Guild Wars 2

A quick question to the devs, but for future expansions, are you looking at doing one Elite Specialization per class per expansion, or could we see two come out for each class?

I find it difficult to think it could be three or more, but I wouldn’t complain!

For other players, how many would you rather see per expansion? I would like to see 2 per class come in with expansion 2, personally.

I would also want at least two. I was quite disappointed when after they said they had the framework down to add more elites now … and then in an AMA said elites only come with expansions. It would have been very nice of them to make adding them something they could develop and provide as part of an expansion.

Not that I’m unhappy with the ones we have, it’s just I want more of a fun thing

There’s a lot of pressure for the devs to top themselves with each new elite spec. 18 new elite specs is a lot of work and would take such a long time to develop. Personally I’d rather have one new spec each and get the expansion sooner, than have two each and get it much later.

Black Iris Flowers.3418:

There’s a lot of pressure for the devs to top themselves with each new elite spec. 18 new elite specs is a lot of work and would take such a long time to develop. Personally I’d rather have one new spec each and get the expansion sooner, than have two each and get it much later.

Nobody ever said the devs had to “top themselves.” It’s perfectly fine for different elite specs to not quite be on the same levels of power so long as what they try to accomplish is different.

I agree it would be a lot of work, but we do have a couple of things that can help;

1. They aren’t developing the system from scratch like they did for Heart of Thorns. They already know how elite specs actually function, so now it’s just the mechanics/art.

2. They aren’t developing any new professions.

So, two specs per expansion might be pushing a bit, but I don’t think it is unreasonable. Granted, I’m not a developer, so I can’t guarantee that.

Drarnor Kunoram.5180:

Black Iris Flowers.3418:

There’s a lot of pressure for the devs to top themselves with each new elite spec. 18 new elite specs is a lot of work and would take such a long time to develop. Personally I’d rather have one new spec each and get the expansion sooner, than have two each and get it much later.

Nobody ever said the devs had to “top themselves.” It’s perfectly fine for different elite specs to not quite be on the same levels of power so long as what they try to accomplish is different.

I agree it would be a lot of work, but we do have a couple of things that can help;

1. They aren’t developing the system from scratch like they did for Heart of Thorns. They already know how elite specs actually function, so now it’s just the mechanics/art.

2. They aren’t developing any new professions.

So, two specs per expansion might be pushing a bit, but I don’t think it is unreasonable. Granted, I’m not a developer, so I can’t guarantee that.

But, if the new elite specs aren’t at least on the same level, a ton of people would complain. That’s the gaming community for you. No they aren’t developing new professions but they will be developing new concepts and systems that go with the new expansion.

If there is a second expansion, this means HoT will be given for free too?

Honestly I’m quite happy with just receiving one elite spec per class per expac. Two elite specs on its own, with HoT’s ES and E2’s ES, will be very helpful.

What would be nice, though, is a balanced core specialisation.

JemL.3501:

If there is a second expansion, this means HoT will be given for free too?

A bit off topic from this thread but there is no if. They have 70 devs working on the next expansion and have had for some time. They have also announced that their purchase plan will always be to bundle previous game versions as an extra with any expansion, so new players don’t have to buy multiple versions to join the game. It’s not so much that HoT will be free — you won’t be able to get just HoT (though I don’t know if F2P will forever be only the core game) — but you won’t have to buy it along with Expansion Two.

In terms to your question about multiple elite specs, I think it would be too much because elite specs change your class entirely, which is why its an “elite specialization”. They are there to give a different effect to your class, and if you could equip 2 of them….wouldnt it interfere with the other spec? Like take reaper for example. It changes your shroud into a reaper…if you had a 2nd elite would they just make it so it doesnt affect that? No, I bet they will make you choose, which is great because then we could see some cool build diversity i bet (pending they are balanced with HoT elites). Also, why do you think you can only select the elite spec in the 3rd trait line? (Limit one elite spec to be selected). Thats just an assumption but it makes sense.

You’ll only be able to slot one Elite Spec at a time, no matter if they add 1, 2 or 10 each in the new expansion. Why only in the 3rd trait line? Because it’s 1) how it works now (you can’t slot it anywhere else) and 2) what they stated when the elite specs launched.

I’d be really happy for two new per class. Just getting one more will improve diversity a fair bit I think, but getting two could create choice even among the “new and shiny” stuff!

Deadlypixel.8734:

In terms to your question about multiple elite specs, I think it would be too much because elite specs change your class entirely, which is why its an “elite specialization”. They are there to give a different effect to your class, and if you could equip 2 of them….wouldnt it interfere with the other spec?

The OP isn’t asking for two at once as far as I can tell. I certainly am not asking to double them up! The request is to have two new options offered per profession rather than just one, given the long time between expansion releases and the perception many seem to have that the HoT expansion was content-light.

Adding nine elite specs with their associated new mechanics will be challenging enough. Anet struggles to balance now with only one elite spec per profession. Adding two at once would be one too many.

I’d be more than happy with one.

I think that the more elite specs you create, the harder it is to balance everything and keep most of the specs relevant.

Creating two sets at once makes it extremely likely that one spec per profession will just not be played.

Anet isn’t able to deliver a complete second set of legendary weapons, because its very ressource costy and here are people talking about, as if working on 18 different new elite specializations per expansion would be just a piece of cake compared to that ….

go figure …

Orpheal.8263:

Anet isn’t able to deliver a complete second set of legendary weapons, because its very ressource costy and here are people talking about, as if working on 18 different new elite specializations per expansion would be just a piece of cake compared to that ….

go figure …

You do realize those are completely different teams of people, right?

Sure I do, but that doesn’t change anything about the fact, that Anet hasn’t the ressources to complete something like a set of weapons, which is lesser work, than to add 18 complete new elite specs and to balance them also for the game.

kit is more than enough work already to add just another E-Spec per class, so 9 specs, because you may also not forget, that an expansion is far far FAR more, than just only addign new elite specs..it contains much more content that they have to work on and personally I have rather a new expansion with alot of diverse new conent, than an expansion, thats pretty much all about e-specs only… because I doubt it that the next expansion will be significantly much bigger, than the first one …

Just add one… but first put the Core in the same level as the Elite. NO MORE POWER CREEP.

Id be happy if they brought core to the elite level. I miss playing old builds and dont agree with needing elites to be succesfull

Is the idea still to have an expansion for each remaining dragon?

I don’t see how they could come up with two elite spec for each expansion. Maybe they could, but I really don’t see how many possibilities and variations of each profession they could come up with. Maybe they could come up with two at one time, but I would expect one expansion not having an elite spec.

I though the rule was:

1) Make an expansion for each dragon.
2) Each Dragon has to open up a new part of the map.
3) Each Elite has to keep to the theme of the Profession.
4) Each elite should add a new playstyle to Profession.
5) Each elite should compliment or support a Core Specialization.