character in this way.
  2. Crafting a Respec Recipe.
  3. Purchase from Candy Keeper using Candy Cane Salvage, during Winter Events. One respec per character per event can be earned.
  4. By placing a reward token in various slots in assorted tiers within the Paragon Rewards Program. Up to six respecs may be earned this way, and they are claimed from Account Items in-game email.
  5. By purchasing a Character Respec Token from the Paragon Market. These are claimed from Character Items in-game email.
  6. For villains and rogues only, by completing the first Patron arc and unlocking a Patron Power Pool.
  7. For Soldier of Arachnos only, by reaching Threat Level 24. This respec is mandatory and must be taken the next time that character trains.

Respec Contacts

An earned respec is used by visiting a special contact.

Free Respecs

A free respec, often known as a 'freespec', is awarded to all characters by the developers during a special event or after a significant update of the game.

Summary

  • No more than one freespec can be available at any given time. If a character has an unspent freespec, and another is awarded, they will not receive the new freespec.
  • For the above reason, players should choose to use a freespec (if one is available), before spending an earned respec. That way they will receive another, should it be awarded.
  • A freespec can be used with the Respec (Slash Command), without needing to visit a special contact.

Limitations and Respec Failures

Respecs are subject to a number of limitations and possible failures.

Limitations

  • A character must be at least level three.
  • A character cannot be in strike force or task force mode. This includes all trials, strike forces, task forces, signature story arcs, mission architect missions and flashback missions,
  • A character's Origin, Archetype, primary powerset, secondary powerset, or Paragon Rewards Program power selections cannot be changed.
  • A power or enhancement slots cannot be taken in an order that isn't possible for a character levelling normally. An exception to this is Warshades and Peacebringers who, during a respec, may add slots to their Nova- and Dwarf-form-specific powers before the Nova and Dwarf forms themselves are available.
  • Changes are permanent! For this reason, it's often wise to plan your new build in advance. (Note: Tools such as Mids' Hero Designer can be useful here.).

Respec Failures

Sometimes, a player may receive a 'respec failed' message. These may occur for any number of reasons. The most common reasons include:

  • Not training up to the character's effective level before starting a respec
  • Being in Task Force/Strike Force mode, including Flashback and Architect missions.

If there were any un-slotted enhancements in the character's tray before the respec began, they might appear to have vanished after a respec failure. Once the respec has been successfully completed, they will be made available again.

If this occurs, players should still have a respec token, and should be able to use it after the character moves to a new zone, or if the player logs out of City of Heroes and log back in. If your character has recently advanced to a new level, you're encouraged to visit an NPC trainer before trying a new respec.

How to Respec

The process of completing a respec occurs in several stages. These are Power Selections, Enhancement Slot Selections, Slotting Enhancements, and finally Confirming. These stages are outlined below in brief.

Power Selections

Select all of your character's powers. All powers will be chosen in the order that they are available, level by level. Progress as your pick each power is shown in red at the bottom of the screen.

This stage mimics the normal training the character receives, with more powers available at later levels. The first choice mimics level 1 (character creation screen), the next choice level 2 (the first power received from a trainer), and so on.

For example, when the sixth power is selected, the powers available will be the powers available for selection with the character attained security level 10 (i.e. when he or she selected his or her sixth power).

When a respec is used, a character will be presented with the power selection screen to select his or her powers. The choice will be limited to the powers available when he or she first selected powers at level 1. After selecting a power, the character will be asked to select another power, this time with the powers available when he or she selected powers at level 2. For each subsequent power selection, the powers available will be the powers available for the next progressive level of the character.

Keep on selecting powers until no powers remain, and the respec then moves onto the next stage.

  • For a chart showing at what levels new powers become available, see Leveling Chart

Enhancement Slot Selections

In this stage, all enhancement slots are placed. Again, progress is shown in red at the bottom of the window. This reflects the training a character receives at levels where no power is granted.

At each step of this stage, either two, three or six enhancement slots are placed, depending on the effective level. Higher level powers are greyed out and cannot be slotted until the effective level they were chosen is passed.

After all enhancement slots have been placed, the respec moves to the next stage.

  • For a chart showing at what levels enhancements are slotted, see Leveling Chart

Slotting Enhancements

This stage shows a window labelled "Place Enhancements". All of the character's enhancements (slotted and unslotted) are automatically placed in the "unassigned" section.

Click and drag the desired enhancements into their respective slots. Unlike normal training, you can move slotted enhancements freely into and out of powers and slots during this stage.

You can also keep (but not slot) enhancements; just put them back into your inventory. When the respec is completed these will be available to your character in the Inventory tray.

This is the last formal stage of the respec process. It is worthwhile double-checking that you have slotted and placed all enhancements correctly before proceeding.

Click "Finish" to proceed to the final stage.

  • Note: Enhancements that remain unassigned will be lost forever once the respec is completed.

What happens to unassigned enhancements?

Confirming

The player is asked to confirm and finish the respec. A dialog box appears, and this is the last chance to change any aspect of the respec.

WARNING!
At this point all slotted enhancements will become locked in. All unassigned enhancements will be refunded for their sell-back price in Influence. Are you sure you wish to proceed?
Yes/No

Click No to return the the previous stage, and Yes to complete the respec.

When you click "Yes", you will not be able to go back. Any changes are now permanent, and powers, enhancement slots, and enhancement placements are locked in place.

Rolling Back During a Respec

At any time during the respec, clicking the "Back" button at the bottom left of the window will take you back one step, even to previous stages.

Even at the final slotting stage, clicking back enough times will eventually bring you right back to the very first step taken in the respec.

Clicking "Next" advances the respec to the next step.

Types of Respecifications

Though there are many ways of acquiring respecifications, the respecs themselves fall into only two types: earned and free. The type depends on the method used to achieve it:

  • Trial Respecs - earned, up to 3 possible
  • Paragon Reward Program Respecs - via Reward Token, up to a total of 6 as at June 2012.
  • Veteran Respecs (discontinued) - earned, up to 5 possible (at 69 months)
  • Patron Respecs - earned, 1 possible (Villain only)
  • Soldiers of Arachnos Respec - earned, 1 possible (Villain only)
  • Character Respec Tokens (purchased) - 'earned', theoretically unlimited
  • Free Respec - free (A character can only have 1 at a time and they do not stack)
  • Respec Recipes - free (These cannot be crafted if the character already has a free respec available)
  • Holiday Respec - free (These cannot be purchased at the Candy Keeper if the character already has a free respec available)

A character can accumulate any number of earned respecs, but at most one free one. Any more gained while a character already has one are lost.

An earned respec is used by visiting a special contact.

A free respec is used by either visiting the above contacts, or by typing the /respec command on the chat command line at any time or anywhere, though it is still subject to limitations:

Respecification Limitations

There are a few limitations on claiming a Respecification.

  • A character must be at least level three.
  • A character cannot currently be part of a task force.

Trial Respecifications

There are two respec-granting trials:

Each trial has three versions: one available to characters of level 24 and up, one for 34+, and one for 44+. There are also limits on how many respecs a character can earn from these trials: a character is eligible for a respec choice at levels 24, 34, and 44, for a total of three respec claims, regardless of the trials completed. Note that the respecification rewards are not linked to which trial is completed, but to the character's level. For example, a level 48 character who has never done a respecification trial can do the first (lowest level) trial three times, or the last (highest level) trial three times, or any combination of the trials, and gain all three respecification awards.

One other point: a character can do a respec trial even if he or she can't get any more respecs from it. The character will only be able to choose the Reward Merits as the completion reward at the end.

Veteran Rewards Respecifications

Several levels of the Veteran Rewards System award respecs to all characters on the account. Specifically, the 9 month, 21 month, 33 month, 45 month and 69 month rewards all include respecs.

Veteran respecs are earned respecs and are claimed the same way as trial respecs.

Patron Power Respecifications

Each villain character that completes the first Patron arc and unlocks a patron power pool will also receive an earned respec.

Soldiers of Arachnos Respecifications

A Soldiers of Arachnos respec is used upon a Villain Epic Archetype reaching Threat Level 24. When visiting a trainer for the first time after reaching level 24, the player will immediately be taken to the respec screen due to the extra powersets being unlocked.

Purchased Respecifications

Character Respec Tokens are available in the Paragon Market for 800 Paragon Points.

Starting on July 31, 2008 and until City of Heroes Freedom, players could purchase a respec from the Character Select screen. It cost $9.99 US. Players selected the character they wanted to respec, then selected the "Enter Store" icon in the lower right, and followed the prompts.

Purchased respecs are earned respecs and are claimed the same way as trial respecs. Is this still true? Or are the tokens claimed via email then the same way as trial respecs?

Free Respecifications

If a character receives a power respecification due to having one given to him or her, it is a free respec. A character may have only one free respec available at any given time. If a character has a free respec when another respec is given out, he or she will not receive the new respec.

Free respecs are usually given out after significant changes to game mechanics involving powers. For example, when Enhancement Diversification was released on the live servers, a free respec was given to all heroes due to a significant change in the effects of enhancement slotting.

This type of respec is commonly known as freespec (free + respec).

Respecification Recipes

As of Issue 11 characters may buy Respec Recipes from other players or find them as rare drops from defeating enemies. Crafting this recipe awards the crafter with a free respec. These cannot be crafted if the character already has a free respec available.

Holiday Respecification

As of 2009, the Candy Keeper sells a respec option. It costs 500 Candy Cane Salvage and 5000 influence/infamy per level of your character. It cannot be purchased if the character is holding a free respec and each character can only purchase one per event.

How Respecifications Work

When a respec is used, a character will be presented with the power selection screen to select his or her powers. The choice will be limited to the powers available when he or she first selected powers at level 1. After selecting a power, the character will be asked to select another power, this time with the powers available when he or she selected powers at level 2. For each subsequent power selection, the powers available will be the powers available for the next progressive level of the character.

For example, when the sixth power is selected, the powers available will be the powers available for selection with the character attained security level 10 (i.e. when he or she selected his or her sixth power).

After the power selection is complete, the character is then presented with the enhancement slot selection screen. Again, the powers available for slotting are the powers that were available at the time that the character attained the level for that particular round of slots.

For example, when the sixth set of slots is selected, the powers available for slotting will be the powers available for selection when the character attained security level 13 (i.e. when he or she selected his or her sixth set of enhancement slots).

After the enhancement slotting is complete, the character will be presented with a screen in which he or she assigns all of his or her currently assigned and held enhancements to those slots. Until an enhancement is assigned to an enhancement slot or to the enhancement inventory, it is considered unassigned. Unlike the normal enhancement management screen, enhancements may be freely moved around between enhancement slots, the enhancement inventory tray, and the unassigned enhancements tray.

After all enhancements are placed into appropriate slots or into the enhancement tray, all unassigned origin (SO,DO, TO) enhancements will be sold for their full purchase cost. Invention Enhancements will be sold for the crafting cost (the price does not include the purchase cost). Hamidon and Synthetic Hamidon Enhancements are not assigned any value. They will be lost with zero influence/infamy gained if they are unassigned at the end of a respecification. Enhancements combined with another of the same type(+ or ++) can be put in the tray but cannot de sold or traded.

Notes

  • Important! Keep in mind that unless a character finds or purchases a Respec Recipe on the Consignment House, or a player spends $10 on a purchase recipe, earned recipes are finite and free respecs are somewhat rare. If a character runs out of earned respecs, bad choices are semi-permanent!
  • Because the maximum number of respecs available is limited and the time between gaining respecs is typically very long, it is highly suggested to test new builds on the Training Room server before actually committing to the respec on the live server.
  • Because a character may have a maximum of one free respec at a time, it is highly suggested that these respecs be used before earned respecs by typing the /respec command on the chat command line.
  • A player may see how many unclaimed respecs his or her character has at the time of logon. A system (green text) message is displayed in the chat box stating, "You have x unclaimed respecs available," where x is the number of available respecs.
  • Remember that the order in which a character's powers are selected determines which powers are available when that character is exemplared or malefactored with lower-level heroes and villains. In general, the most wanted or most often-used powers should be selected first.
  • The word "respec" is often misspelled "respect" by those unfamiliar with the term, by speed touch-typists, or sometimes even by some in a deliberate satirical manner. The word is an abbreviated form of the word respecification, however, and "respec" is the correct spelling. In addition, "respec" is sometimes incorrectly expanded in-game to "respecialization", such as in the badge text for respecs given as Veteran Rewards, leading to further confusion among players as to what "respec" is actually short for. Upon completion, your character has been "respecified" or "respecced" (some players also use the term "respec'd").
  • The names of the villain respec trial contacts, Sparcetriel, Trepsarciel, and Ractespriel, are all anagrams of "respec trial."
  • After using a respec, using the command line /clear_tray will clear all power trays of powers, as they will all fill up with random powers. This allows easier power placement onto the power trays.

Historical

This section contains information that no longer applies to the current version of City of Heroes/Villains. It is provided for historical purposes.

  • The Veteran Rewards Program program was removed from the game with the release of City of Heroes: Freedom. It was replaced by the Paragon Rewards Program. While it was available, the Veteran rewards program awarded one respec to each character on a player's account at varying intervals. Respecs were awarded for 9, 21, 33 45 and 69 months membership.
  • Purchased Respecifications. Prior to the introduction of City of Heroes: Freedom, players could purchase a respec from the Character Select screen. Players selected the character they wanted to respec, then selected the "Enter Store" icon in the lower right, then followed the prompts. Cost was US$9.99. After the release of City of Heroes: Freedom, this was removed and players instead purchase a Character Respec Token from the Paragon Market.
  • Respec Recipes were added to the game with Issue 11.
  • Holiday Respecifiations were added to the game with the Winter Event 2009.

See Also

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