Guild Wars 2

Just an idea to expand core specializations in PVE by adding non-profession specific specializations that are unlocked via story arcs.

An example might be a living story quest line that sends you against the flame legion to capture a powerful cauldron artifact. Afterwards you might unlock a “Flame Shaman” core specialization that gives you 3 flame magic based consecrations and a searing cauldron elite.

This method may also help to create less animosity in PvE groups for classes if a “weaker” class in pve can supplement its less PvE effective trait lines with these new core specializations that may offer something valuable to the party (like AoE damage, boons, etc.).

Some ideas:

Flame Shaman: Consecrations, Searing Cauldron Eilte
Golemancer: Golem Minions and Holograms that may simulate mesmer clone mechanics.
Pact Commander: Call in airstrikes on foes, gain access to new shouts that support allies.
Vanguard: Gain access to new stances used by the krytan military.
Mariner: Gain new abilities from the Lion’s Arch captain’s council that make you more valuable underwater.
Shaper: Learn how to manipulate plants using Sylvari secrets.
Spiritcaller: Learn how to call lesser animal spirits from Norn Havrouns.
Courtier: Learn the abilities that hail from the darker side of the dream.

As clarification anyone can unlock the specialization. A norn can be a golemancer as long as they complete the quest. Quests for these would be permenant additions started by adventures or npcs around the world

This is essentially a more involved spin on racial specializations… except that they are not race restricted (which in my opinion is a good thing, since that means they could actually be viable in PvE and WvW).

I think this is a good idea, however, somehow I don’t see this happening… the mastery system is the only form of progression that is, very loosely, tied to overworld stories. ArenaNet seems to have some reasons why they steer clear to race and story permanently affecting your character in terms of gameplay as much as possible.

Racial specializations would be nice and give some identity to your choice of race. Not to mention that existing racial skills could be reworked to fit the specializations. For example all the Asura racial skills could easily fit the above Golemancer theme.

But the racial specializations should be weaker than all profession specializations, just like how racial skills are generally weaker than profession skills. If only to disincentivize picking a race for “power”.

I’d suggest these 5 Racial Specializations, so to reflect your character’s “rank” within their racial society. They would be unlocked after completing the racial portion of the personal story.

- Savant (Asura)
- Shaman (Norn)
- Valiant (Sylvari)
- Seraph (Human)
- Centurion (Charr)

I also like the idea of non-profession specialisation. Maybe something tied to the Order you chose in the personal story. Upon reaching the rank from your mentor or liberating Claw Island, you get the specialization.

- Lightbringer (Whispers)
- Magister (Priory)
- Warmaster (Vigil)

It would give the player a purpose and a proper reward for playing their personal story.

If there were any doubts over gameplay balance, then these specializations could be disabled in WvW and PvP. Just like how they disabled the Antitoxin Spray skill for structured PvP. They could be purely there purely for the roleplaying aspect.

Racial Specializations is an amazing idea.
The big question would be whether you let them loose in WvW.

I like both the OPs idea and the racial specialization idea. Very cool ideas, but my suspicion is that neither idea would come to fruition.

But who knows, one can hope.

so basically PvE skills with quests attached…like they already did in GW1 EotN….