Originally Posted by Isenthal I'm sorry to say that, but the original post claim is really an overkill exageration. Whatever if you like or not the possibility to respec, you don't have to use this option if you don't like the system!
If you don't like it, don't use it, eh? It doesn't work like that, unfortunately. We are talking about core game rules here, not optional features.
E.g. Larian have stated they have put more items like Headband of Intellect in the game that replace an ability score, to make multiclassing easier and to enable item-centric builds. That alone makes respec an integral part of gameplay if you want to play well. Find a belt that gives you a Dex of 18 > respec your Dex from 14 to 8, wear belt, enjoy your new buffed Dex AND Constitution and Wisdom scores. Such items already devalue character ability scores, but with respec it just becomes really stupid.
Knowing you can always respec takes away all weight from decisions when building your characters. You are mentally lulled into lazy gameplay mode where learning the rules and planning have no meaning. It's subconscious, but I argue that it makes the overall gameplay experience feel less rewarding. You have this feeling in the back of your head constantly that decisions are irrelevant in the end, you can always change into something else.
Respec ruins replayability. Why would I replay the game for a whole different experience using another class or build, when I can just respec into said class, or any class, nilly-willy during my first playthrough? Gameplay and storytelling are supposed to support each other, not be completely disconnected. What kind of a story has it's characters changing all time time? He was a Wizard.. no he was a Ranger.. wait no, what if he was a Gnome Cleric / Barbarian multiclass? Distracting. Larian are guilty of disconnecting gameplay mechanics and storytelling also when they demote Minsc and Jaheira, or Halsin, into low level companions. So clearly they don't get this.
For someone who really enjoys character building, planning and tactical combat, Larian are making a terrible gameplay experience. It seems like the devs want to make a dating sim with puzzle combat and the D&D ruleset is just getting in their way. When they should embrace it and understand it's a tried and true ruleset that is the game's greatest strengths.
I see your point and it can be true, but I don't feel like this at all, personnally.
To fundamentally change the whole build during a gameplay just to adjust to objects, I would feel like cheating, and then what is even the point of playing? Better to take a +6 to all stats and +6AC rings from a mod and rush everything... No it's not for me.
Especially, sometimes in RPG we loose all of our stuff, temporarily (jail) or permanently (we appear in a whole new place, we start a new campaign after having lost everything...) so I would not count only on the available stuff (and I would not know all what is available at my first run)
Though, I admit that for a second or third run, at the character creation, I might optimize my stats according to the expected magical items that I can get my hands on (typically Dex or Str), but not repec as much my stats during a game.
Personnally, it's more a matter of : Oh I took this feat but it's actually really not so good as I thought, while there is much better, for the specific subclass that I am currently. By example typically when I play Pathfinder, I'm easily lost between all the feats and subfeats that match well or not for the multiple exotic class (Zen Archer... Silent Hunter...) and I'm glad if I can at some point at least one or two time fix my broken character.
Sure I don't need that my character is absolutely perfect, I can live with some drawbacks, but I would be disappointed by my main character if I did mistakes that I could not guess from the get go.
