Guild Wars 2

Right now, there are six traits that deal with symbols – three of them are minor traits, which means they cannot be avoided, in the Zeal line.

Now, this isn’t exactly a “crippling” thing. It just means that, if you’re going to pick Sword, Scepter, or even both (one in each weapon set), it’s generally advised to avoid the Zeal line as much as possible. It also prevents the three major traits associated with Symbols from being useful to you.

Again, not crippling. There’s other trait lines, as well as other traits to pick from, and obviously if you want symbols you could pick other weapons. This one little quirk, however, is the entire reason I have so far refused to use either weapon. It seems to me that lacking Symbols is holding these two weapons back.

But wouldn’t it be better, i.e. more flexible in regards to character building, if the Sword and Scepter each had their own symbols? It would also be more consistent.

Instead of replacing the skills these weapons have – why not simply add Symbols to the skills we already have? My specific suggestion is this:

• In the case of the Sword, cause Flashing Blade to put down a Symbol on the ground after you teleport. Generally Symbols give allies boons rather than giving allies conditions, so we could be lazy and just add Symbol of Wrath… OR a new Symbol could be added that grants Might to allies. Or, one could break from tradition, and instead of having Flashing Blade apply the Blind, have it drop a Symbol that Blinds enemies in it every second. Which option makes more sense, is more balanced, and keeps things “unique” for the sword… eh, it’s not for me to say. Latter option makes most sense to me, since Flashing Blade would not gain any extra effects, or lose any, beyond the ability to trait it with symbol-affecting traits, but that breaks away from what Symbols traditionally are supposed to do.

• In the case of the Scepter, a choice isn’t really as easy to pick. Skill 1 isn’t a chain skill, so no real room there. Skill 2 is a targeted aoe offensive ability – more often then not, you’ll be placing it on groups of enemies. Skill 3 is a single-target offensive ability – specifically applies to enemies, not allies. However… consider what Smite does. You place a little symbol on the ground where enemies take magical damage over time. That statement even has the word symbol in it. Perhaps Smite could instead be Symbol of Smite. Since you will typically be placing this on enemies instead of allies (except for nearby melee allies), let alone yourself, this Symbol could apply 1 second of Crippling to enemies every second – it could even still do the current Smite effect, of applying damage multiple times in a few seconds. Suddenly the Scepter is a good ranged kiting tool for Guardians (something they lack!), so long as you ignore the slow-moving projectiles. If that’s too much, it could, of course, merely apply Symbol of Wrath. At least then, if allies (including yourself) do enter and benefit from it, chances are there’s already enemies attacking them.

TL;DR – Sword and Scepter are the only weapons lacking Symbols. Add a Symbol to Flashing Blade and to Smite, each, in some fashion, obviously with appropriate number-tweaking for the sake of balance, and Guardian builds will become significantly more flexible.

I like these ideas. A flashing blades that leaves a symbol that ticks blindness would be incredibly useful and I think it could be tuned to not be op.

Smite should have been symbol of smiting from the start. I think symbol of smiting giving might to allies or cripple or weakness to enemies would be in line with the other scepter skills.

Toast.1495:

I like these ideas. A flashing blades that leaves a symbol that ticks blindness would be incredibly useful and I think it could be tuned to not be op.

Smite should have been symbol of smiting from the start. I think symbol of smiting giving might to allies or cripple or weakness to enemies would be in line with the other scepter skills.

Hopefully, the devs can agree that it’s a good idea. It’s been problematic for me, ever since the beta events, that these two weapons lack symbols. I’ve had to adapt, as I always adapt, but I don’t understand why these two weapons lack symbols to begin with. Inconsistency is ugly.