Guild Wars 2

So far, of the five previewed, only Necromancer and Guardian elite specs actually change their class mechanics. Rev, Ele, and Mesmer elite specs all just add on extra buttons that, if you felt like it, you could totally ignore and play the class the same as before but with a different trait line.

Reaper’s Shroud and the new DH virtues are great design. They’re similar to the base class mechanic, but different enough that you need to treat them as a fundamentally different ability.

Chronomancers, Heralds, and Tempests don’t need to treat their class mechanics differently. If a Chrono doesn’t press his f5 button, the rest of his shatters work the same. If a herald doesn’t use glint or his f2, he can just be a normal revenant. If a tempest doesn’t reactivate their attunement, then they’re unchanged from the base Elementalist.

Why does the elite spec not even function the same between classes?

DH and Reaper received 2H weapons the rest 1H ones.

I think the logic is as follows: If the elite spec gives a two-handed weapon, the mechanics change (i.e. Reaper and Dragonhunter). If the elite spec gives an off-hand weapon, it recieves additional mechanics (i.e. Herald, Tempest and Chronomancer).

Actually for what Anet said it should change profession mechanics.
The idea of giving the players from other classes to be able to choose another that could have similar mechanics as the preferred one was pretty good.
Unfortunately that’s not always easy to find and the creative team wasn’t able to actually change anything within those classes.
Same as Dragon Hunter is the class the rangers could use as second one if it overcome the problems with the slow bow and the not so useful traps.
And the Reaper could be the choice of those warriors than want something new.

Diovid.9506:

I think the logic is as follows: If the elite spec gives a two-handed weapon, the mechanics change (i.e. Reaper and Dragonhunter). If the elite spec gives an off-hand weapon, it recieves additional mechanics (i.e. Herald, Tempest and Chronomancer).

an interesting theory, but we’ll need more info – 5 classes is still a small sample size

I find this odd too. It means that some professions get an extra skill with no downside when they take an elite spec, whereas for others they have to decide if the trade is worth it. There is no benefit to having a 2H weapon compared to a main hand and an off-hand which would be balanced by having an extra profession ability; I can’t imagine a reason why you would not take Chronomancer spec on a mesmer, or the Tempest spec on an Ele.

I’d like to see some the concept be the same across all professions. Something like longer legend/attunement/shatter cooldowns when you have an elite spec slotted for heralds/tempests/chronos.

Part of those new trait lines is the new mechanic, if you ignore it you’ll be missing out on a lot of mechanics and you’ll probably end up preforming poorly because of it. I mean honestly what’s to stop a player from ignoring any given game mechanic, if i wanted to i could play the game without ever touching the weapon swap button, or without using an elite skill.
Would it be wise? No.
But could i do it? Absolutely.
While i understand the lack of enthusiasm you feel for some classes only getting a new button, it’s not just another key to press it’s also a whole set of traits revolving around that button and it might not be flashy, but i wouldn’t be surprised if a few months down the road that one new button starts to do some amazing things in the hands of one who can use it right.

Also, what class is only getting one new button? Mesmers are getting a new buff all to themselvs, eles are getting overloaded atunements, guardians are getting new virtues and necros get new shroud skills. As a necro you don’t know how jelous it makes me to see mesmers get alacrity all to themselvs while everybody and their mother has a fear, which (imo) ought to have been a necro only thing.