Guild Wars 2

We can for now call it a “Ritualist” or perhaps “Shifter.”

“Shiftualist” because it is extremely different than gw1 ritualist but retains some of the mystic themes and ideas. It would actually be a new “soldier” class although more ritualistic and primal themes such as the ritualist while being tanky.

The shiftualist uses mystic magic or rituals to transform into different creatures, races or “otherwordely” spirits. It’s looks and armor are very primal or druidic and can take on light or dark tones according to how you trait, although unlike nornish druids, “natural” animals arent’ implemented. It would actually be a cool expansion with Tengu race as the armor would work.

The main mechanics are “shifts,” which are much alike the attunments of Elementalists. Unlike the attunements of elementalists the shifts will accordingly turn you into different creatures that have different viable strengths. Also like the elementalist, the shiftualist is unable to weapon swap but main weapons available are staff, shield, or maybe even a whip is implemented. All the weapons would change the the shift ability mechanics like the elementalist.

Some ideas of shifts mechanics:

The different f skills are tied directly to your trait lines and unlike attunements can change through unlocking different traits (specifically new creatures or transformations are unlocked with progression of trait lines). Each shift will offer different default transformations before expanding on trait lines, and will also offer different viable strengths and weaknesses.

F1 and corresponding trait line Shift is “Beastiology” or perhaps “Monsterology.”
With this shift players can turn into a variety of beasts or creatures collected through trait line Beastiology. Some examples might be Minotaurs, Harpys, Wurms, or Devourers, Karka etc. This shift is tanky with more power oriented traits.

F2 and trait line is “Mimic.” This shift and trait line explores the lesser races of Tyria such as perhaps Skritt, Quaggan, Ogres, Krait, and perhaps Dredge. In this shift, players can mimic different lesser races of Tyria and are more about strategy and precission based although still being considered tanky and melee.

F3 and trait line is “Mystic” and actually and has no transformatinos but allows spawnable otherworldly spirits to be called upon through abilities to boon or condition enemies, and also heal yourself and allies.

F4 trait line is perhaps “Dark Ritualist” and transforms the player into demonic otherworldly spirits that are still tanky with a focus on aoe damage.

F5 trait line is “Ritualist” and transforms players into Healing otherworldly spirits that are tanky but with aoe heals.

So all of these can be switched or “shifted” to according to f skills, but are tied to how you set it up in your trait lines which will determine what things you can do or transform into.

The profession is the extreme magic based “soldier” archetype being more magical than the guardian but less tankier than the warrior. It would be a ritualistic tanky or shamanic , almost barbaric type melee class using magic to transform. So instead of the “knight” armor, it is more barbarian or mystic type imagery that sets it apart—or the form you are in.

Now we have symmetry as we have our third soldier profession that acts as a “tankier” class albiet an extreme magic user but with the least ammount of armor or weapon choices. We also fill a “druid” archetype, but without using just “animals” such as norns or traditional druid tropes. We fill in a niche for a combat or fighting with “hands” type trope which would be determined by the form your were in—this also solves the problem of focusing on armor on creatures for players that would rather transform than wear armor. And it also could be full of ritualist themes implemented, but instead of calling upon spawns mostly the rituals are transformation based. Another thing it does is to solve the demand for any new races or professions in one go, as players that really want to play a quaggan can trait to do so.

Anyone that actually read any of this, please expound with ideas or critiques on this idea!

I read it and it seems very interesting concept, I don’t have anything yet to critique our comment, but reserve the right to do so after it soaks in.

Neat Idea

I think that those shapeshifts should work more like engineers toolbelt than elementalists attunements, what I mean is that you put forms you want to use on utility slots and also they give you additional effect if not used, like boon or something like that ;p In this case you will be able of having 3utility slot shifts+healing form+ elite form, which means lots of skillz to use and master

That is a good idea too shine. I was thinking with attunements you could switch between while in combat to get new abilities. perhaps utilities are then tied to traits and not f skills. this way your f skills or abilities could act accordingly. Instead of tool belt it could be like a “belt of shrunken heads” or something. Each head you collect giving you different abilities lol.
Elite forms could go in many directions. Imagine turning into a giant karka, or wurm would be neat.