[Suggestion] Unique traits for water combat
IMHO, water combat should not be more separated from land combat. They need to be brought together. With this in mind, two suggestions: one little, one big.
Little:
Change the aquabreather into a costume item, not an actual item.
The aquabreather should operate exactly like the costumes do now; it puts on a visual mask when you go underwater, instead of being an actual physical item.
Why is this good? Because stats and runes. The aquabreather is a lot of busy work for not much reward. Visually, it’s cool, but practically, not so much.
Big:
Remove the distinction between aquatic and terrestrial weapons. Roll staffs and tridents together. Roll harpoon guns and rifles together.
Same thing as with the aquabreather; there’s now a lot less busy work to do when it comes to gearing your character. It also opens up a huge amount more options for weapons when you’re underwater, and classes which aren’t elementalists and engineers get landspears. LANDSPEARS
It also means we get Raid on the Capricorn back which I’m sure everyone will agree is better than Skyhammer.
IMHO, water combat should not be more separated from land combat. They need to be brought together.
Exactly this.
The biggest issue is how different it is, right now. And how rare. We have way too little water and fighting in it is usually too meaningless.
I’d love for sunken places in WvW zones which add meaningful power to the realm controlling it. Not like the old altar (though it was ok-ish). Rather, towers/keeps which involve large underwater segments to taking/defending them.
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I like the idea of dropping the distinction, in parts. I feel some classes should be able to use spears above water. But harpoon guns? OTOH, a bow underwater? Or a hammer? Makes very little sense. But a Scepter and a Focus, that might work.
(edit)
I like the idea of dropping the distinction, in parts. I feel some classes should be able to use spears above water. But harpoon guns? OTOH, a bow underwater? Or a hammer? Makes very little sense. But a Scepter and a Focus, that might work.
Yeah I thought that after I posted it. Earthshaker will probably not work too well when you’re underwater. :p
Well, either unify or neatly separate. Traits synergizing with abilities not available underwater are a nuisance.
We could start by enabling everything not ruled out by profound reasons. (yeah, admitting it, i just want my Healing Turret underwater)
Pet project: Outfit overhaul.
We could start by enabling everything not ruled out by profound reasons. (yeah, admitting it, i just want my Healing Turret underwater)
I’d support this immediately. Even if it means that AE abilities are automatically PBAE, whatever, just let me use my skills.
I like the idea of dropping the distinction, in parts. I feel some classes should be able to use spears above water. But harpoon guns? OTOH, a bow underwater? Or a hammer? Makes very little sense. But a Scepter and a Focus, that might work.
The thoughts of which weapons that could work in the water is a pretty easy one for me (due to me being a scuba diver irl). I could picture only the following land weapons working in the water. Staff, Scepter, Focus, Dagger
PvE Main – Zar Poisonclaw – Daredevil
WvW Main – Ghost Mistcaller – Herald
I think underwater combat having unique weapons and profession mechanics is a good one, but that properly balancing it is simply going to have to wait until there’s a compelling reason to do so (e.g. completely underwater zones/maps)
I would expect a full balance pass and probably new GM traits, gear, etc. when this happens, likely as part of a LS arc dealing with bubbles. That way they can get it all in one go, working on the pvp and pve implications of the system at one time.
Anet knows that underwater combat is a mess (they pretty much removed it from PvP) but it isn’t a big enough issue right now to bother with. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next big feature pack release was all about underwater mechanics though.
Writer/Director – Quaggan Quest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky2TGPmMPeQ
(edited by PopeUrban.2578)
Completely underwater zones would be fascinating. I loved the one in WoW, more than any other zone they did. The sheer vastness of Vashj’ir and the varied amounts of colour were amazing.