Guild Wars 2

Keitaro Dragonheart.9047:

MiniEquine.6014:

Keitaro Dragonheart.9047:

MiniEquine.6014:

Immensus.9732:

All other classes get cool weapons like engi hammer, druid staff, probably thief rifle, we get a lame off-hand shield that are completely out of context for mesmers. from all the weapons that could easily fit the mesmers like dagger, axe and even main hand pistol we get the shields, i dont know i hope there are some mage like skins for shield with HoT to fit my mesmer style at least, otherwise that wasnt a good choice tbh.

I’ll take “Not listening to anything the devs have been saying for the past 2 months for 800”.

I’ll take “The Devs not listening to anything the mesmer playerbase has been saying for the past 2 1/2 years for 800.”

Your point adds absolutely nothing to the conversation. The shield is not for mesmers; the shield is for the Mesmer specialization.

My point is, we literally have 0 idea of what the Mesmer specialization can do with the shield. A regular Mesmer cannot use a shield, so why this is an issue is beyond me. When they release more information about the specializations (and how they are very likely NOT just extra weapon skills tacked onto the profession), then we will know why they chose a shield.

Neither does yours. The mesmer playerbase has been asking for more main-hand weapons (Pistol main-hand mostly) since launch, so they give us….-drum roll please- an off-hand, and a shield even…yay? >_>

But it will be giving you five new skills so what the kitten is the difference?

Algreg.3629:

out of context for mesmers. Interesting. How many real life mesmers do you have in your social circles to come to that conclusion? And are shields “in context” for engineers? And hammers are a “cool” weapon for people designing technomage wonders and using flamethrowers? I see…

actually hammer is a tool, engineers use tools,of it makes a ton of sense. pretty hard to build technology without a tool

Vayne.8563:

Keitaro Dragonheart.9047:

MiniEquine.6014:

Keitaro Dragonheart.9047:

MiniEquine.6014:

Immensus.9732:

All other classes get cool weapons like engi hammer, druid staff, probably thief rifle, we get a lame off-hand shield that are completely out of context for mesmers. from all the weapons that could easily fit the mesmers like dagger, axe and even main hand pistol we get the shields, i dont know i hope there are some mage like skins for shield with HoT to fit my mesmer style at least, otherwise that wasnt a good choice tbh.

I’ll take “Not listening to anything the devs have been saying for the past 2 months for 800”.

I’ll take “The Devs not listening to anything the mesmer playerbase has been saying for the past 2 1/2 years for 800.”

Your point adds absolutely nothing to the conversation. The shield is not for mesmers; the shield is for the Mesmer specialization.

My point is, we literally have 0 idea of what the Mesmer specialization can do with the shield. A regular Mesmer cannot use a shield, so why this is an issue is beyond me. When they release more information about the specializations (and how they are very likely NOT just extra weapon skills tacked onto the profession), then we will know why they chose a shield.

Neither does yours. The mesmer playerbase has been asking for more main-hand weapons (Pistol main-hand mostly) since launch, so they give us….-drum roll please- an off-hand, and a shield even…yay? >_>

But it will be giving you five new skills so what the kitten is the difference?

did they say somewhere that mesmer would get 5 new skills?

They said that if the new weapon is an offhand, you would be “compensated” with new utility skills to make up for it.

Dondarrion.2748:

They said that if the new weapon is an offhand, you would be “compensated” with new utility skills to make up for it.

Not as far as I know. I remember them saying that if the new weapon is not a 2-handed weapon, the specialization would indead get compensated but they didn’t elaborate how.

Dondarrion.2748:

They said that if the new weapon is an offhand, you would be “compensated” with new utility skills to make up for it.

that sounds crappy, i thought everyone was getting utilities, so i suppose you get 3 more utility options?

so essentially other charachters get whole new bar of abilities, and mesmer gets 7/9

bleh looks like mesmer got screwed, oh well.

Diovid.9506:

Dondarrion.2748:

They said that if the new weapon is an offhand, you would be “compensated” with new utility skills to make up for it.

Not as far as I know. I remember them saying that if the new weapon is not a 2-handed weapon, the specialization would indead get compensated but they didn’t elaborate how.

well the only compensation that could make sense, is to have a class mechanic that adds extra skills.
But im guessing thats not their plan

I hope mesmers are are able to use pistols in their main hand instead of a shield. I want to be more pew pew like ranger and thief; scepter just doesn’t do that for me.

One of the skills should be able to absorb/copy a range skill and release it later on like the Mimic utility was able to do in the early parts of the game.

phys.7689:

Vayne.8563:

Keitaro Dragonheart.9047:

MiniEquine.6014:

Keitaro Dragonheart.9047:

MiniEquine.6014:

Immensus.9732:

All other classes get cool weapons like engi hammer, druid staff, probably thief rifle, we get a lame off-hand shield that are completely out of context for mesmers. from all the weapons that could easily fit the mesmers like dagger, axe and even main hand pistol we get the shields, i dont know i hope there are some mage like skins for shield with HoT to fit my mesmer style at least, otherwise that wasnt a good choice tbh.

I’ll take “Not listening to anything the devs have been saying for the past 2 months for 800”.

I’ll take “The Devs not listening to anything the mesmer playerbase has been saying for the past 2 1/2 years for 800.”

Your point adds absolutely nothing to the conversation. The shield is not for mesmers; the shield is for the Mesmer specialization.

My point is, we literally have 0 idea of what the Mesmer specialization can do with the shield. A regular Mesmer cannot use a shield, so why this is an issue is beyond me. When they release more information about the specializations (and how they are very likely NOT just extra weapon skills tacked onto the profession), then we will know why they chose a shield.

Neither does yours. The mesmer playerbase has been asking for more main-hand weapons (Pistol main-hand mostly) since launch, so they give us….-drum roll please- an off-hand, and a shield even…yay? >_>

But it will be giving you five new skills so what the kitten is the difference?

did they say somewhere that mesmer would get 5 new skills?

Something was said in an interview somewhere, but I barely have time to post these days at all, and have no real time to look for it. I hate moving.

Vayne.8563:

Something was said in an interview somewhere, but I barely have time to post these days at all, and have no real time to look for it. I hate moving.

How would that work?

Does the shield give you 5 skills if you only equip the shield, but if you equip a Scepter/Sword MH those will overwrite the first 3 skills?

Like a semi-Twohander

Vayne.8563:

I hate moving.

Preaching to the choir

On a slightly different topic, whatever weapon(s) mesmer does get, it should better have the new skill tech. we have seen on Rev. If not, I will have something to say.

Nothing says the specialization will have the same weapon skills as the base profession. All weapons may have different skillsets. I say wait for the first blog on a specialization so we get some baseline on the amount of changes between regular and spec before panicking that an offhand means just two new skills total.

Terrahero.9358:

Vayne.8563:

Something was said in an interview somewhere, but I barely have time to post these days at all, and have no real time to look for it. I hate moving.

How would that work?

Does the shield give you 5 skills if you only equip the shield, but if you equip a Scepter/Sword MH those will overwrite the first 3 skills?

Like a semi-Twohander

Vayne.8563:

I hate moving.

Preaching to the choir

Maybe the shield for a mesmer would be a two handed weapon. One had to hold the shield one hand to cast, like the way the necro uses a staff.

Another person who thinks weapons are the core of the specialization system.

The new heal, elite, utilities, traits, and modified class mechanic are going to be a LOT more important than 2-5 weapon skills for most of the classes.

Plus, Alexandra Duet.

Nike.2631:

Another person who thinks weapons are the core of the specialization system.

The new heal, elite, utilities, traits, and modified class mechanic are going to be a LOT more important than 2-5 weapon skills for most of the classes.

Plus, Alexandra Duet.

That’s true, but if some people get five weapon skills and some only get two, there will be a perception of being ripped off, even if it’s not the case.

Get over it. Literally, that’s all there is to say about that perception. You’ll still have 5 weapons skills. 5 new skills is not better than 2 new skills and the ability to mix and match your choice for the other 3.

Terrahero.9358:

Vayne.8563:

Something was said in an interview somewhere, but I barely have time to post these days at all, and have no real time to look for it. I hate moving.

How would that work?

Does the shield give you 5 skills if you only equip the shield, but if you equip a Scepter/Sword MH those will overwrite the first 3 skills?

No, it’s something like each specialization has 10 skills (or more, but likely the same number throughout). Druid would get 5 from staff, 1 from healing, 3 from utility, and 1 elite. Shield!Mesmer would get 2 from shield, 1 from healing, 6 from utility, and 1 elite. Just my understanding of what’s been said.

Idc care that they gave mesmers a shield so much as I hope they just make it viable.

Shield is not used by any profession to a significant degree in PvE/WvW and only bunkers run it in PvP.

Let’s hope that shield doesn’t get relegated to only being used to show off your Grinning Shield on your mes while afk.

Morsus.5106:

No, it’s something like each specialization has 10 skills (or more, but likely the same number throughout). Druid would get 5 from staff, 1 from healing, 3 from utility, and 1 elite. Shield!Mesmer would get 2 from shield, 1 from healing, 6 from utility, and 1 elite. Just my understanding of what’s been said.

Or 1,000 times more likely the specialization don’t all have exactly the same number of new skills in the same way the base professions don’t have exactly the same number of weapons.

Even the most symmetry-obsessive designer would probably be satisfied with having the specialization lose access to the same type of weapon (e.g. gains shield-off hand, loses pistol off-hand). So Engineers gain 2h-hammer (5 skills) but lose rifle (5 skills) while in that specialization. Done. Symmetry upheld.

Nike.2631:

Morsus.5106:

No, it’s something like each specialization has 10 skills (or more, but likely the same number throughout). Druid would get 5 from staff, 1 from healing, 3 from utility, and 1 elite. Shield!Mesmer would get 2 from shield, 1 from healing, 6 from utility, and 1 elite. Just my understanding of what’s been said.

Or 1,000 times more likely the specialization don’t all have exactly the same number of new skills in the same way the base professions don’t have exactly the same number of weapons.

Even the most symmetry-obsessive designer would probably be satisfied with having the specialization lose access to the same type of weapon (e.g. gains shield-off hand, loses pistol off-hand). So Engineers gain 2h-hammer (5 skills) but lose rifle (5 skills) while in that specialization. Done. Symmetry upheld.

I don’t think your example is really the best, Engineer can’t weapon swap so if you gain a hammer but lose rifle it doesn’t really matter.. I mean it’s not like he is actually loosing anything because even if he didn’t lose it, it’s not like he could swap to it in combat anyways…… just saying…

FearedbytheGods.8617:

Idc care that they gave mesmers a shield so much as I hope they just make it viable.

Shield is not used by any profession to a significant degree in PvE/WvW and only bunkers run it in PvP.

Let’s hope that shield doesn’t get relegated to only being used to show off your Grinning Shield on your mes while afk.

Well, I suspect it will be viable. Some people are theorizing that the mesmer specialization is the chronomancer and will be able to affect time. The video with a clock on the shield seems to back that up.

If we’re thinking about a shield as a physical shield…well look at the great sword. It’s not quite what you’d expect a sword to be for a mesmer.

Well, the mes shield could perhaps have more offensively oriented abilities, so it’d be easier to work on your shield master achievement.

Dual pistols would’ve suited the “illusionary duellist” style a bit more, but that can come with another specialisation. We have mesmers absorbing projectiles, making barriers and even summoning a phantasm with a shield… so it makes some sense.

Nike.2631:

Get over it. Literally, that’s all there is to say about that perception. You’ll still have 5 weapons skills. 5 new skills is not better than 2 new skills and the ability to mix and match your choice for the other 3.

5 new skills is better than 2 new skills, if you are looking for new playstyles.

especially considering you generally use the main hand more often on most classes.

As far as other class mechanics, traits, etc, yeah everyone else is getting that too, AND 5 new skills versus 2.

The first 3 skills always defines the weapon set, the 4 and the 5 complement the weaponset, or expand its uses. With the same first 3 skills, your play only changes so much.

phys.7689:

Nike.2631:

Get over it. Literally, that’s all there is to say about that perception. You’ll still have 5 weapons skills. 5 new skills is not better than 2 new skills and the ability to mix and match your choice for the other 3.

5 new skills is better than 2 new skills, if you are looking for new playstyles.

And three proven skills can be better than 3 novelty clickies, if you are looking to succeed. And 1h weapons give you more choice when tuning a load out than 2-handers.

But the real bottom line is since the specialization will likely be introduced in waves (of eight) there’s simply no percentage in a designer locking themselves into every specialization in the wave having the same main hand/off hand/two-hand weapon design.

As far as other class mechanics, traits, etc, yeah everyone else is getting that too, AND 5 new skills versus 2.

The other possibility, and one of the things we talked about in the horizontal progression CDI is that subclasses/specialization are a window that allows old weapons to be used in new ways. Its possible that when a chronomancer uses a scepter, it has 3 skills entirely unlike what happens when a Mesmer is using a scepter. Poof! 5 new skills from one new off hand. We’ll just have to wait and see how much work the Devs wanted to take on.