Guild Wars 2

One thing I must admit, that I hated about GW1 and its skill system, was just how many skills in the game were dull, or had major setbacks.

I have to admit, I like how it had way more options to pick from, but most of them were dull. the side effects of the skills also were a turn off.

I like the fact that GW2’s skills moved away from that in some ways. Some classes still have dull skills, like the Warrior’s utility and elites.

but if some how Anet could manage to get GW1’s number of abilities, but with GW2 level of interest and quality,

than this could really be a fun game to play in the long run.

The skill system in GW1 allowed for way more builds etc to be used, the negative affects on some skills where offset by buffs on others, and where put in to make some builds ( more solo ) harder to run but not impossible,

GW2 skills by far are somewhat boring, you tend to only ever use 3-6 utility skills, ( depending on class ) and that never changes, and your stuck with the same skills from your primary weapon, which again most classes will stick to 1 or 2,

I think Anet went down this road not to be unique but more so they didn’t have to worry about changing skills etc, and it allowed for easier changes etc, sadly this game seems to be skill balanced around sPvP,

We are 18 months into the game and I think we’ve seen what 8 new healing skills, no attack/defense skills etc, so im not holding out for anything to be honest.

No, I have to completely disagree. Every skill in GW1 could be really useful in the right build. In GW2 some skills (and traits) are just flat out useless. The skill system in GW1 was only limited by your creativity. Quirky builds like Touch Ranger will never exist in GW2.

Ok I Did It.2854:

[…]I think Anet went down this road not to be unique but more so they didn’t have to worry about changing skills etc, and it allowed for easier changes etc[…]

I want to agree with that statement, but for all the things that removed from skills, they added something else.

The enchantments, hexs, and conditions system was easier to manage than the current boon and conditions system. Combo field and finishers didn’t exist. Movement was much more limited, couldn’t jump or leap for example. No underwater combat. etc.

Kasei.8726:

No, I have to completely disagree. Every skill in GW1 could be really useful in the right build. In GW2 some skills (and traits) are just flat out useless. The skill system in GW1 was only limited by your creativity. Quirky builds like Touch Ranger will never exist in GW2.

Ok I Did It.2854:

[…]I think Anet went down this road not to be unique but more so they didn’t have to worry about changing skills etc, and it allowed for easier changes etc[…]

I want to agree with that statement, but for all the things that removed from skills, they added something else.

The enchantments, hexs, and conditions system was easier to manage than the current boon and conditions system. Combo field and finishers didn’t exist. Movement was much more limited, couldn’t jump or leap for example. No underwater combat. etc.

Quick shot would like a word with you.

Build diversity in GW1 was awesome and it was super easy to just try it out and get another armor set to make it more efferctive. This build diversity alone kept me playing for a very long time, doing solo runs or solo boss kills. It was super awesome. But let’s be honest: there were a kittenload of skills in GW1 no one ever used.

I still remember Arena Net claiming that Traits will drastically change your play style and skills. Back around the time when they started to release skill videos.

Trait system is boring, It doesn’t matter what traits I use as a guardian, my GS skills doesn’t change.

GW1 system was far more better.Harder to balance? Perhaps, but neither is GW2 balanced with 100 time less skills.

There were some weak skills in GW but for the most part I thought they very unique and even the ones with drawbacks were useful. The necro skills that sacrificed health were extremely strong, and could be maintained with Healing Breeze as a N/Mo in an organized group. Using Dolyak Sig with Drunken/Desperation Blow was super awesome. Skills had much more synergy and interacted in clever ways.