Guild Wars 2

Maybe it’s just me, but i feel like the thief weapon choices are small and limiting. I don’t really see any reason why a thief cannot use a longbow or a rifle, maybe add the rifle to be more of a ranged sniper type alternative to playing a thief. Duel pistols is nice, but it feels to be a bit boring at times since all it really is a spam unload weapon set. Shortbow is mostly an AOE weapon and I don’t classify it as a main weapon since it does not nearly enough damage as some of the other weapon sets. Sword/Dagger could also use a buff since its damage is sub par to the other weapon sets and its utility does not make up for it.

For Rifle I was thinking something like this.
Snipe – (1 second cast time) Single target attack. (1200 range)(projectile finisher 20%)
Shiver Shot (from stealth) (projectile finished 20%) – Single target attack (deals x1.2 damage of snipe) with 3 second chill. (1200 range)
Safety Off – (4 initiative) (2 second channel) (Fire off 4 consecutive rounds dazing for .5 seconds on the last one). (1200 range) (projectile finished 20%)
Shrapnel Shot – (5 initiative) Shoot an explosive bullet at a location for small AOE damage and spreading caltrops for 5 seconds. (1200 range)
Hook Shot – (6 initiative) Pull your target towards you and strike them with a hidden dagger. (1200 range)
Mark for Death (7 initiative) – Set your sights on a target and let your teammates know who the target is, apply 10 stacks of invulnerability for 8 seconds. (1200 range)

It just feels kinda strange to be funneled into 1 weapon set choice if I want to be full ranged thief. An alternative would be nice that’s not shortbow since I still believe that with its utility and damage it falls into the category of a secondary weapon for situational use.

It really seems at least for dungeons we are funneled into Pistol/Pistol since its good ranged damage and you can stay away from the boss so you can see mechanics beter to avoid them. Dagger/Dagger is also decent if you go conditions while Sword/pistol is also not bad, but both melee builds are risky and some bosses make melee something you should just stay away from since a thieves survivability is pretty crappy. Sure we got lots of mobility and stealth, but one screw up and we go down instantly, while other melee classes can at least take a hit or always have a backup ability to save them. In WvW, melee just seems suicidal for a thief since all it takes to kill us is some aoe damage.

Only thing I see going wrong with adding another long range weapon to our arsenal is in sPvP where such range with all the stealth and mobility can be a hassle to deal with.

This is just what I think, feel free to share your opinion on it.

I don’t think that a Thief should become a ranger or get access to even more ways to keep his prey close.

My intention was to try add more ranged capabilities while not going the ranger path. A sniper style ranged weapon just feels like a thief to me. Nothing wrong with picking off a few targets from range in a stealthy manner before going in to finish the job as a melee. But I do see that ANET was trying to focus thief on close range combat, so i don’t expect thieves to ever get any new ranged weapons. If anything they will give us maces XD.

Plus the rifle abilities I listed were just some thing I came up from the top of my head. They can always be drastically changed to be more thief friendly in the eyes of ANET.

A thief has limited weapon choices? Have you ever looked at the ethos of the Engineer all its got is pistol rifle and shield .

Adine.2184:

A thief has limited weapon choices? Have you ever looked at the ethos of the Engineer all its got is pistol rifle and shield .

You guys also have Bomb Kit, Flamethrower, Elixir Gun, Grenade Kit, and Med Kit. That’s 5 other things you can use along side with your gun or pistols. Plus you have tool belt skills which are another 4 abilities in your arsenal.

I am not talking about in number of weapons I can use, but in the amount of actually usable weapon sets. Like Sword/Dagger is a cool idea, but its damage is terrible, while its utility does not make up for that at all. 2 cripples for a melee dps is pointless since cripple is meant to keep your opponent away, but if your in melee its pretty pointless.

Thieves should be able to use rifles for long-range sniping. With a range of 1500 units in at least one skill with long recharge.

MithranArkanere.8957:

Thieves should be able to use rifles for long-range sniping. With a range of 1500 units in at least one skill with long recharge.

Maybe even a scope mode just to be fancy =D.

Thieves shouldn’t even get bows. Be happy with your little knives and lurk elsewhere.

YES PLEASE! Thieves NEED more weapons and a rifle could be a good start although I’d like to see axe and mace added (even if it’s for main hand) as well as torch for off hand.

Heck I’d take kit mechanics such as; blowgun, crossbow, whip, ninja stars, rapier or anything else anet could dream up.

Mojo.2691:

YES PLEASE! Thieves NEED more weapons and a rifle could be a good start although I’d like to see axe and mace added (even if it’s for main hand) as well as torch for off hand.

Heck I’d take kit mechanics such as; blowgun, crossbow, whip, ninja stars, rapier or anything else anet could dream up.

Ninja Stars and Crossbow sound wonderful.

swilkers.5938:

Thieves shouldn’t even get bows. Be happy with your little knives and lurk elsewhere.

Why shouldn’t we get bows. Robin Hood was basically a thief and he did fine with a bow. Being a thief is all about being stealthy and being able to take targets out quietly. Nothing wrong with a well places Bow or Rifle Shot to do that.

Rifles are NOT stealthy . In fact rifles give away your position quite easily not just from the noise but the powder . Ever fire an 1858 Springfield ? No such thing as stealth when it comes to that thing . As much as i love the smell of Black Powder in the morning if I want to be sneaky I’m using a Bowie Knife

Silenced Rifle… There are rifle models in this game that don’t look like black powder guzzling monsters. But the majority of rifles in this game are loud and easy to spot so i’ll give you that. But longbows aren’t loud, so why not give us the option to use those.

swilkers.5938:

Thieves shouldn’t even get bows. Be happy with your little knives and lurk elsewhere.

First off, all professions have some form of range. Our shortbow is more utility and scary Aoe effects but low dmg to sum it up. I dont think we need range of a ranger necessarily but we do need a further range weapon set. Preferably, just fix shortbow thief skills (mainly our basic attack of doom aggro pull) and increase the range slightly or as a long ago post had, add Xbow and give thieves that as their “single target long range but slow attacks” weapon. ofc xbow can fit into other professions but for thief, nuff said.

sure I’ll concede the longbow, Although the classic longbow doesn’t seem like a thief’s first weapon of choice do to its size . When i think thief i think of weapons like Dirks, Short Swords , Short or recurve bows ,Saps, Deringers maybe a buckler for defense that kind of thing

Adine.2184:

sure I’ll concede the longbow, Although the classic longbow doesn’t seem like a thief’s first weapon of choice do to its size . When i think thief i think of weapons like Dirks, Short Swords , Short or recurve bows ,Saps, Deringers maybe a buckler for defense that kind of thing

I’ve often wondered if the Thief profession could get away with a weapon augmentation. You could do this with a few different weapons to diversify the their weapon palette but stay true to a thief’s nature.

By augmentation I’m meaning that they would equip a particular weapon but it would look and function like;

• Long Bow = Crossbow
• Rifle = Blow Gun
• Mace = Sap
• Greatsword = Whip
• Axe = Throwing Stars

This way anet wouldn’t have to add new weapons for them and they don’t need to borrow from engy’s kits or ele’s conjures.

Down side is there wouldn’t be any new weapon textures… unless every 10 levels they got a nicer looking replacement but still there wouldn’t be any choice on what it looked like.

Freed.5284:

You guys also have Bomb Kit, Flamethrower, Elixir Gun, Grenade Kit, and Med Kit. That’s 5 other things you can use along side with your gun or pistols. Plus you have tool belt skills which are another 4 abilities in your arsenal.

I am not talking about in number of weapons I can use, but in the amount of actually usable weapon sets.

No offense, but as an engineer, this made me laugh

Edit: To head off any untoward remarks—in PvE, Grenade Kit is good, Flamethrower is okay, bomb is… not advised… and the rest are either junk or not weapons. As a bonus, the Rifle is almost entirely CC, so it barely counts as a weapon either. In PvP, the previously mentioned kits are all pretty bad against players who can actually dodge, though in exchange the Elixer gun gets some love as support and conditions.

Lol, no offense but as an MMO player, you made me laugh

This thread isn’t about engineers. I’m not sure if you’re new to MMO games or not but I will ensure you that developers do not want underwhelming archtypes. Things will change (sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse) but throughout the life of an MMO there will be many highs and lows for the different professions.

Engys need some changes as well but imo thieves need a few more weapon choices.

Mojo.2691:

Lol, no offense but as an MMO player, you made me laugh

This thread isn’t about engineers. I’m not sure if you’re new to MMO games or not but I will ensure you that developers do not want underwhelming archtypes. Things will change (sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse) but throughout the life of an MMO there will be many highs and lows for the different professions.

Engys need some changes as well but imo thieves need a few more weapon choices.

Not new, nope—and sorry, I wasn’t going to post a big long thing explaining what I meant by I figured it would be worse if a bunch of people responded to take issue :P