Guild Wars 2

Any chance for Specializations to get unique weapon skills for the weapons that they may share with their parent class.

In other words I am asking if
Druid with Long Bow == same weapon skills ==Ranger with Long Bow
?

Because I would like some more uniqueness between specs and prime classes when it comes to weapon skill choices.

I hope specs are limited to one weapon type, which I assume that they aren’t since some specs been shown to use one handers as their new weapon type like the Mesmer Shield. So the main hand for the Mesmer Spec would need to be either the same as the prime Mesmer main hand, or be brand new skills for the main hand as well to go with the new off hand shield.

What’s your thoughts? Hope Anet considers. Doesn’t have to all be unique weapon skills between the prime class and its Specs, but at least some of them instead of just one new weapon .

To be honest, I don’t think ANet will go down that path. More than likely being a Druid will mean that you get access to a new weapon (Staff, as we know) with its 5 weapon skills, and then a bunch of new heal/utility/elite skills that are only available when you activate the Druid specialisation. You can mix and match existing heal/utility/elite skills, resulting in some new synergies, but I think that equipping a Longbow will mean you still have the standard Ranger Longbow skills.

I could be wrong, of course, especially if swapping to a Druid spec means that your entire trait tree changes.

The specializations will also change traits and profession mechanics, but the existing weapon choices will likely have the same skills as before. It is only a sub-class, after all.

Lazaar.9123:

The specializations will also change traits and profession mechanics, but the existing weapon choices will likely have the same skills as before. It is only a sub-class, after all.

Druid and Elementalist could be odd-balls in this aspect. If they decide to remove the pet from the Druid (or any future Ranger spec), all of its weapons (and many traits) would need to be tweaked to make up for the now useless pet effects. If any future Elementalist spec loses Attunements in favor of a different mechanic, its existing weapons would require a redesign, or it would need weapon swap – possibly both.

I am bit torn here.

For once I hope they change some skills, to make changing specialities more “special”.
I mean. If the Mesmer only get`s a shield as off-hand for example, it`s only 2 new skills.
In compairson with a Ranger going Druid with staff, he would get 5 new skills.

I really hope they have some things prepared to make the distribution of new skills fair, or at least balanced.

Jaken.6801:

I am bit torn here.

For once I hope they change some skills, to make changing specialities more “special”.
I mean. If the Mesmer only get`s a shield as off-hand for example, it`s only 2 new skills.
In compairson with a Ranger going Druid with staff, he would get 5 new skills.

I really hope they have some things prepared to make the distribution of new skills fair, or at least balanced.

You say that, but it’s not that simple at all.

Yes, a Druid gets 5 new weapon skills because they are getting staves, but they are also only getting one weapon set.

Mesmers are getting two new weapon sets (S/Sh and Sc/Sh), which makes the addition quite a bit more flexible. Plus, because Phantasms are also the skill 4 on every weapon set, that makes the Shield an immensely more valuable addition for build diversity than most options – especially two handed weapon options which are locked into themselves.

Now imagine Thieves. A new off-hand on them is worth 3 weapon sets. A new main-hand on them is worth two weapon sets. Adding a new weapon that could be used in both hands (like axe or mace), would be the equivalent of giving them SEVEN new weapon sets, all while only designing 11 new skills (2 MH skills, 2 OH skills, 7 Dual Skills).

IMO, it’s far more important to look at the number of sets gained as opposed to the number of skills.

I really hope the new traits and utility skills synergize well with the spec, otherwise people will just use the new spec’s weapon with their old utility skills, which would be a shame.

Duke Blackrose.4981:

Jaken.6801:

I am bit torn here.

For once I hope they change some skills, to make changing specialities more “special”.
I mean. If the Mesmer only get`s a shield as off-hand for example, it`s only 2 new skills.
In compairson with a Ranger going Druid with staff, he would get 5 new skills.

I really hope they have some things prepared to make the distribution of new skills fair, or at least balanced.

You say that, but it’s not that simple at all.

Yes, a Druid gets 5 new weapon skills because they are getting staves, but they are also only getting one weapon set.

Mesmers are getting two new weapon sets (S/Sh and Sc/Sh), which makes the addition quite a bit more flexible. Plus, because Phantasms are also the skill 4 on every weapon set, that makes the Shield an immensely more valuable addition for build diversity than most options – especially two handed weapon options which are locked into themselves.

Now imagine Thieves. A new off-hand on them is worth 3 weapon sets. A new main-hand on them is worth two weapon sets. Adding a new weapon that could be used in both hands (like axe or mace), would be the equivalent of giving them SEVEN new weapon sets, all while only designing 11 new skills (2 MH skills, 2 OH skills, 7 Dual Skills).

IMO, it’s far more important to look at the number of sets gained as opposed to the number of skills.

Never said it will be “easy”, however just because there is more combination possibilities, doesn`t mean these a re viable combination.

Depending on the gamemode, some weapon-combinations are very rarely used.
The shield especialy. I rarely see a guardian or a warrior use their shield.

The skills aren`t bad, but often not viable.

What I want to say is, that “worth” is a very subjective.

If the 5 skills staff has mroe or less 3 skills which are always viable in each gamemode, however the Mesmer shield only has two skills, which work best for 1, then we have a problem.
Doesn`t matter if you combine it with other main weapons, the downside is, that you still have 2 skills which are better with other equipment.

For example. The guardian is support and WvW ready. You can use the little bump of it and buff your friends, however otherwise it is highly situational.
It`s mostly used in there. Sometimes in PvP, but for things like PvE it is often unwanted (I get a lot of flag, just because I like my shield)

Of course we can`t cater to everyone.

btw. we don`t know how mechanics for classes will change. We don`t know if phantasm will be as high value for the new specialization.