Guild Wars 2

This is going to sound like a big change, but I really think that if Anet changed this, it would be hard to imagine it being any other way.

In order to increase the viability of diverse builds for every single class in the game, and to de-emphasize the requirement that classes play melee and close ranged builds…

Anet should remove boon range in Dungeons only. All 5 party members will receive all boons as if they are in melee range. Alternatively, they could just make the range huge for dungeon content.

Why?

I’ll use Rangers as an example. Anet buffed Longbow last patch, so I assume they want players to be using it.

Let’s assume rangers and GS/axe+mace warriors do identical damage. That is obviously not the case.

The group is 3 Warriors, 1 ele, 1 Longbow ranger.

The ranger is pewpewing away.

The warriors are using FGJ. The Elementalist is using Scepter/dagger and stacking might.

And the Ranger is getting none of those buffs.

Assuming 2500 power, the ranger is losing out on 35% damage from Might, and 10-20% damage from fury.

A Longbow that does identical damage to Warriors actually does 45-55% less damage.

As long as boons remain location-based, ranged weapons like the Longbow can never be viable, and all players are forced to remain in melee range.

Some players are going to say: Ranged is easier, it should be less damage. Well, it already is, by a ton. Ranger sword does 26% more damage than Longbow, everything else being equal.

Boons would just make more ranged weapons and more builds viable; it wouldn’t necessarily make them equal.

Dungeons Forum Thread:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/dungeons/Revamp-Boon-Range-for-DUNGEONS/first#post2318138

Reddit Thread:
http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/1hc19f/suggestion_revamp_boon_range_for_dungeon_content/

Hamartia.3421:

The group is 3 Warriors, 1 ele, 1 Longbow ranger.

thares the problem; why cant the ranger switch to the superior melee option? thats like having a guard who only uses scepter; its stupid

- your pet will be getting buffs anyway (unless you’re using a ranged pet as well? in which case… you’re playing really really wrong)
- you could rapid fire and walk into buff range when you see the ele pop ring of fire

Linguistically Inept.6583:

Hamartia.3421:

The group is 3 Warriors, 1 ele, 1 Longbow ranger.

thares the problem; why cant the ranger switch to the superior melee option? thats like having a guard who only uses scepter; its stupid

- your pet will be getting buffs anyway (unless you’re using a ranged pet as well? in which case… you’re playing really really wrong)
- you could rapid fire and walk into buff range when you see the ele pop ring of fire

I think I addressed that in the original post.

But to re-iterate: this suggestion wouldn’t make longbow as good as melee. It would still do much less damage… as would Guardian scepter.

It would just make them somewhat more viable, which is Anet’s stated goal.

Of course there are things one can do to mitigate the situation so that you are getting some of the boons, but it will never be as good and this game has really been moving towards a, what I believe to be unintended meta where everything is basically stacking with no ranged.