Guild Wars 2

GW2 is a beautiful, if unfortunately ephemeral, game. However, it’s low number of active abilities makes it a bit constrictive for my tastes.

My suggestion is simple. Expand on the active item concept. Create a new, probably small, action bar for us to put devices, magical objects, sacred/cursed objects, technology of all sorts – primitive tech would be simple non-energy things like Grappling Hooks or Throwing Stars or Net, etc… Advanced would be the kind of stuff you expect from the stranger technologies developed by dragon cultists or the Order of the Silent whatever, or the Asura. I’m looking at you Miniature Singularity Generator.

A new system can be put in place to make interactable / usable objects laid out on tables or found amidst treasure or other non-interactable doodads. There’s plenty of room in this idea for a brand new profession, even an interesting ability or trait for Engineers to create their own array of unique gadgets. Asura could have a racial attribute in regards to using objects, finding them, finding better grades of them – which would make them not only interesting but potentially incredible! -, or crafting them.

This would make for an interesting new level of immersion if done well. I highly recommend making simple / low-damage / low-effect objects common, yet rarer than the rate one finds the same crafting mats in a region. An intermediate range of devices and what not can be more uncommon, and the really crazy and awesome gadgets and grimoires and cursed objects and anything else imaginable would be almost a rarity.

Maybe, have one or two really cool objects per dungeon, 10 in a map on 5 min CD timer. They can be put in several, randomly generated, hard to find places per map to add a treasure seeker element to dungeons. Lord knows PvE could use another layer of fun to them. These objects would be completely optional and would require searching to find, making their use a question of time spent vs reward that the group would have to consider. Groups with new, or undergeared, players could see finding these objects as well worth the time, as they’d give the players a much needed advantage.

Of course, Asura and Engineers could have a trait that gives them a 50% chance upon entering a decently large range of a tech object to have it’s location pinned to their mini-map. The same could be true for magical type items being sensed by one or more classes / races. This would further emphasize the relevant connection between race/class and the objects that so characterize them

How your suggestion expands this:

There are number of weapons and tools which can be picked up and used. They won’t go to inventory, though.

There are weapons and tools which can be purchased. Like Fireworks at Asura. Like Trade Post merchant. They go to inventory.

What is this action bar? Easy way to access these tools?

Are you just suggesting new crafting profession? Have you seen this in other games? Simple example?

Gotta say, one of my favorite aspects of another MMO I play is the, “device bar.” This is a few slots on your action bar for random oddball little gadgets. Things like a lariat, shuriken, broken bottle, grenades, punji traps, etc. Fun stuff