Guild Wars 2

Presently the choice of race seems to impact little beyond story and skins. The racial skills seem of little value, i know of few people who put them into builds, and there is no way to improve their use through traits. Yet with the new specialization system there is finally the framework available to be able to work with the races to make each bring its own unique flavor to the combat system.

Ideally I would love to see a racial specialization that had traits that would compliment one or more professions. For example imagine having a Norn Warrior that would have a noticeably different play than having a human warrior, or an asura versus a charr engineer, etc.

And have my character kitten just because I chose the wrong race? No, thanks.
I prefer racial skills the way they are now – useless.

none.9681:

And have my character kitten just because I chose the wrong race? No, thanks.
I prefer racial skills the way they are now – useless.

Even with “useless” skills, there’s still room for this idea.

Let’s take Norn for an example. You could easily come up with a few more Norn-ish skills that wouldn’t be over powered to add into a specialization. Add in some traits that affect the racial skills a bit (longer duration on form shifting, maybe?), and some skins that match their style, and you have a new Norn “Elite Specialization”.

Norn: Skills that grant the blessing of a spirit for a short time (Strength of Bear, Speed of Raven, ect) and an elite that calls forth two wolves, bears, snow leopards or ravens (random).

Asura: A few small turrets, much like the Sylvari ones but mechanical, and an elite that summons two “disposable” research apprentices.

Charr: Battle cries for the various legions, and an elite that drops several 15 charge guns/rifles onto the ground.

I think you get the idea. Basically, just some stuff that helps to round out the FEEL of the race, it doesn’t have to actually be more powerful than class skills.

Giving races more of a distinct identity beyond just being really small or really big would be awesome. I liked WP’s idea of Racial Specializations, and it’s probably the sort of thing we’ll never see or at least not until they think about adding new races but it would add an interesting new element of Tyrian racial immersion the likes of which we really don’t have at the moment.

Human Racial Specialisation…. DERVISH!