Guild Wars 2

Engineer has been data-mined to be Forge.

They should have just kept Elementalist as Elementalist because the new spec is pretty craptastic and really doesn’t give it a specialization feel.

I’d say:

Chronomancer: pretty good. works thematically, sounds good.
Dragonhunter: not the best, could easily be replaced with other names, like Sentinel as you say.
Reaper: this name’s fine, and I don’t get your criticism – reaper as a word is far bigger than Mass Effect ever was. the Grim Reaper, for example.
Tempest: not a bad name, but it doesn’t hugely fit with the theme – though this might be because the Tempest doesn’t really seem to have a consistent theme.
Herald: this one’s pretty good. seer wouldn’t work, because you’re not glint, you’re spreading her word – much as a herald does. I think a good alternative could be Harbinger – similar meaning, cooler sounding
Berserker: I’m not a huge fan, because having a stat combination and an elite spec share a name feels like a bad idea. that said, those concerns are the only issues, it’s otherwise a good name.
Daredevil: I’m not a huge fan, but I can live with it. I feel like Enforcer would’ve been better sounding and more fitting thematically (it’s more a bruiser than a thrill-seeker.)
Forge: this isn’t confirmed, so I’ll hold back any opinions
Druid: pretty standard, it sounds okay and how fitting it is depends on the spec.

I think a lot of what you see as the devs taking inspiration from popular culture is in fact devs taking inspiration from the words that inspired those pieces of popular culture.

I feel very solo on liking the name Daredevil. It’s the kind cheese appeal I appreciate.

The only one I find to be odd is Dragon Hunter. Fine name indeed if everyone regardless of class wasn’t a Dragon Hunter by default.

I love how this is a game of “I’ve heard the name before, typically in another game, so that makes it good — unless I’ve heard it too recently. I haven’t heard it before: ooooo, bad.”

I agree with you. I’m really excited about the HoT expansion, but geez, Daredevil? There were like a bunch of great names they could have used. Enforcer sounds perfect, it keeps with the thief theme much better. Also, Dragonhunter is supposed to be like demonhunter, but come on, paladin, seraph, or sentinel would have been better.

Daredevil is an incredibly fitting name, considering what the spec does. It’s built around fighting groups of enemies and surviving via Tons of Dodges. If they kitten up once, they’re dead. Enforcer is a terrible name, because they’re not a tough brawler, they’re a nimble thrill-seeker.

Dragonhunter doesn’t bother me at all, either. Sure, everyone’s a dragon hunter. Everyone’s also a warrior, too. And for the last 3 years, everyone in PvE has been a berserker.

And Bioware didn’t invent the use of “Herald” or “Reaper”, so that complaint is pretty stupid. I’ll admit that I’m a bit peeved that Herald doesn’t get a warhorn, but the name itself is good.

Gray.9041:

Berserker: I’m not a huge fan, because having a stat combination and an elite spec share a name feels like a bad idea. that said, those concerns are the only issues, it’s otherwise a good name.

They couldn’t very well call the Warrior spec “Sinister” could they? :p

I’m still proposing Dargonhurrdurr be the official Guardian spec, but I’m not getting much support.

Captain Unusual.9163:

And Bioware didn’t invent the use of “Herald” or “Reaper”, so that complaint is pretty stupid. I’ll admit that I’m a bit peeved that Herald doesn’t get a warhorn, but the name itself is good.

Agreed.

Though, funny thing, for the Charr I had planned as a Revenant, he had “Herald” in his name, long before I knew it was a thing for the class.

Maybe Barbarian for Berserker? I’m thinking D&D/Pathfinder style Barbarians, decked out for raging, whirling axes and yada yada

It’s all about opinions.

To me Chronomancer, Reaper, Tempest and Druid all are great names.

Dragonhunter just feel out of context. What we hunt dragon like deers with Bow and Trap?

Beserker. I don’t mind the name itself. But the fact that Beserker is such a popular gear stats might create some miscommunication between players. Too bad because the name really fix the elite.

Daredevil fit the profession nicely, but the obvious name stealing is obvious.

Forge. We’ll see, but for me Forge is the name of an object so…

Herald. I really have no opinion on that one.

Meh, the only really bad is Dragon Hunter.

I think Reaper is just wierd because we also have Soul Reaping. I suspect next elite specs will have Reaped and Reapiest in them. I mean.. why not right.. who needs a thesaurus anyway!?