Guild Wars 2

Hey guys!

So I have been reading the notes and watching the streams about the elite specialisations several times now and I can’t stop noticing one thing: In order to equip your new weapon you must use the new elite trait line as it is offer through a minor trait. The weird thing is that Dragonhunter can always equip longbow as it’s traits do not say anthing about “You can now equip longbow”. And thats good! So why is the greatsword bound to the reaper line for example?

Imagine the next scenario: I want to make a build where I go for max melee pressure so I take dagger and greatsword on my necromancer. I do need ranged so I want my Shroud to be a normal Death Shroud. BAM! Impossible. Since you have to spec into reaper traits in order to wield greatsword, but that also changes Death Shroud into Reaper Shroud.

This seems really really weird to me. It seems more logical to me that you can unlock you Elite specialisation weapon with Hero points and after that you start unlocking the traits.

Please consider changing this! I think it would open up more build variety and freedom in choosing how and what you want to play.

Greetings, Fvux.

Guardian can also only equip the Longbow if they take the Dragon Hunter trait-line.

Whether or not that’s a good thing is debatable, but every profession is in the same place where it has to take a specific new trait-line in order to use the new weapon.

Kaz.5430:

Guardian can also only equip the Longbow if they take the Dragon Hunter trait-line.

Whether or not that’s a good thing is debatable, but every profession is in the same place where it has to take a specific new trait-line in order to use the new weapon.

Hmm okat then those notes are missing, but I do still think it is kind of weird that using a weapon is locked out into speccing into a trait line.

The V.8759:

Kaz.5430:

Guardian can also only equip the Longbow if they take the Dragon Hunter trait-line.

Whether or not that’s a good thing is debatable, but every profession is in the same place where it has to take a specific new trait-line in order to use the new weapon.

Hmm okat then those notes are missing, but I do still think it is kind of weird that using a weapon is locked out into speccing into a trait line.

Look at them as a Jobs from final fantasy, not like a new trait line. If you want greatsword, you have to become a Reaper or you can just play as a normal Necromancer. The same goes for the others.

The Reaper have advantage over Necromancer as they can use all Necromancer weapons AND greatsword.

Lets see how everything plays out .

It’s an elite specialisation rather than just another trait line.

Personally I think that they should have made it so that instead of picking three normal specs or 1 elite and 2 normal, that you should always pick 1 elite and 2 normal.

Each of the original trait lines could then get a special elite trait that only gets used if you’ve picked that line as the ‘elite specialisation’. The new elite specs having access to a unique weapon and utility skills would then make more sense IMO as it would be the ‘elite’ trait for the line.

Back when the HoT Elite Specs were first being announced, they mentioned that that would be how you access the new weapons. It seems that the firs trait in every Elite Spec will allow access to the weapon and provide another bonus of some sort.

Essentially, Elite Specs seem to be like fill-in classes. So if you want to be a Reaper, greatsword will probably be the primary weapon of choice. Dragonhunter – Longbow, Druid – Staff, etc. However, you could be a Mace/Shield Dragonhunter or a Staff Reaper. They just offer a new way to play your profession.

The elite specs are more locking us on specific builds than opening up for more variations.

Just saying

MauricioCezar.2673:

The elite specs are more locking us on specific builds than opening up for more variations.

Just saying

Would be better if you didn’t need to spend all your points in that line, but only take the adept.

I just think it would be fair to have the weapon use free from the specialization.

MauricioCezar.2673:

I just think it would be fair to have the weapon use free from the specialization.

That’s tightly related to balance. There is a reason for them to be locked into new elite specs, otherwise the new weapons would be handed for free. This is, they’ve laid out a framework for elite specs by balancing a plethora of build compositions and got to a point where locking weapon to an elite spec felt “balanced”, if they allowed non-spec’d characters to use those weapons there could be a power creep of some sort.

I don’t know how the balancing team came up with this system, and what their reasoning is, but I’m certain that they analyzed this thorough, not simply threw this “lock”.

Yep if you wanted to use that specific weapon you have to be in Elite spec to do so. In a way you’re kinda one less spec line because you HAVE to use the elite.

The reason the new skills and weapons are locked is because the trait lines are sub-classes. They develop your class into an entirely secondary class. According to the devs, a Reaper (for example) will actually take on the class title of a Reaper and even use its own unique class icon in groups. As such a basic necromancer is not trained for Reaper tactics, including Reaper chants, Reaper weapon-fighting and reaper trait abilities.

It’s a matter of perspective, but without these, they would just be “another traitline” and lack the flair that they possess.

For now elite specs are not a big deal..but when they release next elite spec like sword ele.. we will run into troubles. Cus what if i want to use sword/warhorn ele? Or sword/warhorn+gs necro? Impossible due to the fact that i can equip only 1 elite spec.

Imagine being forced to train for str/zeal in order to be able to pick up gs etc. New weapons should be addes to base classes, not locked behind traitlines..

skowcia.8257:

For now elite specs are not a big deal..but when they release next elite spec like sword ele.. we will run into troubles. Cus what if i want to use sword/warhorn ele? Or sword/warhorn+gs necro? Impossible due to the fact that i can equip only 1 elite spec.

Imagine being forced to train for str/zeal in order to be able to pick up gs etc. New weapons should be addes to base classes, not locked behind traitlines..

They did that on purpose. The weapons are supposed to be defining, and they also did this for balance reasons. The elite specializations are supposed to be deeply specialized in a type of play, and it wasn’t something they wanted to be mixed with other future highly specialized specializations. They’re aware of that future road block, but (un)fortunately, it’s just part of the design and hard choices you’re expected to make.

That said, before they did this, I DO feel some classes could have used a few added baseline weapons. Namely Engineer and Elementalist, Guardian condition ranged, Necromancer full-power ranged, but alas, I guess that gives them room to expand later.

Kaz.5430:

It’s an elite specialisation rather than just another trait line.

Personally I think that they should have made it so that instead of picking three normal specs or 1 elite and 2 normal, that you should always pick 1 elite and 2 normal.

Each of the original trait lines could then get a special elite trait that only gets used if you’ve picked that line as the ‘elite specialisation’. The new elite specs having access to a unique weapon and utility skills would then make more sense IMO as it would be the ‘elite’ trait for the line.

Well Elite specs are meant to sharply define your party role: They forcibly bind you into traits designed for a certain role and alter your profession mechanic.
The 5 trees that are the core specs generally focus on : Burst DPS, Condi DPS, Support, Control and improving the profession mechanic. Picking 3 of these lets you fill at least 2 of these roles based on how that role is defined for your class (Condi Guardian = Burning, Condi Necro = poison, some bleed).
By giving up one of these potential roles or the ability to up your profession mechanics, you’re getting access to a new role in the form of the Elite spec.

Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better class-expansion system. Hope they add new weapons/skill types going forward

Skieth.5601:

Kaz.5430:

It’s an elite specialisation rather than just another trait line.

Personally I think that they should have made it so that instead of picking three normal specs or 1 elite and 2 normal, that you should always pick 1 elite and 2 normal.

Each of the original trait lines could then get a special elite trait that only gets used if you’ve picked that line as the ‘elite specialisation’. The new elite specs having access to a unique weapon and utility skills would then make more sense IMO as it would be the ‘elite’ trait for the line.

Well Elite specs are meant to sharply define your party role: They forcibly bind you into traits designed for a certain role and alter your profession mechanic.
The 5 trees that are the core specs generally focus on : Burst DPS, Condi DPS, Support, Control and improving the profession mechanic. Picking 3 of these lets you fill at least 2 of these roles based on how that role is defined for your class (Condi Guardian = Burning, Condi Necro = poison, some bleed).
By giving up one of these potential roles or the ability to up your profession mechanics, you’re getting access to a new role in the form of the Elite spec.

Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better class-expansion system. Hope they add new weapons/skill types going forward

With the idea of more Elite specs coming (not just one per profession), I like the idea of locking yourself into that role, but that wouldn’t mean that you just swap between elite lines willy nilly.

I’d like the re-introduction of profession trainers in towns, to allow players to swap between elite professions in major cities (once they’ve done what is necessary to unlock them). That way, if you’re a Dragonhunter, you can equip your DH weapon regardless of what lines you run, but the only elite spec you can run is the Dragonhunter one. The Fskill changes are built into the elite spec, so if you don’t want the Fskill changes (and don’t need the weapon), then you’d either swap to a different spec or just run “specless”.

That’s how I interpreted it initially, but obviously I was way of the mark. I do still prefer my interpretation over just hotswapping (elite) lines.

CodeHavoc.7926:

In a way you’re kinda one less spec line because you HAVE to use the elite.

No. That would only be true if the elite traitline didn’t have any traits.

You seem to be assuming that the elite traitline is useless. Sure, you have to use the elite traitline in order to get the weapon, but as that traitline is custom designed for the weapon I don’t see it as a problem.

In fact, chances are you’d want to be using that traitline anyway as it’s the only traitline with traits for your new weapon.

Less choice
We know whats best
Here let me hold your hand so you don’t take the wrong spec line
Here let me spoon feed you the traits you should really be picking
Actually you know what, this is too complicated, we’ll just give you a drop down list of builds
Still too complicated, drop down reduced to one build.
Superfluous weapons removed to avoid confusion.
Skill sets too complicated, reduced to 1 chain skill:
“Swing Sword”
“Swing Sword Again”
and “Swing Sword Again Yay!”

The ugly path of simplification, and “knowing whats bestest” for your playerbase.
Less choice but more meaningful choice is a farce, without bad choices the good choices cannot be meaningful, as they are the only choice.

I don’t think it says anywhere that you MUST have the spec to use weap…

Only that you MUST have the spec to use the new function of the class like new virtues, new attunements, reaper, and chrono….