Guild Wars 2

This has always been something that has bugged me about this game. Why don’t we have more skills that can replace the ones on our 1-5. Is it because of balancing issues? I think that was the idea, but clearly we are having problems with balance at this moment so it is not working.

My suggestion is to add more skills on the 1-5 for all classes in all weapon sets. I’d maybe opt out for the auto attack 1, but I am sure there are some cool ideas that could be put there. Perhaps these skills could be unlocked through the trait lines that a player decides to go down.

The reason for not having more 1-5 skills is indeed a balancing problem. Adding more skills will only make things more complicated.

mercury ranique.2170:

The reason for not having more 1-5 skills is indeed a balancing problem. Adding more skills will only make things more complicated.

I know this, as I did state it. But nobody will argue that there are balancing issues with this game, and ones that exist because of the buttons on 1-5. If the system was designed to create balance and has clearly failed then why not try a new avenue.

mercury ranique.2170:

The reason for not having more 1-5 skills is indeed a balancing problem. Adding more skills will only make things more complicated.

More complicated in WvW and sPvP, yes, but why do PvE (open world as well as ‘dungeon’) players have to suffer from this same imposed limitation on skills? PvP modes and PvE should be completely separate. When a change is made in the name of ‘balance’ to PvP modes, why are such changes to traits, utility skills, and weapon skills also forced onto PvE players?

Hosen.6801:

mercury ranique.2170:

The reason for not having more 1-5 skills is indeed a balancing problem. Adding more skills will only make things more complicated.

I know this, as I did state it. But nobody will argue that there are balancing issues with this game, and ones that exist because of the buttons on 1-5. If the system was designed to create balance and has clearly failed then why not try a new avenue.

Imagine how much more it will fail. It is a mess allready and you want to mess it up more??!!

mercury ranique.2170:

Hosen.6801:

mercury ranique.2170:

The reason for not having more 1-5 skills is indeed a balancing problem. Adding more skills will only make things more complicated.

I know this, as I did state it. But nobody will argue that there are balancing issues with this game, and ones that exist because of the buttons on 1-5. If the system was designed to create balance and has clearly failed then why not try a new avenue.

Imagine how much more it will fail. It is a mess allready and you want to mess it up more??!!

You are assuming that adding more 1-5 would fail before the idea has even been discussed.

Question for you.
Are there traits already in this game that are better for PVP then PVE?
Are there utility skills that you find more useful in PVP then PVE?
Are there existing 1-5 buttons you find more useful in PVP then PVE?

I think balance could come easier if we acquired better skills the fit the roles we wanted to play that could be interchanged with 1-5.

At the very least I think this topic deserved SOME thought.

I agree… i am not saying i need 50 skills to choose from but for each weapon maybe a few alternate skills. Maybe someone doesn’t want to spin around with axe skill number 5 ..would it be so much trouble to add another type of “chop”?

There are 30 twohand weapons, and 44 one hand (main and offhand; counting those that can be main AND offhand twice, eg. warrior sword) weapons across all classes. Add to that the 3 skill between thief sets; engi kits; and the fact that all ele weapons have to by multiplied by four because of their four attunements.

Just adding only one alternate skill to each of these would be a ridiculously massive and time consuming task. Balancing them all would be something else entirely.

New weapon sets would achieve this as well

while it may seem like a daunting task…..all we can do is ask and let areanet decide if its too much for them or if its achieveable task. Worst response would be a “no” and that means we havent lost anything. All you can do from asking is gain. Its not like thier going to get mad and take weapon skills away

Hosen.6801:

This has always been something that has bugged me about this game. Why don’t we have more skills that can replace the ones on our 1-5. Is it because of balancing issues? I think that was the idea, but clearly we are having problems with balance at this moment so it is not working.

My suggestion is to add more skills on the 1-5 for all classes in all weapon sets. I’d maybe opt out for the auto attack 1, but I am sure there are some cool ideas that could be put there. Perhaps these skills could be unlocked through the trait lines that a player decides to go down.

Not sure if you are just asking for putting skills into the skills we already got/upgrading them?
If that is the case, it would be boring, pvp/pve wise i like we have so few skills that is basecly almost all worth alot. Beside that, you can always go to ele which got around 20 skills – the traits. And I like this, the other mmo´s with treelines etc is just to annoying, since it will only go down to around 2-3 skilltrees, everything else will be almost worthless. PvP/PvE and maybe WvW. (proves on that is in every other mmo)

I suppose one way to lessen how (possibly) taxing adding a new, alternative skill to each weapon skill available would be for ArenaNet developers, is to have Weapon Skill #5 be the only skill to have an alternative, at least for quite a while. That sounds to me like a nice way to add a touch of variation to weapon mechanics for classes while also not being too demanding on a balancing requirement; especially if the alternative is an existing skill for the same weapon from a different class.

Like:
Ranger – Short Bow – Weapon Skill #5: Concussion Shot
(Daze your foe with an arrow. Stun them if you hit from behind or from the side)

Alternative form could be:
Thief – Short Bow – Weapon Skill #4; Choking Gas.
(Fire an arrow that fills the target area with a poisonous cloud)

Or:
Guardian – Greatsword – Weapon Skill #5; Binding Blade
(Throw blades at your foes, causing damage over time. Bound foes can be pulled to you. The effect ends when a foe moves out of range)

Alternative form could be:
Ranger – Greatsword – Weapon Skill #4; Counterattack
(Block and counter an attack with a kick that pushes foes back)
This one would be of especially good use for guardians using greatsword, I feel, as it would blend so well with the existing greatsword weapon skills of this class.

Adding an already familiar skill to being available to replace Weapon Skill #5 for another class would add just a touch of needed variation and freshness to builds in all modes of gameplay, while also not taxing developers on creation and (as many) balancing issues that may be a result of a full spectrum of alternative weapon skills across all classes.

How about we let them finish fixing/polishing the game first. I don’t think very many players – especially the ones on the forums – think about how hard it is to balance a game this big. I do like StinVecs idea of being able to switch out #5 though. I would like to add to their idea and make it where you had to capture the skill like you did for elites in GW1.

Terrible idea. You’ll have more skills when an expansion is released which will probably provide more weapon choices for each profession. Before then, there’s more important work that needs to be done on this game.

Something more like GW1 where you have a pool of available skills per weapon to learn, earn and equip would be very nice IMHO;

As to balance; how about stopping punishing people for being successful Dev’s ; I largely play an ele, I like a ranged toon, Im so glad they tweeked metor storm makes the most visually awesome skill in the game actually useful; but I have no jealosy for Zerker Wars if thats the best build; let people play it; dont punish players for finding the best possible builds.

For what to chase willo the Wisp you’ll never catch? Really just let us play!