Guild Wars 2

TLDR: How would you feel if traits also affected the way weapons functioned? If traits changed some or all weapon skills all together? If traits repurposed a weapon for a different role?

Traits provide the unique opportunity for our characters to specialize and define their focus. Wouldn’t it be more rewarding if they evolved one more step and changed weapon skills too?

I mostly main a Mesmer and currently I am using the same weapon skills I’ve used since I unlocked them at ~ level 5 (Pre NPE). It would be awesome if my trait choices affected more than the cooldown or effectiveness of these skills and actually change the skills entirely!

By that, I mean a Mesmer traited in Dueling (depending on the trait) could have (a few or all) of their sword skills changed because of that specialization. What would be even more interesting is a Dueling traited Mesmer can now use their greatsword in a more ‘in your face’ way! Imagine if you could trait to use your greatsword in melee (to keep with the dueling theme) and a few of the other skills changed as well! It would give characters a way to feel the effects of their traits on their playstyle even more.

I made this post because I feel a bit constricted after playing with the same weapon skills since launch. While I’m not saying this is a bad thing, I’m thinking there are small tweaks that can be made to reduce the staleness. Also, since traits have a huge effect on builds why not have that effect show physically in different skills?

Which leads to another point. I want the ability to choose my playstyle. If I love to use staves right now they only have a proper place in certain encounters/content. But if I could trait into making them effective in different scenarios I think that subtle variety would give the freedom that a lot of players desire.

I also understand things are easier said than done, especially when you talk about balancing. So don’t think I take this aspect for granted. Obviously I love this game, and I don’t think the number of skills is directly related to the constricting feeling (I felt constricted in GW1 at times). I think the feeling is more tied to the lack of variety (weapon choice and utilities in some cases) within roles.

Chooseable weapon skills are a nice idea and something I’d support, but I wouldn’t want them tied to traits.

To use your example, what if I love the current Mesmer Greatsword just the way it is (I do, one of my favorite skill sets in the game) but also want to trait into Duelling for useful stuff like Deceptive Evasion. My choices in that scenario would be to either ditch the Duelling line in order to keep my Greatsword as-is, or keep those useful traits and get stuck with a changed skillset I don’t really want.

Well in that scenario it’d be a specific trait that changed the skill(s). So you’d skip that trait if you wanted to keep the same skills.

Many of us have wanted to be able to have at least one alternate skill per slot for each weapon. It’s a difficult thing to make happen, it’s a very difficult thing to balance. I for one think it would be an incredibly worthwhile thing for them to do.

I don’t know if I’m a fan of requiring traits, or even points in trait lines, as the key to unlocking those extra skills. I also would want to be sure that at all times the use of one or the other available skill/s is entirely user directed and never forced because of some build specification.

Too much chance for power creep.

Bran.7425:

Too much chance for power creep.

That’s not really a productive answer. In what way is your assertion the case? What part of the suggestion is specifically at fault?

I also play a mesmer (along with every other class). Ive never really had a moment where I thought “Gee, Im tired of these weapon skills”. Instead of re-inventing the wheel, I would rather Anet come up with new stuff. Im quite happy with all the classes and abilities. Much rather see their creative energies being used for something new. Im not disgruntled mind you. I do love the game.

Are new weapon skills for preexisting weapons not still something new? I also have at least one of every class, and aside from elementalist I enjoy them all and for each have found a combination of weapon sets, even multiple combinations that I’m comfortable with and enjoy the skills for. But having the option to swap out some of those skills would still be a good thing.

On your other point, ANet also have multiple teams of development groups each working on different things at the same time. So having one of those teams working on extra skills wouldn’t interfere with their ability to also have other teams working on other new things for us. It isn’t all or nothing.

I wouldent say you should be able to swap out some of those skills, rather have a diffrent set of 5 you can chose bettwen have the ranged gs or the melee one for example not mix and match what ever you want.

That way the balance would still be there and all that anet would have to do was add 5/3 or less new skills to said weapon (depending on 1her or 2her or thief class for example)…. I for one would love the same thing on ranger sword to get rid of the nasty stick to enemy attack

Linken.6345:

I wouldent say you should be able to swap out some of those skills, rather have a diffrent set of 5 you can chose bettwen have the ranged gs or the melee one for example not mix and match what ever you want.

That way the balance would still be there and all that anet would have to do was add 5/3 or less new skills to said weapon (depending on 1her or 2her or thief class for example)…. I for one would love the same thing on ranger sword to get rid of the nasty stick to enemy attack

That’s a reasonable compromise. While I would like to mix and match, having one or the other wouldn’t be unacceptable, as long as the new set was well done.

Kal Spiro.9745:

Linken.6345:

I wouldent say you should be able to swap out some of those skills, rather have a diffrent set of 5 you can chose bettwen have the ranged gs or the melee one for example not mix and match what ever you want.

That way the balance would still be there and all that anet would have to do was add 5/3 or less new skills to said weapon (depending on 1her or 2her or thief class for example)…. I for one would love the same thing on ranger sword to get rid of the nasty stick to enemy attack

That’s a reasonable compromise. While I would like to mix and match, having one or the other wouldn’t be unacceptable, as long as the new set was well done.

I like that idea as well. The main thing I’d like to see changed is situations like the Guardian’s sword. The auto-attack is the best dps and 2/3 are situational. Giving the option of a different playstyle with the weapon would be wonderful.

I don’t believe options are a bad thing in regards to having additional weapon skills to choose from, though I’d also be less inclined to see them tied to traits. As a couple of folks have mentioned, using the same skills for the same chars for the past 2.5 years (give or take a month or two) does get a bit stale.

My original reason for tying them to traits was so it could increase the viabilty of more builds. If Anet just gives more weapon skills to professions I fear that one set of skills will become more desirable and people will still feel constricted because the meta will dictate instead of the player being viable with both.

maybe add a new special " insignia" slot in the weapon.

Lets call it enchantment.

my dagger has bloodlust insignia and a “phantom” enchantment. it allows my daggers to be slightly transparent during the night,and 50% on crit it has a chance to summon a ghostly dagger that floats around like a mesmer phantasm and hits the target that got crited for 2 time before dissapearing