Racial Elite Specializations

Racial Elite Specializations

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Posted by: Tenrai Senshi.2017

Tenrai Senshi.2017

Hello all.

I’m not sure if this idea has been put forward yet (and I couldn’t check because the search function in the GW2 forums is really bad), but I think it would be pretty cool if Anet, over the course of adding new elite specs, also included racial elite specs that are exclusive to each specific race.

The idea stems from the fact that we do, in fact, have racial skills for each race already, including elite skills, but they are rarely used because there is little to no synergy for them as far as traits go. Adding an elite spec that focuses on adding traits that benefit racial skills, as well as reworking the racial skills as a whole, I think, would be really helpful in promoting their use.

Also, because racial elite specs will be available based on race and not class, it will create a lot of new and interesting build combinations, and will make the impact of race choices for classes stem beyond simple aesthetics.

Possible racial elite specs could include:

Golemancer – Asura elite spec. Gives you a permanent golem companion that can be customized by changing the body, arms and legs individually (parts can be found throughout the world, much like how rangers can find pets). Racial skills allow you to assign special actions to your golem. Elite skill overcharges your golem with special properties based on your chosen college (Statics, Synergetics or Dynamics).

Dreamwalker – Sylvari elite spec. Skills are influenced by ‘The Dream’. Focused around illusions and debuffs like sleep, etc. Elite skill is influenced by the time of day cycle you chose for your Sylvari.

Char – Legionnaire. Allows you to summon reinforcements from your chosen legion and grants aoe buff skills. Elite skill summons your chosen companion from the character creation screen to fight beside you.

Human – Dervish. Gain skills based on the six gods (extension or rework of existing human racial skills). Elite skill allows you to temporarily assume the form of the god you chose to follow in the character select screen, granting unique skills.

Norn – Shaman. Skills based on different animal aspects (raven, wolf, bear, etc). Elite skill allows you to assume a more powerful wereform based on your chosen spirit (like current elite skill, but more refined).

These are just basic ideas that could be changed or elaborated on. Obviously racial elites wouldn’t add new weapons because they’d conflict with existing weapon choices or skills for classes. They’d make up for this by offering unique mechanics, in addition to their ability to be used with any existing class.

Racial Elite Specializations

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Posted by: Crimson Clouds.4853

Crimson Clouds.4853

Love the idea, but there’s a reason why racial skills are underpowered.

A-net didn’t want race to be a limiting factor for game-play. If race played a large roll in build-crafting, people would get restricted to playing a certain race because one race would be better in particular areas of the game than others.

The current racial skills are purely for flavour/aesthetic and are deliberately underpowered so they don’t compete with class skills.

Racial Elite Specializations

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Posted by: Tenrai Senshi.2017

Tenrai Senshi.2017

Love the idea, but there’s a reason why racial skills are underpowered.

A-net didn’t want race to be a limiting factor for game-play. If race played a large roll in build-crafting, people would get restricted to playing a certain race because one race would be better in particular areas of the game than others.

The current racial skills are purely for flavour/aesthetic and are deliberately underpowered so they don’t compete with class skills.

Yeah, I do understand that, but making the skills practically useless renders them irrelevant to the point that they might as well have not been added to begin with. At the very least, I think adding racial elite specs would make race choice far more interesting and add even more flavor, so to speak.

One point in particular that has bugged me since the beginning of GW2 (and this largely contributed to the idea of racial elites for me) was the fact that when you play as an Asura, every other major Asura you know seems to have their own personal golem companion. It’s very much a part of their culture and when I looked at the likes of Zojja and Taimi, with Mr. Sparkles and Scruffy at their sides, it always struck me as odd that I, as their fellow Asura, didn’t also get to have my own golem that I could name and customize as my own. That’s where the golemancer idea came from.

I also thought it would be nice to give more meaning to character creation choices, like god choices for Humans or legion choices for Charr, which have basically zero impact on the game outside of the very early story missions (in fact, choosing a human god has zero impact at all from what I’ve seen). Those choices seemed rather pointless to me, and I always felt that the decision between human gods, or an Asuran colleges, etc, should have at least some potential impact outside of the story, in terms of how you play. It would also enhance role playing or build themes.

As for the build balance argument, I think it would be nice if racial elite specs were designed in such a way as to compliment existing builds without feeling too mandatory. As it is, current elite specs already run the risk of feeling mandatory for some classes. That’s a risk that will continue to be prevalent with all elite specs going forward, whether they be racial or not. It would be up to Anet to ensure things remain balanced.

Racial Elite Specializations

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Posted by: Headcase.4618

Headcase.4618

There was a thread about WP’s idea for making racial skills useful but I can’t seem to find it. but here’s a link to the vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxmQoJeRlYc

Racial Elite Specializations

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Posted by: Phineas Drayke.6381

Phineas Drayke.6381

I posted almost the same idea so I upvote yours.
I would really love something along the lines of racial specs to expand the lore, add variety and most of all give some identity back to our races.

To prevent from content exclusion, this specs could simply be pve only and not available in raids/fractals.

I would gladly pay for something like this, like a dlc. Because it adds variety without being forced to have it to play challenging content.

(we even thought of the same spec names for some races…)

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Posted by: Tenrai Senshi.2017

Tenrai Senshi.2017

I posted almost the same idea so I upvote yours.
I would really love something along the lines of racial specs to expand the lore, add variety and most of all give some identity back to our races.

To prevent from content exclusion, this specs could simply be pve only and not available in raids/fractals.

I would gladly pay for something like this, like a dlc. Because it adds variety without being forced to have it to play challenging content.

(we even thought of the same spec names for some races…)

Well, considering Anet has already mentioned adding more elite specs, I see no reason why it would need to be pay for content (unless all new Elite Specs were planned gem store items from the start). Anyone who already paid for the expansion should be getting new elite specs as part of the package.

I personally don’t like the idea of having content that can affect gameplay (like new skills or traits) being limited to acquisition through micro-transactions though, because it will begin to segregate the playerbase further down the line based on who is the wealthiest.

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Posted by: Pakkazull.6894

Pakkazull.6894

Well, considering Anet has already mentioned adding more elite specs, I see no reason why it would need to be pay for content

I’m 99% certain they meant that for future expansion packs.

Racial Elite Specializations

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Posted by: Tenrai Senshi.2017

Tenrai Senshi.2017

Well, considering Anet has already mentioned adding more elite specs, I see no reason why it would need to be pay for content

I’m 99% certain they meant that for future expansion packs.

I’m not sure personally, but I’d like to think they’d add more without us having to wait 3 years for another expansion.

Their words on it were quite vague though:

Source: https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/specializations-part-two-reward-tracks-and-elite-specializations/

“Will There Be More?

When Heart of Thorns goes live, each profession will receive one elite specialization to supplement its five core specializations. We like to describe builds using the new system in two ways:

1. I am a(n) {profession name} specializing in {Spec #1}, {Spec #2}, and {Spec #3}. i.e., I am a ranger specializing in Marksmanship, Wilderness Survival, and Beastmastery.
2. I am a(n) {elite spec} specializing in {Spec #2}, and {Spec #3}. i.e., I am a druid specializing in Nature Magic and Skirmishing.

For now, characters will only be able to equip a single elite specialization. Doing so will be as easy as it currently is to swap trait points; simply exit combat and select your new elite specialization, or do it in Heart of the Mists for PvP. We made this system to build upon it, so let the speculation about future specializations begin before we’ve even revealed the first full set!"

(edited by Tenrai Senshi.2017)