Guild Wars 2

So , I do not really understand how elite specialization work and i was hoping someone in here could tell me .
I understand that every class is getting 1 , and it kind of changes the class with new weapons and other stuff , so , will that make us be all clone´s of eachother? since there is only 1 elite specialization for class , all class got to be the same ? Im so confused :I

Somewhat. It basicly adds a new Traitline (I’ll use my own class for example), the necro IF he chooses that traitline can wield a GS and obtain Reaper Shroud. The new traitline will focus on buffing the new weapon and class mechanic.

Now, don’t be confused, It doesn’t make you STRONGER then the base class, just adds more options. You can mix the new Elite Specialization traitline with the old trait lines to create new builds.

yep… got be different…. just like everyone else…

Oh xD , now i understand , thanks @Truefrost

Yep! No problem! This might seem small now but Anet has plans to release more elite specializations in the future which will add even more options for people.

Every profession gets 1 new elite spec with hoT (more coming in the future)
You gain acces to the elite spec by equipped the elite traitline, which unlocks the weapon and utility skills.

Will this make everyone clones? Not anymore than they already are, it adds more options. I’m sure at first everyone will be using the new elite specs, but eventually people will find the build that suits them, be it with elite specced or not.

You still ahve to pick your weapons, utilites and traits (you aren’t forced into using the wep/utilies if you want to go daredevil, you can be one using your regular weapons) which means people will still ahve different set ups etc.

No all classes won’t be the same

elite spec are pretty much “same same, but different, but still the same”.
It gives you 1 new weapons, 6 news spells and 1 new trait line.
It is meant to help you find a “new gameplay” for your class. Depending on what you like/dislike those spec will be “must have” or “meh”.
They are not suppose to make you better than regulare core class, just different.

Anet also plan on add more elite spec later.

During BWE I spend a lot of time on reaper (I main necro so no surprise^^) and I found it better than the core class. But it is because it suit my needs. I also know players that didn’t like it at all.

PS: at some point most of players will run the same build, as they do right now. Most of them don’t try to find their own style, they just stick to the “meta” even though it doesn’t fit their skill/needs.

xadine.7069:

elite spec are pretty much “same same, but different, but still the same”.
It gives you 1 new weapons, 6 news spells and 1 new trait line.

“technically” they ARE “new traitline” (which unlock 1 new weapon and 6 new abilities)

lets say kind of elite traitline that you can includue or not in your build whenever you like – and it just gives more stuff than regular traitline (specialisation) but changes a little how class work so some may prefer to stick to their odl builds anyway

Elite specs, as other posters have noted, are trait lines designed to be a much larger shift in your playstyle than the base traits of the class. With HoT we only have one, but taking it means giving up one of your core trait lines. This means that certain builds become unplayable if you choose to go with the elite spec, but that the spec gives you new build options, often in much more drastic ways than core trait lines.

The effect is negligable for HoT due to only having one Elite spec avaliable. This leads to the impression that it’s a “straight upgrade” to the base class, as by choosing it you do have more skills and an additional weapon. In some cases it is a straight upgrade, most notably with the thief’s daredevil spec, which is, strictly speaking, simply better in every way than playing an evasion based thief without it, however it is of dubious value for some other builds. Similarly, the warrior’s berserker spec is of questionable value on white damage builds, but a straight upgrade for condition builds.

Overall the intent seems to be that eventually picking an elite spec will be a core thing and assuring the equity of builds without an elite spec will gradually be phased out in favor of the much easier to balance elite spec system.

The real meat of the system won’t become apparent until the second round of elite specs is released, and players have to choose between them. I’d imagine that eventually, after we have four or five options, balance will be much more geared around assuming everyone is picking one elite spec or another, similar to how GW1 was balanced with the assumption that everyone has one “build defining” elite on their bar.