As anyone who's seen me posting here probably already knows, I've been intending an Operative/Medic dual-spec character for quite some time. And I've been REALLY looking forward to doing this.

Thanks, in part, to the flawed AI refusing to do things for me (and PSN being down so I can't find friends and play online instead... yet), I've found myself having to perform many duties that are outside my intended function on the battlefield.

As I first realised this, I decided that I'd see if I could stick to only leveling those character classes I was most comfortable with.

I only lasted until level 9.

At level 9, it wasn't that I had anything particularly pressing that I wanted in another class. It wasn't that I felt my other classes weren't up to the challenges they were being forced into. It was, simply, that I don't care about the available upgrades for my preferred classes. I had a point to spare, and nothing I felt was worth the effort for my playstyle.

I'm not buying something I'll never use.

So, being a Light, and having had some measure of success with every class, I dug through the available Universal abilities. The only thing I felt I could use was grenade throwing, and I'm not very good with grenades, except when making corner-throws which I'll almost never need to make on the run anyway. In the Engineer bracket, nothing I considered worthwhile. Soldier? SCAVENGE! I'm a Light, I'll be alone and behind enemy lines a LOT. I've often rushed back to my teammates in the middle of a pitched battle, and realised that I don't have enough supplies to restock them. This one ability could turn me from a casual Soldier to a more reliable three-class player. I'll probably buy the Extra Magazine upgrade, and possibly the Kevlar Vest too. The majority of my later upgrades will still be going on Operative and Medic upgrades, but I could get used to triple-spec (hehe drinkamahol puns! - no, I'm not drunk right now, why do you ask?)

I plan on dual speccing Engineer and Soldier.

I'm right now working on triple speccing for Medic/Operative/Engineer, Mainly Engi though.

Simply because the Soldier has no good abilities for me.

I've actually got two characters hovering around the low 10's in levels: a light soldier and a medium engineer. I'm not going to dual-spec more than likely. If I switch classes it's because my team is horrible (had to yesterday while on my engineer and this stupid person didn't know how to hold down the interact button to start hacking). I won't switch classes if we're getting pounded and can't get the objective done.

Nice.

Because the Engineer has no good ability for me...

Improved Weapon Buff makes you god. It also makes your weapons glow gold.

I was planning on having a Engineer only class but since the enemy AI fail and I'm enjoying all the classes more than I thought, I have quadruple specced my character. It's not that bad. I'm really good at switching when the perfect oppurtunity arrives. For example: I'll play as Soldier and try to blow up something with an HE charge and get smashed. Ill run to capture a command post, upgrade it as engy, buff my gun, switch to medic, buff my health, switch to Soldier, increase my ammo(btw i have supply increase) and switch to an Operative to disguise and get behind enemy lines to steal a command post and repeat the same process then switch to a soldier to throw molotovs and grenades and complete the Objective etc etc etc. The point is, The Zero is awesome B)

I personally don't believe in speccing a character to one specific role. If you go all engineer for instance and your entire team is playing as an engineer (which happens alot!) then you get [censored] because there are no medics and no soldiers and no operatives. In my opinion having a well rounded character with upgrades in all of the class trees is the best, but thats just my opinion. That way you can adjust to what your team needs without being that one person who refuses to switch his role to a role that would benefit the team and help win. Also why are there so many engineers? I understand mines and turrets and damage buff... but seriously this is not call of duty, its team based, and a well rounded / well coordinated team is a winning team.

The spread's about what I expected.

WarWolve, fully specialised characters are mostly going to be those with clans - that way, they KNOW they have backup covering the other classes.

I found that there weren't enough abilities that I really wanted in any given area to take a fully spec'd character so I plan to at least partially double up everybody, and maybe make a few that hit 3 or 4 partials but I'll have to see.

I started with my Soldier and went a long ways with him even though I had to switch it up to complete objectives, but as I got near the end of the campaign it just became more and more engineer/operative missions so I started pumping my engineer stats up and managed to shoot through the rest.

So now I have a level 17 Light Soldier/Engineer and he seems to be managing fairly well, although the Op missions svck for him since he can't do anything as an Op to actually help himself.

Now I have to decide what my other splits will end up being.

I have mostly buffed my Engineer class because it is what I normally use, but will be working on the Soldier now that my Engi is where I want him to be.

You really have to have at least 2 classes with some upgrades to be an effective team player. Yesterday I got into a match that had been going on for quite sometime and the team had yet to complete the first objective of blowing the door at the Aquarium. There were no players set as Soldiers?? Are you kidding me, no one was trying to blow the door. I jumped into Soldier and blew the door 2 minutes after spawning in. People just don't get this game at all in many cases so far. So it's up to the rest of us to get that W by switching classes as needed to complete the objectives I guess.

operative/medic.... you are a hunter scavenger. You run through the forest, ambushing your prey and healing yourself when needed. You are a solitary individual.

However, I found every ability useful, but nerves of steel is very underused since the engineer doesn't get many disarming opportunities.

But of course I went Operative all the way. I thought I'd be light but heavy has been very useful lately. Mostly for spraying the enemy from behind.

I'm enjoying this discussion - it's proving my pre-release thoughts to be dead-on.

EVERYONE finds their own path in this game. It's successfully providing variety for those who want it, and consistency for the ones who like to be specialists.

Before playing, I thought that upgrading more than 2 classes would gimp a player and make them less effective in each role. Now, though, I think triple-spec and even non-specialised characters will be viable even at a competitive level.

I chose dabbling in all 4 but mostly spec'd in Engi and Medic (been a late choice as I just started going medic and enjoying it. Now for the OP self rez >< )

I am playing mostly co-op, with a little online. So I don't have to do it all myself. I am dual-spec'ing most of my characters, and I am playing a lot more Medic than I originally anticipated, so my secondary class on all my characters (currently levels 15, 11, 10, and 5) is Medic. Except that level 15 character, which is primarily a Medic with 6 Engineer abilities.

I have 2 characters that are specialized in 2 classes that compliment it's weight class. 1 heavy medic/soldier, and 1 light engi/op. But I also have a 3rd guy who is a medium build that has key points (read: powerful combat abilities and all the upgraded buffs) so he can mold into any combat situation.

There's no one I like more than the other, heavy assault with ez nade launcher can single handedly clear out a defensive position for the team.

i dont have the game yet but im gunna do engineer/solider/operative B)

Provided you have somebody to pick up the slack in other areas. Utility Players need specialists just as much as specialists need utility players, although it's become clear that you can easily be a "specialist" in two classes, as there are several fluff abilities in Universal as well as the classes.

I went all the way and made 4 characters, one for each class. :intergalactic:

im rocking engi/operative as they are the most common obj types as far as i can tell

soldier/engineer for offense/defense respectively.

quick question: when can you use the the Change Class option on the Start Menu? It is never highlighted when I try switching between respawns.

Oh that makes sense. Didn't think of it in that perspective. Thanks :]

All-Around Support, Command Post Specialist --> 9 Eng / 4 Med / 1 Op / 6 Universal

You can be a perfectly decent Medic or Operative with just a couple of points. I spend a lot of time capturing, repairing, mining, hacking and buffing with the best buffs available. I LOVE this build.

I miss an Op's EMP nades and cortex bomb, but I can get along without.

I did do some calculations and was planning to going mostly all out on soldier and then taking the most important stuff out of the others, cos I find myself using all classes too often, although I'd prefer sticking with mah soldier.

I'd really wanna get better turrets, but it eats up 2 or 3 points. Light turret is barely worth getting alone, but at least I'm gonna have extra landmine. Helps a lot with defending objectives. Although I can figure soldier gets pretty good on defending too once I get satchel charges, although they don't blow up themselves like mines, but still.