Guild Wars 2

Title says it. If I am Ranger for example, will i be able to wield a staff without being a Druid at this moment?
HoT says that we will unlock new weapons with the new specialisations, but it doesnt say that it only works while in that said specialisation.

Perhaps one of you can help.

The weapons are specialization-specific can only useable while in that spec, yes. But you can swap between the normal class and specializations at will just as you can with swapping traits and such, so its not a huge problem. Just switch to the spec if you want to use the weapon.

Could you please link the source for me?

I can give you the answer I got for question I asked at Rezzed.

My 1st question was: Will ANet was planing to add more specializations in the future?
The guy said that this is just the groundwork for the future and that they will expand on this.
The 2nd question was: So once we have more specializations and lets say I change from druid to new specialization will I retain the skills of the druid?

The answer I was given wasn’t to my question but it was:
Well the Druid will be able to use the skills and weapons of Ranger while Ranger won’t be able to use those of a druid.

I know its a wall of text but I hope it helps

Unfortunately not. It seems like everybody is assuming this and perhaps its right. But i cant find a official statement about that question.

I’m sure I have seen it in an interview or read it somewhere. I am 99% certain weapons (and skills) gained by used a specialization will not be usable when set to the base profession. Whether new specs will be able to use the weapons of other specs, that is another matter altogether, but I am of the opinion it will be highly unlikely.

Specializations are kind of like subclasses, they are a contained package that offers more build options when set to that spec. I doubt we will be able to mix and match multiple specs together, but who know how it will play out. Personally I think it is better to keep them separate, otherwise Anet will have much more work on their hands when it comes to balancing. All the while they only have to balance the specializations around the base profession, they can keep their balancing work load down, compared to having to balance specs around the base prof AND balancing specs around other specs.

It just makes much more sense to me, thematically and balance wise, to keep them separate.

From HoT official page about specializations:

Evolve your gameplay. With profession specializations, you’ll unlock access to a weapon previously unavailable to your profession as well as new traits, skills, and unique mechanics – all of which will transform your profession into something new.

This is clear for me that new skills and weapons are tied to specializations.

It was definitely said in one of the many presentations/interviews they’ve done that the new weapon unlocks are tied to the specializations, so ranger can’t use a staff. Unfortunately I can’t remember which (probably the original announcement).