Guild Wars 2

1) The name.

“Chronomancer” is a name with some GW1 history. It also alludes at some of the abilities the Mesmers have today, showing how the specialization is a refinement of the currently existing profession.

Dragonhunter, in other hand, is a joke. All our characters are Dragon hunters. One could say, “but all our characters are defending something, so we’re all guardians too!”, but the thing is: the Guardian is more focused and more suited for defense, and actually guarding something, than the other professions. The Dragonhunter, in other hand, is as suited to killing dragons as everyone else.

It’s obvious ArenaNet originally planned on calling the specialization just “Hunter”, but gave up when they realize how that name makes obvious how much of a ranger rip off the “Dragonhunter” really is.

2) The Chronomancer gets new abilities, such as alacrity and the new F5 skill, but they don’t replace anything. The Chronomancer only adds abilities to the mesmers, instead of removing them.

Meanwhile, the Hunter’s virtues actually replace the existing ones. The passive effects will be kept the same, but a Hunter loses the Justice active effect Guardians have, with said effect being replaced by the new ones. Which means, the Hunter doesn’t really add anything to the Guardian, only replaces things.

3) The Chronomancer is not a necromancer. They get access to wells, sure, but a “well” is something very vaguely defined in the game. Is a well an area of effect skill that pulsates? Arguably, that would mean Null Field (which happens to be a Mesmer skill) is a well too.

Plus, the Chronomancer’s wells aren’t the same as the necromancer wells – they have been adapted into the Chronomancer’s theme, with unique effects that keep it obvious the specialization is its own entity.

Meanwhile, Hunters are just Rangers rip offs. The bow, by itself, doesn’t mean anything; but even the announcement video shows how the Hunter is similar to the Ranger, down to having a skill that looks almost exactly like Barrage. Traps also happen to be a Ranger skill type, and not only one that is far from being popular, but also one that is about to be nerfed (traps will need a delay after being placed before they trigger).

4) In the end, the main difference between Chronomancers and Hunters is: Chronomancers are a great, well designed specialization that fit within the Mesmer lore and help to refine the profession. Hunters are a big piece of multiple kittens, and shouldn’t be anywhere close to being associated to Guardians.

Did everyone collectively forget that Thief also has traps?

on topic: I agree that Dragonhunter isn’t as great a name that they could’ve given it. But that aside, it seems to bring interesting things to profession. I’m no Guardian expert but the way that they use longbow is certainly different from what Rangers do with it.

The skill that resembles the ranger skill also happens to resemble one of the Ice Bow’s skills. So. Dunno about it being a ranger rip off.

Personally I don’t think Guardian is doing anything in the realm of stealing too much from Ranger, and I look forward to learning more about it than just this initial cursory glance.

You’re complaining about the virtue actives? From what they showed us so far, the new virtue active effects are superior to the ones we currently have.

Also, we do not have enough information about 3 of the weapon skills, the utility skills, the elite skill, or the trait line to even remotely claim that this is a rip-off of the Ranger. There seems to be a good bit different from these classes from that video.

However, we’ll find out tomorrow exactly how different they are. Don’t go gettin’ your panties in a bunch when they haven’t even released all the information yet.

MiniEquine.6014:

You’re complaining about the virtue actives? From what they showed us so far, the new virtue active effects are superior to the ones we currently have.

Irrelevant. Doesn’t matter if they’re better or worse, it’s bad design to replace what the profession has instead of adding to it. Unlike the Chronomancer’s new mechanics, which add to the mesmer, instead of replacing what it can do.

Test.8734:

1) The name.

“Chronomancer” is a name with some GW1 history. It also alludes at some of the abilities the Mesmers have today, showing how the specialization is a refinement of the currently existing profession.

Dragonhunter, in other hand, is a joke. All our characters are Dragon hunters. One could say, “but all our characters are defending something, so we’re all guardians too!”, but the thing is: the Guardian is more focused and more suited for defense, and actually guarding something, than the other professions. The Dragonhunter, in other hand, is as suited to killing dragons as everyone else.

It’s obvious ArenaNet originally planned on calling the specialization just “Hunter”, but gave up when they realize how that name makes obvious how much of a ranger rip off the “Dragonhunter” really is.

2) The Chronomancer gets new abilities, such as alacrity and the new F5 skill, but they don’t replace anything. The Chronomancer only adds abilities to the mesmers, instead of removing them.

Meanwhile, the Hunter’s virtues actually replace the existing ones. The passive effects will be kept the same, but a Hunter loses the Justice active effect Guardians have, with said effect being replaced by the new ones. Which means, the Hunter doesn’t really add anything to the Guardian, only replaces things.

3) The Chronomancer is not a necromancer. They get access to wells, sure, but a “well” is something very vaguely defined in the game. Is a well an area of effect skill that pulsates? Arguably, that would mean Null Field (which happens to be a Mesmer skill) is a well too.

Plus, the Chronomancer’s wells aren’t the same as the necromancer wells – they have been adapted into the Chronomancer’s theme, with unique effects that keep it obvious the specialization is its own entity.

Meanwhile, Hunters are just Rangers rip offs. The bow, by itself, doesn’t mean anything; but even the announcement video shows how the Hunter is similar to the Ranger, down to having a skill that looks almost exactly like Barrage. Traps also happen to be a Ranger skill type, and not only one that is far from being popular, but also one that is about to be nerfed (traps will need a delay after being placed before they trigger).

4) In the end, the main difference between Chronomancers and Hunters is: Chronomancers are a great, well designed specialization that fit within the Mesmer lore and help to refine the profession. Hunters are a big piece of multiple kittens, and shouldn’t be anywhere close to being associated to Guardians.

You’re being inconsistent. The same things that you praised chronomancer for are the same things that you criticized about dragon hunter. You attempted to defend chronomancer’s “wells” by stating they’re different but someone can easily do the same about dragon hunter traps for example.

Thematically, the guardian is well-suited for hunting dragons.
“More suited for defense” is a joke because when it comes to taking out hulkingly big lizards with bad breath, defense is literally the most important thing.
Whether the traps are up for the task, I will decide, once I see them in detail.

Test.8734:

MiniEquine.6014:

You’re complaining about the virtue actives? From what they showed us so far, the new virtue active effects are superior to the ones we currently have.

Irrelevant. Doesn’t matter if they’re better or worse, it’s bad design to replace what the profession has instead of adding to it. Unlike the Chronomancer’s new mechanics, which add to the mesmer, instead of replacing what it can do.

Well Anet has already stated multiple times that some are getting new stuff, while others are getting current mechanics changed.

Name fits.

Kralkatorrik would have died if the Dragonhunter wouldn’t have run off to see his girlfriend.

Are we really comparing the elite specializations between:

- a current class that is near mandatory or very, VERY sought after in group content: the guardian

versus

- an okay support class that gets taken along if nothing better is found (support ele, thief, warrior, guardian)?

If anet area any where serious about breaking up the meta, it should be almost a given that weaker, less sought after classes get more desirable reworks or additions. Also just as with the chronomancer, the new guardian elite specialization opens up new play opportunities for guardians and focuses on an aspect currently lacking with the class, ranged combat.

I’d say, wait and see.

Test.8734:

2) The Chronomancer gets new abilities, such as alacrity and the new F5 skill, but they don’t replace anything. The Chronomancer only adds abilities to the mesmers, instead of removing them.

Meanwhile, the Hunter’s virtues actually replace the existing ones. The passive effects will be kept the same, but a Hunter loses the Justice active effect Guardians have, with said effect being replaced by the new ones. Which means, the Hunter doesn’t really add anything to the Guardian, only replaces things.

We knew this would be the case with some professions:

You actually play the profession differently, not just in skills and traits, but in the core mechanics of those professions. Some of them will change an existing profession, some of them might give them entirely new profession abilities and remove other ones. It really varies specialisation to specialisation, but it really should feel like you are playing a new version of your old profession.

I’m personally not seeing the issue. You make a choice between passively activating your virtues an granting an effect without worrying about placement or choosing virtues that provide a stronger effect (continuous personal burning vs one application of burning for 5 others, perma shield for x seconds vs 1 application of Aegis, area heal vs movement ability and area heal).

As for not adding anything, you forgetting about the additional skills, weapon and traits that could potentially synergise with current builds?

Test.8734:

3) The Chronomancer is not a necromancer. They get access to wells, sure, but a “well” is something very vaguely defined in the game. Is a well an area of effect skill that pulsates? Arguably, that would mean Null Field (which happens to be a Mesmer skill) is a well too.

Plus, the Chronomancer’s wells aren’t the same as the necromancer wells – they have been adapted into the Chronomancer’s theme, with unique effects that keep it obvious the specialization is its own entity.

Meanwhile, Hunters are just Rangers rip offs. The bow, by itself, doesn’t mean anything; but even the announcement video shows how the Hunter is similar to the Ranger, down to having a skill that looks almost exactly like Barrage. Traps also happen to be a Ranger skill type, and not only one that is far from being popular, but also one that is about to be nerfed (traps will need a delay after being placed before they trigger).

That barrage-looking skill looks to be a Ward.

As for Traps:

• you seem to be forgetting traps aren’t exclusive to Rangers, since Thieves have them too.
• We don’t know if trap effects are going to work after the arming times are added.
• We don’t know the Dragonhunter’s trap effects at the moment. Much like how Wells were adapted to fit the Chronomancer, these traps could quite easily be adapted to fit the Guardian theme.

The dragon hunter just seems odd. It does not seem to complment the class like the mesmer specialization does, instead changes its roll from a frontliner to a backliner. It doesn’t seem to fit. Makes me worried they are going to give warriors scepter or something and call them a Paladin.

Cyninja.2954:

Are we really comparing the elite specializations between:

- a current class that is near mandatory or very, VERY sought after in group content: the guardian

versus

- an okay support class that gets taken along if nothing better is found (support ele, thief, warrior, guardian)?

If anet area any where serious about breaking up the meta, it should be almost a given that weaker, less sought after classes get more desirable reworks or additions. Also just as with the chronomancer, the new guardian elite specialization opens up new play opportunities for guardians and focuses on an aspect currently lacking with the class, ranged combat.

I’d say, wait and see.

no it doesn’t? It turns them into backline support. They get traps… which are the opposite of ranged combat. And their bow seems to basically be a support machine. So it isn’t even a ranged combat weapon it is a ranged backline support weapon.

Dinks.2478:

Cyninja.2954:

Are we really comparing the elite specializations between:

- a current class that is near mandatory or very, VERY sought after in group content: the guardian

versus

- an okay support class that gets taken along if nothing better is found (support ele, thief, warrior, guardian)?

If anet area any where serious about breaking up the meta, it should be almost a given that weaker, less sought after classes get more desirable reworks or additions. Also just as with the chronomancer, the new guardian elite specialization opens up new play opportunities for guardians and focuses on an aspect currently lacking with the class, ranged combat.

I’d say, wait and see.

no it doesn’t? It turns them into backline support. They get traps… which are the opposite of ranged combat. And their bow seems to basically be a support machine. So it isn’t even a ranged combat weapon it is a ranged backline support weapon.

They can use it as a secondary weapon to support their team. Nowhere did the blog state that it’s effectiveness is determined by range so this means that it can be used in melee. We don’t have enough information available yet to determine what the build will be like.

Test.8734:

MiniEquine.6014:

You’re complaining about the virtue actives? From what they showed us so far, the new virtue active effects are superior to the ones we currently have.

Irrelevant. Doesn’t matter if they’re better or worse, it’s bad design to replace what the profession has instead of adding to it. Unlike the Chronomancer’s new mechanics, which add to the mesmer, instead of replacing what it can do.

I’m sorry, who are you to be decided what is or isn’t good game design? Though the name is pretty lame, think we can all agree on that, we really don’t know enough about the Dragonhunter to be crying about it yet.

On a side note, thank god I play Engineer. Our Specialization is going to rock!

But….But… Mesmers only got an off-hand weapon. So clearly this new 2 handed specialization is better.

On a serious note, I may consider rerolling to guardian if this spec looks cool. I like the idea of a mobile range trapper, but found rangers get boring eventually. (Since I love playing burst in pvp and ranger burst is boring, compared to thief, mes, ele, engie (these are my only classes))

Dinks.2478:

Cyninja.2954:

Are we really comparing the elite specializations between:

- a current class that is near mandatory or very, VERY sought after in group content: the guardian

versus

- an okay support class that gets taken along if nothing better is found (support ele, thief, warrior, guardian)?

If anet area any where serious about breaking up the meta, it should be almost a given that weaker, less sought after classes get more desirable reworks or additions. Also just as with the chronomancer, the new guardian elite specialization opens up new play opportunities for guardians and focuses on an aspect currently lacking with the class, ranged combat.

I’d say, wait and see.

no it doesn’t? It turns them into backline support. They get traps… which are the opposite of ranged combat. And their bow seems to basically be a support machine. So it isn’t even a ranged combat weapon it is a ranged backline support weapon.

So they get more focus on backline support and traps. How is that not adding something to the guardians repertoire?

Not counting the other arguments made, especially the one about guardians being the end-all of wanted classes atm.

Cyninja.2954:

Dinks.2478:

Cyninja.2954:

Are we really comparing the elite specializations between:

- a current class that is near mandatory or very, VERY sought after in group content: the guardian

versus

- an okay support class that gets taken along if nothing better is found (support ele, thief, warrior, guardian)?

If anet area any where serious about breaking up the meta, it should be almost a given that weaker, less sought after classes get more desirable reworks or additions. Also just as with the chronomancer, the new guardian elite specialization opens up new play opportunities for guardians and focuses on an aspect currently lacking with the class, ranged combat.

I’d say, wait and see.

no it doesn’t? It turns them into backline support. They get traps… which are the opposite of ranged combat. And their bow seems to basically be a support machine. So it isn’t even a ranged combat weapon it is a ranged backline support weapon.

So they get more focus on backline support and traps. How is that not adding something to the guardians repertoire?

Not counting the other arguments made, especially the one about guardians being the end-all of wanted classes atm.

Guardians needed a ranged option, not backline support and traps that are so bad that even Rangers the class they were invented for won’t touch them.

Why would a Guardian be a hunter? They would make poor hunters wearing all that heavy armor, and not having any sort of skills resembling tracking. They go from frontline defenders of their weaker counterparts, to ranged trappers? Really?

That’s like going from a Defensive Guard in American Football, to a Defensive Linebacker. lol.

I actually am sortof interested in traps. I’d use them on my ranger if he was a condition build, and I might even use them on him regardless if there was more support for them. I know there’s the size increase and recharge time traits for a Ranger, but honestly that just can’t compete with something like Survival’s remove condition or Shout’s giving regeneration and swiftness.

My hope is that, since my guardian has been conditioned spec from the start of the game that the traps will fill a nice niche for him, and have support on them that will allow me to get away from just Meditations.(Although I would miss Judge’s Intervention if I do like Consecrations and Traps or something.)

nexxe.7081:

Why would a Guardian be a hunter? They would make poor hunters wearing all that heavy armor, and not having any sort of skills resembling tracking. They go from frontline defenders of their weaker counterparts, to ranged trappers? Really?

That’s like going from a Defensive Guard in American Football, to a Defensive Linebacker. lol.

Well, it doesn’t really make sense to go running through the woods in a trench coat, or a long skirt/bikini top combo. Most of us aren’t really dressed realistically for hunting dragons. But man, are we stylish.