Guild Wars 2

Ok so help me make sense of this, I’ll use Guardian and its respective elite spec of Dragon Hunter.

So if we can assume that all trait lines are created equal, then we can assume that the elite trait line is roughly the same equivalent of a normal trait line. So therefore playing as guardian w/3 normal trait lines = playing as Dragon Hunter w/2 normal trait lines + the required Elite trait line.

Since traits are equivalent why is this so imbalanced then:

If I play Guardian I get to use 11 weapons (including underwater) and I gain 0 new skills for the expansion.

If I play Dragon Hunter I get to use 12 weapons (including underwater) and I gain 6 new skills+ all regular guardian skills.

The only restriction is I have to spec one of my trait lines as the elite spec trait line. How is this fair or balanced for non elite spec’ed classes?

I thought they were going to remove access to one weapon from the Dragon Hunter that the Guardian has, or perhaps remove 6 skills that the guardian has from the Dragon Hunter…. but I guess not?

They never once claimed to be removing anything from getting a specialization.

That said, just because you gain access to longbow doesn’t mean you’ll always use it. If you find yourself only using it part of the time and using greatsword most of the time and not using any of the traps you’re at a loss being a dragon hunter. You’re better off dropping dragon hunter and picking up another trait line that actually benefits you.

The Elite specialization trait line really only bonuses the weapon and the skills, if you don’t really use either there isn’t a point to being the elite specialization.

heartless.6803:

They never once claimed to be removing anything from getting a specialization.

That said, just because you gain access to longbow doesn’t mean you’ll always use it. If you find yourself only using it part of the time and using greatsword most of the time and not using any of the traps you’re at a loss being a dragon hunter. You’re better off dropping dragon hunter and picking up another trait line that actually benefits you.

The Elite specialization trait line really only bonuses the weapon and the skills, if you don’t really use either there isn’t a point to being the elite specialization.

This isn’t true there are only 2 traits in the Dragon Hunter elite trait line that benefit the Longbow, The Optional Master Trait “Hunter’s Determination” and the Optional Grand Master Trait “Heavy Light” The rest of the trait line is compatible with all guardian weapon/skills

Jumpin Lumpix.6108:

heartless.6803:

They never once claimed to be removing anything from getting a specialization.

That said, just because you gain access to longbow doesn’t mean you’ll always use it. If you find yourself only using it part of the time and using greatsword most of the time and not using any of the traps you’re at a loss being a dragon hunter. You’re better off dropping dragon hunter and picking up another trait line that actually benefits you.

The Elite specialization trait line really only bonuses the weapon and the skills, if you don’t really use either there isn’t a point to being the elite specialization.

This isn’t true there are only 2 traits in the Dragon Hunter elite trait line that benefit the Longbow, The Optional Master Trait “Hunter’s Determination” and the Optional Grand Master Trait “Heavy Light” The rest of the trait line is compatible with all guardian weapon/skills

However most of them either proc off things longbow does or off traps. Which if you don’t use either the only real advantage of even taking the trait line would be for big game hunter and Spear of Justice, both of which in combination have massive counters in pvp. You’re still best off picking up a different trait line unless you really want the changes to virtue mechanics. Damage wise they’re not exactly going to be always superior all the time, but I’m sure somebody will geek out with the numbers and come up with a meta that works in a vacuum which the whole community will blindly follow.

Problem for me is that as it is now, this spec out rangers all the stock rangers in the game.

That is a BIG problem for me from a design aspect.

Keyword being “as it is now” none of the specs are set in stone and nothing is stopping the originals from getting rebalanced as well. Seems like a wait and see thing to me.