This is a two-part suggestion.
1. Swiftness needs to change.
2. All classes need access to +25% movement speed without extraordinary limitations.
(Read the longer reasons for justification below at the bottom)
1. Swiftness should have its duration substantially reduced. Instead of providing a +33% movement speed increase (which is barely noticeable while in combat), it instead gives a short-duration burst of speed, +75% at least. The durations will rival that of ‘Haste/Quickness’, making this a fully-functional combat buff that can be adequately taken advantage of by the more spry classes.
2. For Guardian, Warrior & Mesmer, I would suggest adding a signet or altering a current signet to allow for this passive. For Engineers – since they have no signets, I would suggest at least providing a low-level accessible +25% movement trait similar to the ‘One With Air’ that Elementalists get. “for every 5 second out of combat, gain +5% movement speed. Caps at 25%” Good enough for now.
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1. Justification for #1, long-story:
Now hear me out on this. Right now most classes have access to +25% movement speed. Swiftness is just 33%, which is 8% faster than the passive. That is not noticeable, and most people with 25% do not strive to use/access swiftness unless they are in a zerging situation.
For my suggested change, I would like to reference a similar, more noticeable ‘kin’ to Swiftness, the boon ‘Quickness’. It used to double action speed, but now is only +50%. My recommendation to swiftness is this; Swiftness is now +75% movement speed. Duration is substantially decreased. Example: Instead of ‘Retreat’ granting 20s of Swiftness, it will now grant 6 seconds. This will make Swiftness a much more noticeable combat boon, not just some half- kitten d attempt at navigating a map slightly faster. This will also mean players are more likely to conserve their Swiftness for combat usage, and an actual advantage to use in combat. It will also enhance the play-style of classes that do traditionally less damage, but focus more on defense (such as Acrobatics Thieves).
2. Justification for #2, long-story:
Right now there are a few classes inconvenienced by their limited mobility.
1. Mesmer: Has no passive movement speed increase aside from one that requires the player to have 3 illusions out. This is nonsensical in its current implementation due to the fact that combat movement speed and combat movement actions (backpeddling, strafing) make the +30% (read: Almost Swiftness) relatively unnoticeable. Also, they do not have access to this movement speed outside of combat.
2. Engineer: Passive movement speed increase either requires specific traits for kit-swapping (does not work for non-kit engi’s), or for them to be in combat (see above about how pointless this is).
3. Guardian: No passive movement speed increase.
4. Warrior: Only while wielding melee. Not the hardest trait to get, but it does not have the capacity to cater to all warriors.
I think its important to note these classes, as 2 of them are the least played classes in the game, and often get complaints that say it is due to their poor mobility (1 & 2). I believe all classes should have access to +25% movement speed, at the cost of a utility slot, if they so choose.
Thanks for reading!
-LoreChief