Guild Wars 2

Thief elite specialization? Bunny slayer :P

The only thing I had a problem with is that the reveal video was very boring. Didn’t feel exciting at all.

This seems a little iffy hahah. I’m not gonna jump the gun since it isn’t out yet, but I don’t really think this is going in the right direction. If you aren’t gonna make a new weapon, fine, but let’s not keep reusing animations until the end of time. I don’t remember anyone hollering to have their virtues tinkered with, but I guess it acts as a nice front that something is actually changing. And the name, I mean, try to pertain to the class guys ~¿~

The concept seems interesting, at least giving a niche that the Guardian didn’t have before.

Lukewarm on the traps, unimpressed by the name.

I suppose the “Chronomanser” was a hard act to follow maybe but I have to agree with the others in that the new Guardian skills revealed just seem so … underwhelming. I guess that’s just the curse of a class that (from the Dev’s point of view) “is in a good spot”.

At the end of the day, what this spec has to do is provide something different that other classes don’t do better. If it’s just ranged dps with some AoE, then it better offer something other than what Power Wells Necros already give.

Anet, how about you don’t take one of the most popular classes of your game and half kitten the specialization’s name.

Even if I play my guardian with the new specialization, I will not refer to my Guardian as a Dragon Hunter, talk about gutting everything about the guardian, not only in playstyle but prestige as well. We go from a front line defensive power house to a pointless ranged support class with a name that has no correlation with the play style proposed.

Major letdown and it’s felt by many. You know what class could be a dragon hunter if you really wanted one? Ranger? Thief? Anything other than Guardian?

Shifu.4321:

At the end of the day, what this spec has to do is provide something different that other classes don’t do better. If it’s just ranged dps with some AoE, then it better offer something other than what Power Wells Necros already give.

That is not what the Elite specializations are supposed to do however.
They are not supposed to be superior to the base classes, they are simply supposed to add something that the base-class didn’t have before.

I’m not saying they should be superior, but they should at LEAST provide something viable and useful that other classes don’t already do better. Or it would just be adding something for the sake of adding something.

So, correct me if I’m wrong, haven’t played the game for quite some time, but as far as I can remember, CC, traps, stuns and effects alike weren’t quite useful in PvE, meaning, that said, doesn’t it mean this specialization (now I’m not implying I know all the effects of the skills shown in the trailer) that the new Bow is practically useless in PvE, which means the class will play exactly like it did before the specialization?

Nick.6972:

So, correct me if I’m wrong, haven’t played the game for quite some time, but as far as I can remember, CC, traps, stuns and effects alike weren’t quite useful in PvE, meaning, that said, doesn’t it mean this specialization (now I’m not implying I know all the effects of the skills shown in the trailer) that the new Bow is practically useless in PvE, which means the class will play exactly like it did before the specialization?

That is of course assuming that PvE will look exactly the same in HoT as it currently does.

It is rather unlikely that they would create a completely new playing style for a profession if it would end up being completely useless.

It would have to be a great line to make me give up one of Zeal, Radiance, or Virtues (substitute Valor for PvP/WvW roaming). This…is not that.

I was also hoping for Paragon, my Elonian guardian was ready.

TheRandomGuy.7246:

Guardian now a Dragonhunter? Whats next? Warrior a Paladin?

Well actually in GW1 when they had premade pvp templates with names way back when the warrior had a premade template named Paladin, so you never know

Guardians are the spiritual successors of Monks and Paragons in Guild Wars 2. So it be going backwards if they go back to paladin… perhaps. Unless you need its specific skills I guess..

I still think Warden would be a nice first profession for guardian.

Warden = a person responsible for the supervision of a particular place or thing or for ensuring that regulations associated with it are obeyed.

You guardians wanted the range option? Now pedal!
On serious note, i was never fond to guardian even of i’ve always played tanks in other games…but this spec disappoints me too

lordkrall.7241:

Nick.6972:

So, correct me if I’m wrong, haven’t played the game for quite some time, but as far as I can remember, CC, traps, stuns and effects alike weren’t quite useful in PvE, meaning, that said, doesn’t it mean this specialization (now I’m not implying I know all the effects of the skills shown in the trailer) that the new Bow is practically useless in PvE, which means the class will play exactly like it did before the specialization?

That is of course assuming that PvE will look exactly the same in HoT as it currently does.

It is rather unlikely that they would create a completely new playing style for a profession if it would end up being completely useless.

I wouldn’t be so sure on that. Traps will still be pretty useless in PvE, especially with boss battles. Even the wyvern didn’t move around too much (on the ground anyways), so traps will be pretty useless. To add to that, why put in a long range weapon and make PBAoE traps the utility skills? They’re opposites (unless we can ground target the traps like wells).

Akikaze.1307:

Got to love how people are overreacting when none of the weapon and utility skills have been spoiled yet. Lets not forget that the Elite specialisation is supposed to be an alternative, not a direct upgrade.

I can count the pages of players who wanted long range options for Guardians, when it’s finally confirmed, all these players do is complain about the name…

Thing is, most aren’t complaining about the longbow. Thats acceptable, it’s the traps (and spec name) that people don’t like.

There’s that Wile E Coyote moment in the announcement video where the guardian is looking all serious, stalking his prey… and the thing just waddles past him, completely deflating the moment; he stands there for a minute, looking away as if to pretend that didn’t just happen and he was actually stalking something else, before trying to make a flashy, but horribly ill-timed, entrance in a desperate attempt to salvage his pride.

That strange, slightly-incredulous, slightly-amused-at-the-embarrassment-of-others, mostly-unimpressed feeling I got from watching that sequence? Pretty much the same feeling I got when I read “Dragonhunter” was the specialization name.

skullmount.1758:

Akikaze.1307:

Got to love how people are overreacting when none of the weapon and utility skills have been spoiled yet. Lets not forget that the Elite specialisation is supposed to be an alternative, not a direct upgrade.

I can count the pages of players who wanted long range options for Guardians, when it’s finally confirmed, all these players do is complain about the name…

Thing is, most aren’t complaining about the longbow. Thats acceptable, it’s the traps (and spec name) that people don’t like.

The spec name is highly debatable, not going to disagree, I’ve said it’ll be more appropriate for Warriors on the first page. There is a plus that it’s not generic, I haven’t encountered any mmorpg with a class called ‘Dragonhunter’, the closest is Dragoon or Dragon Knight.

The traps haven’t been revealed yet, all we can do is speculate based on existing traps whether they’re useful. Necromancer’s staff skills are essentially traps yet often used. Chronomancer’s wells are still less superior to Portal/Blink. I’ll accept the negativity after they’ve revealed the skills’ functions.

First off, I have to voice this one. A name is just words and the least offensive thing. If I’m in a uproar about not being called what I want, I feel my priorities are in the wrong place.

What I feel the issue here is the mechanics. You can call them traps, or wards, or magical light bringing beacons of activation upon proximity of placement devices……“traps”, the mechanic is just not a popular one apparently.

In essence symbols were simply pre-activated “traps”. Now this new thing is simply a symbol that won’t activate till an enemy steps in it…not so offensive now is it? Maybe it is because symbol mechanics are mostly laughed at and unused.

The frustration is derived from the idea that we work our characters up and develop/grow/progress them to make them stronger, and when we expect them to go into a cocoon and come out as a beautiful butterfly, they show us an unveil of a fugly moth.

Let me counter argument myself now. These specializations are not inherently meant to be taken as a matter of fact. They are supposed to provide an alternative mechanic that was lacking on the class. Thus guardians had poor ranged and poor soft CCs.

The “creative thinking team” at ANet decided to throw us a curve ball and try to answer the solution that was not the contemporary way of thinking. I applaud them on that actually, but I feel the resistance as well. Did they miss the mark? Time will tell…

I think the name fits very well. Considering that dragons are the great evil of the world, and that guardians have a justice/smiting evil theme, becoming a “Dragonhunter” was only natural. We have to see what other changes they made in the ready up before we jump down Anet’s throat, but so far they’ve definitely met the “Changing classes in unexpected ways” goal for elites.

As a sidenote, in my opinion its all but confirmed that Eir is going to die, Braham is going to find her bow and become the first dragonhunter.

The NEW Guardian stomps all over the OLD Ranger!!! giving these skills and abilities to a front line melee/tank is exactly where the ranger is/was at…
Give them a longbow, fine, but leave the hunting, ie fierce velocity and traps to the experts, the Rangers.
-IMHO.

I feel ANet dropped the ball here and missed a chance to connect Guardian to the lore of Tyria in a meaningful way. I think Paragon, or more appropriately some natural evolution of it, should have been the choice for an elite spec. and I can explain my reasoning.
In Guild Wars 1, Paragon Chants gave characters angelic wings and obviously as we’ve seen in the teaser image this was an aesthetic that the devs wanted to incorporate, however Paragons at least had a meaningful relationship with those wings beyond one single skill. Chants could have been given to the Guardian elite spec in the form of Mantras (like Mesmer, and afterall chant = mantra), thus allowing the devs to stick to their idea of carrying skill classifications over to new specs.
Now, I don’t mean to suggest Guardian Paragon spec should have been given spears, however, as I really like the idea of the Guardian with a LB. In fact, Guild Wars lore would have completely supported the idea of a Paragon elite spec wielding a LB. Logan Thackeray, the most iconic Guardian NPC in the game, is great grandson (or great-great) to Gwen and Kieran Thackeray. By the time Kieran Thackeray joins your party as a hero in Guild Wars 1, he has transitioned from a bow wielding ranger, to a Paragon, setting a precedent for a notable warrior in lore to have posessed the skills necessary to wield a LB as a Paragon. I think it’s safe to say that since the background of the Guardian is that the Paragon’s teaching eventually spread and morphed into a new discipline that would become the Guardian we know today, Kieran’s influence would have to have been seen somewhere (particularly within the Thackeray family).
I’m not sure if any other choice for a Guardian elite spec could have been more appropriate than a LB wielding rebranded Paragon, but I do feel that Dragonhunter should have been a spec for either the Ranger or the Warrior. :/ I am disappointed, but hoping the devs will still wow me.

I’m still shocked at how upset people get over a name and appearances. It’s like being mad that you get a red car for a present and you wanted a blue car instead. Its a free car?!?! Who cares what color it is?

The name has no impact on how the class works and plays….form before function for some I guess?

Mareak Humner.5672:

Give them a longbow, fine, but leave the hunting, ie fierce velocity and traps to the experts, the Rangers.
-IMHO.

I agree but I think its prob to late now to change, but the name would still be easy to change at least. Voting Dragon Knight.

Looking forward to the specialisation, but the name is too much generic cliche in my opinion. Maybe a contest for a better name if thats still possible?

With guardian as my 3rd main (and 1st main for open-world farming) I’d say I’m not excited. Feels like it brings nothing to the small group, challenging content I actually want to do, and open world was easy mode on guardian already.

Also, voting for name change – Dragonhunter just doesn’t sound for guardians (even if we assume that Braham picks up Eir’s longbow to become a petless ranger).

CMF.5461:

I’m still shocked at how upset people get over a name and appearances. It’s like being mad that you get a red car for a present and you wanted a blue car instead. Its a free car?!?! Who cares what color it is?

The name has no impact on how the class works and plays….form before function for some I guess?

Both yes and no. The game is not only about optimal mechanics but also about immersion, fancy graphics, magnificent music, roleplaying etc. Then you get such a silly spec as dragonhunter I am not surprised there’s a roar. This spec feels totally disconnected (with its theme) from original guardian as it can be. Again, warrior or ranger as dragon hunter feel okay, but guardian? seriously?

xinkspillx.3914:

I’m not sure if any other choice for a Guardian elite spec could have been more appropriate than a LB wielding rebranded Paragon, but I do feel that Dragonhunter should have been a spec for either the Ranger or the Warrior. :/ I am disappointed, but hoping the devs will still wow me.

I’m actually pretty happy that warrior/ranger didn’t get dragonhunter because there is no way that could work as an elite spec. What weapon that warrior/ranger doesn’t have yet that could make them into a dragonhunter? A dragonhunter warrior with a pistol seems pretty wimpy. There is no way those two classes getting dragonhunter could have differentiated the elite enough from the base class to call it an elite spec.

Holding off until I see them give it some playthrough and talk about it some more, but i have to say, the vid and the write up do this new spec no real favors.

I’m hoping it is more than just a retool of ranger longbow skills with shiny blue arrows and some traps, but yeeeeah…

C’mon Anet, Guard and Engie are my two mains here…I really wanted to like this one. Help me like it.

bigbobpataki.4796:

xinkspillx.3914:

I’m not sure if any other choice for a Guardian elite spec could have been more appropriate than a LB wielding rebranded Paragon, but I do feel that Dragonhunter should have been a spec for either the Ranger or the Warrior. :/ I am disappointed, but hoping the devs will still wow me.

I’m actually pretty happy that warrior/ranger didn’t get dragonhunter because there is no way that could work as an elite spec. What weapon that warrior/ranger doesn’t have yet that could make them into a dragonhunter? A dragonhunter warrior with a pistol seems pretty wimpy. There is no way those two classes getting dragonhunter could have differentiated the elite enough from the base class to call it an elite spec.

Yeah, I’ll agree with that, I listed Ranger and Warrior more as way of making a point that I didn’t feel like the Dragonhunter spec really fit Guardian. I mean, I understand the thinking some other people have been suggesting in regards to Braham taking up Eir’s bow . . . but it still doesn’t really feel right for the Guardian, at least to me.

It depends what the new skills are like, if they are awesome then I will forgive the rubbish name and the lack of any real theme but Chronomancer sounded really awesome, this sounds meh…

It will be the most unused spec ever. I mean, there’s not a lot of positive feed back so far, and they could show it in the best possible light, but I’ll try it, but I already think it will just not work.

CMF.5461:

I’m still shocked at how upset people get over a name and appearances. It’s like being mad that you get a red car for a present and you wanted a blue car instead. Its a free car?!?! Who cares what color it is?

The name has no impact on how the class works and plays….form before function for some I guess?

Well some of us are really picky about names i have bought and never played online games do to names not being available such as Lemnear . that’s my female name for all toons since 1990’s sp or online

and as for the free car i did not know HOT was free and for a car you can repaint it

To me the name sounds like something from monster hunter games

CMF.5461:

I’m still shocked at how upset people get over a name and appearances. It’s like being mad that you get a red car for a present and you wanted a blue car instead. Its a free car?!?! Who cares what color it is?

The name has no impact on how the class works and plays….form before function for some I guess?

Well it’s not really a “free car” , i guessing we will have to pay for the expasion.

tramwajarz.2369:

CMF.5461:

I’m still shocked at how upset people get over a name and appearances. It’s like being mad that you get a red car for a present and you wanted a blue car instead. Its a free car?!?! Who cares what color it is?

The name has no impact on how the class works and plays….form before function for some I guess?

Both yes and no. The game is not only about optimal mechanics but also about immersion, fancy graphics, magnificent music, roleplaying etc. Then you get such a silly spec as dragonhunter I am not surprised there’s a roar. This spec feels totally disconnected (with its theme) from original guardian as it can be. Again, warrior or ranger as dragon hunter feel okay, but guardian? seriously?

I feel this is at the crux of the problem. The chronomancer seems like a natural evolution (or sidevolution of you insist that elite specs should be alternatives rather than upgrades). The Dragonhunter is too disconnected from the base guardian, and from what’s been revealed so far, very little of the original class remains for people who love guardians.

Of course, I’m making quite a number of assumptions here, but where’s the fun in not assuming? What I’m hoping is that the traits for this spec focuses more on the “changed” virtues rather than the other stuff, so people can still keep a semblance of their base guardian when speccing into the DH line.

Victuswolf.5286:

Thief elite specialization? Bunny slayer :P

I laughed.

I’m reserving judgement, for the most part.

There have been calls for new weapons, and for existing weapons to be ported to other professions, almost since launch. So, what is the point of adding a weapon (new, or just new to the prof.) if it does not add options to that profession? What would the point be of adding options that the profession already has? Should additions to a profession not play and feel differently than the existing options? What did people expect from a guardian elite spec?

+1 to xinskspillx. Paragon would certainly have made sense lore-wise.

t r a g e d y b o y s

Really not impressed with the direction this specialization took. It sounds like a Ranger 2.0.

IndigoSundown.5419:

I’m reserving judgement, for the most part.

There have been calls for new weapons, and for existing weapons to be ported to other professions, almost since launch. So, what is the point of adding a weapon (new, or just new to the prof.) if it does not add options to that profession? What would the point be of adding options that the profession already has? Should additions to a profession not play and feel differently than the existing options? What did people expect from a guardian elite spec?

+1 to xinskspillx. Paragon would certainly have made sense lore-wise.

That argument would make sense if Guardians had a ranged option right now. Currently we have Scepter and its attacks are so slow it can be dodged by my dead grandmother.

Crystallize.8603:

Quincy :/

~15 chars

this.
I talked about how it would be to make a quincy like spec (for others, its clan of the the bleach manga)
Guards now even have “Licht Regen” and traps could be some style of pentagram attack from arrancar arc.

But now for real. That spec seems to be fished out of random thoughts. Anet always had problems with guards. Guards were the last who got their special abilities in creating classes and in balancing stuff they got rarely cool stuff while other classes got the cool stuff. Guard was in a good place. Its good, but boring in kind of build variety. The whole concept of the new spec doesnt fit to guard.
I am no guard main, but my best friend is and he has absolutely no interest anymore in playing with such a messy spec.
Why? I can understand a bit.
Elite specs should be builds that round up the class, where they lack of.
Mesmer lacked of some kind of really effective group support, with a unique effect like alac and wells and they really unique f5 (hardcore balancing needed), they get something special. A interesting specialization.
Guards lacked of range dmg, mobility. But they had big group support and static AoE.
But now with Bow they just get range? They can provide boon as they like as biggest support class, they have with signets enough strong static aoe and they get even more boons and even more static AoE. It would not feel new, its just the same stuff in another box.
I honestly feel anet focusses so much around the group support of guardians, that they forget that some times guards need to play alone without group, who does the dmg.
And that what the guard could have needed. Instead of “i support from behind and provide boons to my allies” they could have designed it “i punish dat outlaws from far before they can even touch my friends”.
A powerful judge who tortures outlaws souls with raw dmg and a bit more selfish way to care for his friends.
(And for bleach reader: instead of orihime from backline, a frontline ishida)
The whole spec seems to me very weak in comparison to other classes.
Mesmer spec seems so strong, that i can not really see why u should play some other kind of build. Like Engi nowadays. Why play something other builds than turret?
how should guards, which are already rarely seen IMO in pvp, compete with others when they get traps, which are already a really really rare played skill set? Trap ranger is just hyped coz of one rune, i never saw a thief build around traps.

I will watch the stream tomorrow, but i can not imagine how DHunter be in a good place for pvp

Hybrid.7059:

t r a g e d y b o y s

Really not impressed with the direction this specialization took. It sounds like a Ranger 2.0.

Thought the exact same thing, Hyrbrid.

IndigoSundown.5419:

I’m reserving judgement, for the most part.

There have been calls for new weapons, and for existing weapons to be ported to other professions, almost since launch. So, what is the point of adding a weapon (new, or just new to the prof.) if it does not add options to that profession? What would the point be of adding options that the profession already has? Should additions to a profession not play and feel differently than the existing options? What did people expect from a guardian elite spec?

+1 to xinskspillx. Paragon would certainly have made sense lore-wise.

Personally, I felt that the chronomancer was perfect. They expanded on the class, added new mechanics and skills that fit in with the theme, without fundamentally changing how the class is played (sneaky dueler who can melee or range).

I feel it should be a variation of a certain flavor (Cherry Coke to Regular Coke) more than playing differently. The DH feels more like Sprite to the Guardian’s Coke.

lol @ “Dragonhunter”, very creative … so everyone else fighting the Claw of Jormag are chopped liver.

Now I recalled the content of my nightmare last night: my Guardian will be a dragonhunter. Anet, really? I just don’t know what else to say. Did you just wake up one day and come up with that cheesy name out of all possible terms in english, latin or spanish? I really want to personally meet the guy that came up with that name. Just to see what he looks like. What next? warrior —→ witchdoctor?

Well, I finally get to throw Sunlight Spears, even if they’re not Sunny D flavored so that’s pretty cool.

I felt like the animations were too similar/copypasta’d from Ranger and just weren’t unique enough. It needs more than just adding a new spell effect on target struck.
Dovahkiin/Dragonhunter doesn’t really match my eyez to the class well. Oh… This is the class that gets access to traps. :x Hmmmmmm, still a weird name.

As someone who’s been watching and waiting for this, I was overjoyed when I saw that our bow-wielding guardian specialisation had a post up… then I read it and got some very mixed feelings. I’ll keep it brief:

Pros

• A ranged weapon, an actual ranged weapon!
• I’m a fan of the skill bar on said ranged weapon.

Mixed

• Virtues. We keep the passives, that’s cool. The shield of courage sounds amazing, but the spear of justice seems a bit weird and wings of resolve… eh.

Cons

• The name. Dragonhunter is just bad. This alone might actually put me off of something I’ve waited so long for. Sentinel would’ve been more suitable, even with the traps.
• Speaking of which – the traps. Fortunately I can still use and trait for my shouts, but we already have symbols and traps just feel like a lazy ranger reskin.

Overall, I can accept the traps, they’re just not my playstyle and probably won’t be equipped. However, the name, Dragonhunter, needs to be scrapped. I do not want my character to be stuck with that awful name. The bow and a lot slight (and sadly I’m 99.99999% sure accidental) references to Slayers Try are really, really nice. But my Guardian is not a Dragonhunter, kitten it.

It’s a shame I found negatives in my favourite class’ specialisation, seeing how awesome the Chronomancer was.

Nick.6972:

So, correct me if I’m wrong, haven’t played the game for quite some time, but as far as I can remember, CC, traps, stuns and effects alike weren’t quite useful in PvE, meaning, that said, doesn’t it mean this specialization (now I’m not implying I know all the effects of the skills shown in the trailer) that the new Bow is practically useless in PvE, which means the class will play exactly like it did before the specialization?

Most likely. On the other hand it seems more useful for the pirate ship meta of WvW. No, that’s not a good thing.

quaniesan.8497:

Now I recalled the content of my nightmare last night: my Guardian will be a dragonhunter. Anet, really? I just don’t know what else to say. Did you just wake up one day and come up with that cheesy name out of all possible terms in english, latin or spanish? I really want to personally meet the guy that came up with that name. Just to see what he looks like. What next? warrior —-> witchdoctor?

Man I actually cracked up reading the witchdoctor part hahahaha

Add another to the ‘change the name’ vote. Sentinel is actually a pretty good call. Dragonhunter is a terrible name for a class that doesn’t have any more connection to dragons than any other class.

I have mixed feelings about the class itself. I have wanted a ranged weapon on guardian for some time, however I’ve never wanted traps, it brings it just that little bit too close to ranger playstyle for me. Having more mobility would be a plus, but angel wings on my charr will look ridiculous.

There’s something about this specialisation that just feels unfinished to me. The second I finished reading about chronomancer, I finished levelling my mesmer to 80 and picked up the tormented shield skin in anticipation. My guardian is already 80, but I feel no renewed surge of wanting to play it.

I’ll probably have a go at this class, but I’m not remotely excited for it.

But seriously, that name has to go.

I think it has something to do with Eir and Braham story as well as norns. Norns are dealing with the dragon cult problem, and that Braham may get Eir’s bow in the expansion.