Guild Wars 2

You expected a new element along with new weapon skills for sword for all the current elements as well? How greedy can you get? Having a new F skill might be nice, but that would be a whole lot of new skills for elementalists over every other class. Every weapon combination would have new skills. That is a massive amount of work.

Even getting the sword gives us more new weapon skills than any other class gets.

Or maybe Anet didn’t finished it and the mechanic isn’t in the code yet.
Try to hold the “complains” after the specialization announcement.

May I remind you of the different interviews about specializations. Colin stated that specs will change profession mechanics in one of Two ways.
1) the same attunement will be there but will behave differently or
2) they will be changed completely.
Now remember that the specs are not final yet. The ele spec might still use the same 4 attunements but they will work differently or maybe anet has not included all of the ele spec into the update so it’s not final.

Best thing to do is to wait until they actually release information about it before getting disappointed.

It would be cool if ele did get the zephyrites atuments. Lighting Sun wind and Peace? i guess though the last one is odd and lighting and wind may be about the same thing.
What else is there 4 of something in the GW lore?

Why does it have to be a set of 4? Having just three attunements could add tons of flavor.

It’d also mean redoing every weapon skill they have, so don’t hold your breath. Specialization are all about change on a budget.

I’m confident that ele sword meta will revolve around vulnerability and condition damage, as well as evasive gameplay. There might be changes to elemental glyphs, or a new elite that assists in such gameplay, and a new trait line as well.

With current changes to burning, we could expect a little nerf here and there in other classes, and a burst to sword/scepter.

This is all speculation though.

I think the concerns are valid.

A.) Warrior looks to have a new “F” skill. Is that something added to Warrior or is that the specialization?
B.) Rangers still seem to have their primary mechanic of having a pet with the Druid Spec./Shouldn’t the pet be gone?

ArenaNet hasn’t really conveyed that these specializations are far departures from the base professions yet. You would think the ele spec would not have attunements at all. I wouldn’t think an added attunement for a spec. would do anything other than make people not ever play base ele.

They said that the closed beta would be happening shortly after PAX, so we have to be close unless “shortly” meant like 2 months in which case, idk what to say.

It was suggested long ago (about the time frame when a ton of things in HoT were being discussed in CDIs) that any mechanic called “Adrenaline” could very logically have a f1: fight! and f2: flight! option. Maybe the warrior specialization has fight or flight instincts? But it could be the class as a whole is going to see a little more flexibility in spending its class-resource. Given the design-hours required to add an f2 skill to every weapon, I’m leaning towards it being for the class as a whole…

Iason Evan.3806:

A.) Warrior looks to have a new “F” skill. Is that something added to Warrior or is that the specialization?

Likely to be a specialization thing, but who knows?

Iason Evan.3806:

B.) Rangers still seem to have their primary mechanic of having a pet with the Druid Spec./Shouldn’t the pet be gone?

Not really, what may happen is that when you become a druid the pet mechanics be different, but you will still have a pet.

Nike.2631:

Why does it have to be a set of 4? Having just three attunements could add tons of flavor.

It’d also mean redoing every weapon skill they have, so don’t hold your breath. Specialization are all about change on a budget.

4 or 1 just seems to be a thing for most classes that all. What do we have 3 of in the lore i guess we have the 3 old guilds from befor GW1 that would be odd if ele could tap into that though that sounds more like a revy. thing.

maybe they will do something weird like we still have the ability to change element , but we can only do it out of combat or every 180 sec , but let us weapon swap. who knows

Qori.9671:

maybe they will do something weird like we still have the ability to change element , but we can only do it out of combat or every 180 sec , but let us weapon swap. who knows

That’s ridiculous. That would defeat the core mechanics of the class, regardless of specializations.

personally i think that the skills are placeholders until the team actually gets around to creating unique skills – apparently they’re just getting to the ‘weapon’ phase and are planning out what each special gets. it’s more of those ‘dev notes’, like with how the unfinished revenant stuff has double brackets to state what they want it to do so far.

Not sure why you dislike this OP. Not only does our class have one of the most interesting and active mechanic, but It changes with our weapon. I honestly don’t mind that they aren’t going for something new.

I feel like classes such as Warr and Necro should have a new mechanic for their specialization, let’s face it… Warr having a SINGLE button as the so called “Mechanic” is just boring… Necro is a little better, but DS basicly stops the devs from giving them any form of utility.

We have something really nice for our mechanic and I’d rather see it change in a more dynamic way then have our specialization completely different. Improve upon it, give us more interesting roles within our attunements.

Iason Evan.3806:

I think the concerns are valid.

A.) Warrior looks to have a new “F” skill. Is that something added to Warrior or is that the specialization?
B.) Rangers still seem to have their primary mechanic of having a pet with the Druid Spec./Shouldn’t the pet be gone?

There’s a difference between “change” and “delete”. I mean, you say Warrior gets a new F skill, does that delete his adrenaline mechanic? No? Then why expect Ranger’s pet to be deleted?

You guys gotta think creatively if you’re gonna speculate :P

Valento.9852:

Qori.9671:

maybe they will do something weird like we still have the ability to change element , but we can only do it out of combat or every 180 sec , but let us weapon swap. who knows

That’s ridiculous. That would defeat the core mechanics of the class, regardless of specializations.

Hmm, what if it was a blend of Attunements and Thief initiative? Like each attunement has a set amount of ‘initiative’ that boosts the element (or the attunement itself can be pressed and held to recharge it) and every skill you use depletes it and only recharges once you swap out.

The boosts could be additional effects or increased damage or range. The interesting things though is you could balance the effects per weapon/per skill/per attunement and you can introduce special effects that could be affected by traits or have specialty use for their new weapon.

Think about it. You might actually be able to focus on one attunement if the new trait line gives you other effects while you charge your attunement and your initiative-backed skills would be stronger.

Note: recharges would still be in effect on all skills, you just get extra effects for using ‘initiative’ with the skills…maybe a decrease in effectiveness if you use the skills with no ‘initiative’.

One idea would be a Attunement Empower button.

• Attunement Empower (40s): Charges your currently attuned element boosting damage and adding a unstable phenomena around yourself. (radius: 360)
  • Volcano (10s): Due to fire outburst, you’re summoning strong lava pools around. Unstable ground may explode, launching foes away.
  • Blizzard (10s): Due to icy outburst, you’re summoning chilling whirlwinds. Unstable blizzard may cause whirlwinds to blind foes.
  • High Voltage (10s): Due to a high voltage outburst, you summon lightning strikes around causing vulnerability. Unstable lightning storm may apply an Electrical Discharge to foes.
    • Electrical Discharge (5s): You’re charged and damaging nearby allies.
  • Magnetism (10s): Due to earth instability, you summon magnetic fields around which pull enemies. Unstable magnetism may knockdown enemies.

There, a geomancer.

One must remember that nothing datamined is ever really the complete picture, nor is it truly what is to come until it’s actually live.

For example, some dataminers last year found evidence of Marjory’s apparent death at the end of LS Season 1, and that turned out not to be true (if you didn’t hear of it, it’s probably because most of them followed That_Shaman’s example of not releasing spoilery stuff like that until after it would have happened)

Anet can change a lot of things between now and HoT release. Maybe they do add a new attunement, or swap out a current attunement for a new one, or even change the weapon elemetalists will get from a sword to… I dunno, a pistol. Until something concrete is said, Datamined info is only marginally more reliable than any other form of rumors.

any links for this? can’t seem to find anything about the sword on ele, all i found was auto chains for the dagger.

because if you mean this then it’s not about sword at all: http://i.imgur.com/hMuuZRe.png

Do you know if ele gets ONE weapon, they get around 8 to 20 skills in total, while other classes only get 2~5.
What more can you ask?

Lol … complaining about content that isn’t released yet. Always a pleasure.

Aomine.5012:

Do you know if ele gets ONE weapon, they get around 8 to 20 skills in total, while other classes only get 2~5.
What more can you ask?

They know, but that won’t stop complaint. I have no doubts that giving them a weapon swap would still be viewed as no enough.

Elementalist is a tricky one. It’s hard to change their mechanic without having to rebuild a hundred or so skills. It’ll be interesting to see what they’ve come up with.

Bran.7425:

Aomine.5012:

Do you know if ele gets ONE weapon, they get around 8 to 20 skills in total, while other classes only get 2~5.
What more can you ask?

They know, but that won’t stop complaint. I have no doubts that giving them a weapon swap would still be viewed as no enough.

Many eles would welcome a specialisation which halved the number of skills, but gave each skill the power of other profession’s skills.

dietzero.3514:

Bran.7425:

Aomine.5012:

Do you know if ele gets ONE weapon, they get around 8 to 20 skills in total, while other classes only get 2~5.
What more can you ask?

They know, but that won’t stop complaint. I have no doubts that giving them a weapon swap would still be viewed as no enough.

Many eles would welcome a specialisation which halved the number of skills, but gave each skill the power of other profession’s skills.

LOL… And Ele have some of the most powerful “utility skills” and “damaging spells” that no other classes can compare on their weapons, yet people still think they’re weaker.

They have 4 seconds complete invulnerable, cleanse 3 conditions+reflect+blast finisher, 6 sec aoe projectile destruction, 10 seconds fire field, etc on their off hand focus.

They have some of the best healing skills, cleanse skills, highest aoe damage (lava font+ meteor shower), best CC skills, and best CC field (static field) on their staff.

Ele has no trash weapon and filler skills that most of the other classes get. That’s why ele is considered one of the strongest class in all aspects of game mode: PVP, WVW, and Dungeon.

And despite all this, the community still complain about ele not being good enough.

And yet no one uses the focus outside of crazy builds.

Dungeon is all staff.
PvP is all Dagger/Dagger.
WvW is a mix of both, but mainly staff for the zerg.

Focus has a few great skills among a lot of bad ones. But seeing as you think Flamewall is good, I doubt you will understand.

Iason Evan.3806:

A.) Warrior looks to have a new “F” skill. Is that something added to Warrior or is that the specialization?
B.) Rangers still seem to have their primary mechanic of having a pet with the Druid Spec./Shouldn’t the pet be gone?

Arent’ warrior f skills basically a 6th weapon skill? I mean it’d be silly to add a weapon (primary) and use an old F skill wouldn’kitten

And Ele’s are getting 20 new skills… hardly reasonable to cry foul.

As for rangers/druids, who said druids don’t have pets? I had a pet on my EQ druid though he sucked :b it was still a fluffy pet.

dietzero.3514:

And yet no one uses the focus outside of crazy builds.

Dungeon is all staff.
PvP is all Dagger/Dagger.
WvW is a mix of both, but mainly staff for the zerg.

Focus has a few great skills among a lot of bad ones. But seeing as you think Flamewall is good, I doubt you will understand.

Focus is one of the best weapons in harder dungeon, don’t know what you’re talking about. It has great blast finisher, great combo field, and great utility.

PVP staff is strong if you have a coordinate team. You can also go S/F fresh air, or typical D/D. All 3 sets of weapons are viable.

WvW zerg has staff or s/f, and roaming can go d/d or S/F or S/D.

All weapons are viable in all game mode, so I really can’t understand what you’re QQing about. Maybe it’s a L2P issue?

dietzero.3514:

And yet no one uses the focus outside of crazy builds.

Dungeon is all staff.
PvP is all Dagger/Dagger.
WvW is a mix of both, but mainly staff for the zerg.

Focus has a few great skills among a lot of bad ones. But seeing as you think Flamewall is good, I doubt you will understand.

Huh? Staff is all you use in dungeons?

Staff is better DPS IFF you have the might stacks, but generally speaking you have 2 main options for that, either Ele S/F (or D/F) builds or a Phalanx Str war, and while it’s surely an option and not a bad one the meta typically leans towards S/F Ele as you lose less overall damage output to gain the might.

Flame wall is a key skill to the S/F Ele for might stacks, though in D/F you’ll generally try to not rely on it outside of prefight stacking.

Do people even realize that by asking for a new F mechanic on the Elementalist they are basically asking for a new profession? Not only do they have to replace the 80 weapon skills we already have (excluding the 12 skills we get from the main hand sword), by changing the F mechanic they also have to change all of the Elemantalist trait lines and besides that even some of the utilities needs to be changed as well. How can people seriously ask for this and get upset while professions like the Warrior and the Mesmer may only get 2 new weapon skills and some small changes to there profession mechanic.

After seeking that data mining, my belief in Elementalists receiving as first Specialization “Arcanist” together with Sword became only stronger, despite the chances for seeign first somethign like Pyromancer beign also very high with Torches beign their new Weapon, that would have suited to the story best and would have been the very easy way for Anet of coming up with other Specializations for the specific other Elements in the future….

But giving the Elementalist instead if elemental specializations rather theme different specializations allows Anet to be more creative and to change more mechanics also within the class.

Like i told it already several times to mesmer fans…
Its not the amount of new skills that matters, its the DESIGN and Gameplay Mechanics in overall, that do matter in regard of specializations, because its completely regardless, what Anet will do, there will be ALWAYS Classes, which will have more Skills, than others due to the different Class Designs and Mechanics and only because of one Class having more skills, than an other class, makes that class with more skills not more powerful, than the class with lesser skills.

If anyone really thinks that way, stop it, its god stupid!!
A Class is only so powerful, as the player behind it, which operates it. If that player can’t handle the Gameplay Mechanics of that Class, it won’t help that player if his chosen Class has more Skills, than an other different Class.

I think the first Specialization “Arcanist” will work kind of like an “Upgrade Specialization”, which focuses on still using the Elemental Attunement System, but adds on top of it just a 5th Elemental Attunement

Ether Attunement as “Neutral Element”

Arcanists would be able to use Ether Attunement, would be specialized in in becoming better at non elemental Arcane Spells of their Arcana Trait Line and would use their arcane powers to become with the help of it and the Elemental Attunements more of the classical “Battle Mages”, that fight at Melee Range like Warriors, which fuses their elemental powers with Ether Attunement to their Swords to unleash the elemental powers at direct melee range.

All other Elemental Skilsl are no real direct Melee Skills. Even Dagger so far is more of kind of Semi Melee Combat, because all their skilsl range between 300 to even 600.

Real Melee Combat Skills in GW2 have a range of 130 in GW2 and i think thats where the Elementalist Sword Skills will aim for, cause currently the Ele has no real Melee Skills at all.
Eles can already be very tanky, so Arcanists with elemental Melee Combat and a stronger gameplay around additional non elemental Skills through Ether Attunement with improved Arcane Utility Skills is i think what we wil lget with Elementalists.

Other Specializations after the Arcanists I think we will see in the future will be then:

• Summoner – much more focused on Conjures and Elementals > Warhorn
• Runologist – much more focused on Glyphs and Signets > Shield
• Sage – More focused on elemental Transformations and being one with the Elements > Torch
• Enchanter – much more focused on Boon Gameplay, environmental Boons based on Elements to enchant the enviroment and change the environment, gives also a kind of Magic Archer-Gameplay > Shortbow

Blood Attunement would be cool. Bending blood and stuff.

Elementalist’s specialization will probably be called Battlemage/ Spellsword (the second name’s the coolest of both). The community talked about it in the CDI thread where advanced classes were discussed, and now the ele is getting a melee weapon.

Zoid.2568:

Blood Attunement would be cool. Bending blood and stuff.

Sounds like something the necromancer should be doing.

They are the masters of life & death energy after all.

What exactly is a specialization? Thats what you have to ask first. When you specialize in something in battle, like a sword or hammer, why would you choose not to use it?

My guess is if you choose to use the profession specialization you will be locked with one weapon set being that weapon, why would anything else change exactly? If you choose to specialize with the necromancer most likely you will have to have a weapon as a greatsword just like if you specialize into the sword with elementalists you have to use swords, why would your F skills change? Thats 12 skills at the very least if you cant use a sword in the offhand not to mention traits and utility skills. What would you realistically change F skills to?

I think some people are thinking its going to be some radical change when most likely they are just going to be introducing new weapons with the specialization system. They probably arent going to change the core gameplay of the professions but build upon them with more choice.

Jongi.7612:

What exactly is a specialization? Thats what you have to ask first. When you specialize in something in battle, like a sword or hammer, why would you choose not to use it?

My guess is if you choose to use the profession specialization you will be locked with one weapon set being that weapon, why would anything else change exactly? If you choose to specialize with the necromancer most likely you will have to have a weapon as a greatsword just like if you specialize into the sword with elementalists you have to use swords, why would your F skills change? Thats 12 skills at the very least if you cant use a sword in the offhand not to mention traits and utility skills. What would you realistically change F skills to?

I think some people are thinking its going to be some radical change when most likely they are just going to be introducing new weapons with the specialization system. They probably arent going to change the core gameplay of the professions but build upon them with more choice.

Actually that’s incorrect. Colin has stated before the the profession mechanic will change as well. He stated the profession mechanic will perform differently or be replaced with something different. It will differ depending on specializations. Take the druid for example. We know we still have pets but we don’t know how they changed. Maybe you can channel nature spirits into your pet or something druid-y.

Until Colin comes through and says that profession mechanics will remain the same, we can say something will change.

Derigar.7810:

This is such a disappointment. I was hoping the elementalist would be getting some new, exciting F-skills but apparently that would go beyond your creative scope… I hope this data-mining will prove me wrong but it doesn’t seem like it…

Do you know what would be really, really fun?

If those skills are not placeholders, and the sword really does get dagger and staff skills with just a few new skills at all.

I imagine how upset the community would be then.

Elementalists are getting 12 new weapon skills.

Every other class is getting either 2, 3 or 5.

Stop whinging.

JoshuaRAWR.4653:

Elementalists are getting 12 new weapon skills.

Every other class is getting either 2, 3 or 5.

Stop whinging.

Exactly even it the new weapon is only an off hand they would still be receiving more skills than those receiving a two handed weapon.

Unfortunately with the developmental history/preference of the player base I doubt any additional option will be used as they would have to be better than the ones already in use and that screams of power creep which at least at one point the developers/designers stated was something they wanted to avoid.

Bran.7425:

JoshuaRAWR.4653:

Elementalists are getting 12 new weapon skills.

Every other class is getting either 2, 3 or 5.

Stop whinging.

Exactly even it the new weapon is only an off hand they would still be receiving more skills than those receiving a two handed weapon.

Unfortunately with the developmental history/preference of the player base I doubt any additional option will be used as they would have to be better than the ones already in use and that screams of power creep which at least at one point the developers/designers stated was something they wanted to avoid.

The 12 skills is just speculation right now. We do not know if the ele will still keep 4 attunement or get something different or the attunement behave differently. We do not know how many skills will come with the specialization. It’s all speculation right now.

As for the power creep I doubt that will be the issue. The specializations are being used to fill a role that was currently unfillable by that profession. They are not putting in specs to fill a role that’s already filled. So when I spec ele I’m not choosing spec burst over normal burst but instead I’m choosing between filling a new role or playing the same roles as before

ImTasty.2163:

The 12 skills is just speculation right now. We do not know if the ele will still keep 4 attunement or get something different or the attunement behave differently. We do not know how many skills will come with the specialization. It’s all speculation right now.

As for the power creep I doubt that will be the issue. The specializations are being used to fill a role that was currently unfillable by that profession. They are not putting in specs to fill a role that’s already filled. So when I spec ele I’m not choosing spec burst over normal burst but instead I’m choosing between filling a new role or playing the same roles as before

What role is the profession needing? They are one of the best damage dealer in pve, the most stackable profession in spvp, and they are the E in the GWEN of wvw (even though the developers don’t know what to do with wvw as the original design balance was never a concern now the are struggling to seize chaos on that from).

Bran.7425:

JoshuaRAWR.4653:

Elementalists are getting 12 new weapon skills.

Every other class is getting either 2, 3 or 5.

Stop whinging.

Exactly even it the new weapon is only an off hand they would still be receiving more skills than those receiving a two handed weapon.

Unfortunately with the developmental history/preference of the player base I doubt any additional option will be used as they would have to be better than the ones already in use and that screams of power creep which at least at one point the developers/designers stated was something they wanted to avoid.

It is hard to avoid “power creep” in any MMO game’s expansion. Better skills or better synergy WILL eventually come out because the new skills are often more well thought out compare to some of the old filler skills. Even in GW1, people who own more campaign and expansion will always have a much better skills combination and synergy compare to people who only own a single campaign.

This process is inevitable. Anet can try their best to balance out the OP skills to an acceptable range, but it still does not change the fact that people who have access with more skills and traits will obviously have more advantage over other people.

Bran.7425:

ImTasty.2163:

The 12 skills is just speculation right now. We do not know if the ele will still keep 4 attunement or get something different or the attunement behave differently. We do not know how many skills will come with the specialization. It’s all speculation right now.

As for the power creep I doubt that will be the issue. The specializations are being used to fill a role that was currently unfillable by that profession. They are not putting in specs to fill a role that’s already filled. So when I spec ele I’m not choosing spec burst over normal burst but instead I’m choosing between filling a new role or playing the same roles as before

What role is the profession needing? They are one of the best damage dealer in pve, the most stackable profession in spvp, and they are the E in the GWEN of wvw (even though the developers don’t know what to do with wvw as the original design balance was never a concern now the are struggling to seize chaos on that from).

What role could be a variety of things. Maybe a more condition based role or maybe a heavier control role. I don’t know what role it’s filling but it is filling one that it currently did not fill. That’s what was stated in multiple interviews with Colin. They have yet to say anything different so until that day comes they are filling a role they could not fill well or did not fill at all.

I think it would be cool if we got an option on f-5 to swap from long range spells to short range, and had all of our weapons revoked so we use hand magic. So we have a BUNCH of skill on a 20 second swap. So we have hand magic for 1200-1500 range that increases damage with distance and provides heavy damage/control while having low mobility, and 300-600 range spells that have higher mobility and a bit more healing/sustain and less damage.

One elementalist weapon is already 12 skills as opposed to 3 for a normal mainhand…quit whining

Don’t worry, ele specialisation will probably not be viable in pvp since every single build puts 6 points in arcana.

ImTasty.2163:

Jongi.7612:

What exactly is a specialization? Thats what you have to ask first. When you specialize in something in battle, like a sword or hammer, why would you choose not to use it?

My guess is if you choose to use the profession specialization you will be locked with one weapon set being that weapon, why would anything else change exactly? If you choose to specialize with the necromancer most likely you will have to have a weapon as a greatsword just like if you specialize into the sword with elementalists you have to use swords, why would your F skills change? Thats 12 skills at the very least if you cant use a sword in the offhand not to mention traits and utility skills. What would you realistically change F skills to?

I think some people are thinking its going to be some radical change when most likely they are just going to be introducing new weapons with the specialization system. They probably arent going to change the core gameplay of the professions but build upon them with more choice.

Actually that’s incorrect. Colin has stated before the the profession mechanic will change as well. He stated the profession mechanic will perform differently or be replaced with something different. It will differ depending on specializations. Take the druid for example. We know we still have pets but we don’t know how they changed. Maybe you can channel nature spirits into your pet or something druid-y.

Until Colin comes through and says that profession mechanics will remain the same, we can say something will change.

So that doesnt mean the profession is changing. Lets look at the necromancer and its unique mechanic death shroud. With him saying “the mechanic will perform differently or be replaced with something different” could just mean that they are going to change the death shroud abilities which doesnt change the mechanics of the class. As an elementalist you have to think, what would they replace the F skills with? How would they change them? The only thing they could really do is change what those attunements would bring, like fire not bringing heavy damage and burning.

They will most likely keep the core mechanics the same and build upon that like I said earlier.

ImTasty.2163:

Bran.7425:

ImTasty.2163:

The 12 skills is just speculation right now. We do not know if the ele will still keep 4 attunement or get something different or the attunement behave differently. We do not know how many skills will come with the specialization. It’s all speculation right now.

As for the power creep I doubt that will be the issue. The specializations are being used to fill a role that was currently unfillable by that profession. They are not putting in specs to fill a role that’s already filled. So when I spec ele I’m not choosing spec burst over normal burst but instead I’m choosing between filling a new role or playing the same roles as before

What role is the profession needing? They are one of the best damage dealer in pve, the most stackable profession in spvp, and they are the E in the GWEN of wvw (even though the developers don’t know what to do with wvw as the original design balance was never a concern now the are struggling to seize chaos on that from).

What role could be a variety of things. Maybe a more condition based role or maybe a heavier control role. I don’t know what role it’s filling but it is filling one that it currently did not fill. That’s what was stated in multiple interviews with Colin. They have yet to say anything different so until that day comes they are filling a role they could not fill well or did not fill at all.

The source of that statement?

I don’t need a link, just point to which interviews Colin stated that.

AFAIK, what the specializations will do hasn’t been stated, just that they will be able to focus on a role. I don’t think there’s anything in particular that Elementalist can’t do with their many sets of skills so saying “it will fulfill a role it couldn’t before”, you’d first have to find something they couldn’t do before.

I’m really excited that we get the sword for the elementalist.
As for the skills, even if those are still in the work, I’m a bit disappointed. I had hoped for some new mechanics, buffs or debuffs finding their way into the new skills, but so far I only found one and that isn’t even known yet: 50% Fumble (unrestricted) on Lightning Touch.
Oh…and one of the fire-skills gives 10 endurance on hit.

Apart from that it’s the usual stuff like chill, vulnerability and cripple.
Not even a lot of combo-material in the mix. One field and one blast-finisher, that’s it. Not even a leap.

Somehow the Woah!!!-effect didn’t trigger for me yet.
With the new camera there could have been so impressive skills.
For example a version of Ride the Lightning where the elementalist could turn into lightning, charging with the sword forward in a line-aoe, piercing through enemies in the way, while the camera pins itself to the blade of the sword.

Leo G.4501:

ImTasty.2163:

Bran.7425:

ImTasty.2163:

The 12 skills is just speculation right now. We do not know if the ele will still keep 4 attunement or get something different or the attunement behave differently. We do not know how many skills will come with the specialization. It’s all speculation right now.

As for the power creep I doubt that will be the issue. The specializations are being used to fill a role that was currently unfillable by that profession. They are not putting in specs to fill a role that’s already filled. So when I spec ele I’m not choosing spec burst over normal burst but instead I’m choosing between filling a new role or playing the same roles as before

What role is the profession needing? They are one of the best damage dealer in pve, the most stackable profession in spvp, and they are the E in the GWEN of wvw (even though the developers don’t know what to do with wvw as the original design balance was never a concern now the are struggling to seize chaos on that from).

What role could be a variety of things. Maybe a more condition based role or maybe a heavier control role. I don’t know what role it’s filling but it is filling one that it currently did not fill. That’s what was stated in multiple interviews with Colin. They have yet to say anything different so until that day comes they are filling a role they could not fill well or did not fill at all.

The source of that statement?

I don’t need a link, just point to which interviews Colin stated that.

AFAIK, what the specializations will do hasn’t been stated, just that they will be able to focus on a role. I don’t think there’s anything in particular that Elementalist can’t do with their many sets of skills so saying “it will fulfill a role it couldn’t before”, you’d first have to find something they couldn’t do before.

I’m posting this on my phone and it has problems with copy and paste. I can tell you exactly how to get there though. Go to the wiki, search specializations, go to the bottom of the page and there is a link there that will take you to an interview with pc gamer. There are 2 questions that really focus on specializations.

For you one response states that specs will fill a role that the class does not fill.

For Jongi there is another statement that says specs will change the core mechanics of the professions

When I’m able to copy and paste I will edit the post with the link but I provided an easy way to find it.