Switching archetypes

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A player's primary archetype cannot be changed.[1][2]

When it comes to the primary archetype, that is a decision you'll want to make and you'll want to make sure it's the right decision, because it's permanent... You are going to create this identity that you can't just change on the fly. This is going to be something that you will know a person and you will know what their base archetype is and they're not just going to change from battle to battle. So that gives some consistency in the engagements and understanding reputation on the server.[1]Steven Sharif

When players choose their primary class, it’s not just dictating how the next several hundred hours of gameplay will go... It’s only the primary class that cannot be changed. And hey, that’s what alts are for![2]

The secondary archetype of a class may be changed, but not "on-the-fly".[3][1][4]

The secondary class choice, which comes after some time getting used to the world of Verra, will be more fluid. If you choose the Fighter and the Rogue to make a Shadowblade, but eventually want to try your hand at Summoning to make a Bladecaller, you’ll be able to do so.[2]
We don't want you to be able to change your secondary class or the augments you have applied out in the open. We want you to have to make a conscious choice somewhere at a NPC. The level of node necessary for that particular NPC to be available will likely be either at the Village stage or above. So, if you are far out in the wilderness exploring – and we have no instant teleportation in the world – you need to be conscientious of what your choices are; and not be able to change them on-the-fly.[5]Steven Sharif
  • Respeccing adventuring skills may require travelling to a specific location rather than being able to be done on-the-fly.[8]
    • Swapping between multiple saved specs may be able to be done after a suitable cooldown period.[3][6]

Respeccing

Respeccing (resetting and reallocating) adventuring skills may require travelling to a specific location rather than being able to be done on-the-fly.[8][1]

I am still conflicted on whether or not I want to allow respecs on-the-fly. I believe that respecing should be done at a particular location that requires a bit of transit and some strategic thinking ahead of time about the encounters that you're expecting, but respecing your class should be relatively easier obviously with that constraint of being at a particular location.[8]Steven Sharif
  • Swapping between multiple saved specs may be able to be done after a suitable cooldown period.[3][6]
  • Respeccing artisan skills is going to be more difficult than respeccing adventuring skills.[8]

Gear loadouts

There will be a loadout system that you can use in your inventory to help manage those different types of set that you can customize. So you can do a simple hotkey press and be able to swap your armors, out of combat of course, with a single button click.[10]Steven Sharif
  • Switching gear is possible while in combat but armor cannot be swapped while in combat.[16][17][18][19][20][21]
    • Previously it was stated that swapping weapons (from inventory) into a hand or range slot is not possible in combat.[17] Prior to this, weapon swapping was said to be subject to a cooldown period (in the range of a few seconds) following any damage taken or done by the player.[22][23]
You may not swap armor when you're in combat, but you may swap your weapons; and there's obviously a few reasons of why this can be important: We're a itemization agnostic class design, so players equip with items that there are most necessary based on the adversary or the challenge that they're facing; and so we want that to be available for players to swap with weapons.[16]Steven Sharif

See also

References