Guild Wars 2

Wanted to do a little theorycrafting to try to figure out what a class could get and what it’s name could become!

Ranger gets staff -> Druid

This is confirmed

Engineer gets hammer -> ???

I think a cool name would be called Juggernaut…maybe Berserker, or a blacksmithy type name since the attacks did have a fire animation.

Mesmer gets shield -> ???

When she casts the ability in the trailer, a clock pops up in the animation, Chronomancer maybe?

Necro gets greatsword -> ???

A spirit mage of some sorts. Can’t really think of a name.

Warrior gets ? -> ?

A Warrior doesn’t have: Shortbow, Focus, Torch, Pistol, Dagger, Staff, Scepter

Guardian gets ? -> ?

A Guardian doesn’t have: Longbow, Shortbow, Rifle, Pistol, Dagger, Warhorn, Axe

Elementalist gets ? -> ?

Elementalist does not have: Hammer, Sword, Rifle, Pistol, Warhorn, Greatsword, Mace, Shield, Axe, Longbow, Shortbow, Torch

It would be nice to get another melee option for the Elementalist, i feel like the conjure spells would make greatsword, bow, shield, and hammer not possible. Dual axes could be sweet! An Enchantress of sorts.

Thief gets ? -> ?

Thief does not have: Greatsword, Axe, Rifle, Warhorn, Mace, Scepter, Longbow, Shield, Hammer, Focus, Staff, Torch

There is a medium wearing character in the trailer holding a rifle, so maybe it was a Thief and it could be a Sniper/Marksman type specialization.

If I missed any weapons, my apologies, lmk and I will update the topic.

I would like to see gs on thief. However maybe we get many specs not just one

Aviate.1376:

I would like to see gs on thief. However maybe we get many specs not just one

It says on the website “get a weapon previously unavailable to your class”, which makes me think just one

but greatsword thief would be cook….a samurai/ninja spec

I am hoping its a 3 chose system where you can chose more dps or more support or more tank. The 4th chose would be choosing to stay a balance set up by not choosing any of the 3.

I would like a better ranged weapon for guardian, scepter and staff are just meh to me. Bring on a bow or a rifle XD

Jordo.5913:

Wanted to do a little theorycrafting to try to figure out what a class could get and what it’s name could become!

(…)

Necro gets greatsword -> ???

I think you could probably name him as a Battlemage

Maybe mesmers will get main hand pistol? That would be awesome!

I heard the trailer might have briefly shown a thief with a rifle. All I could think was, “Wow… Are they actually adding the commando/sniper as a specialization?”.

Jordo.5913:

Warrior gets ? -> ?

A Warrior doesn’t have: Shortbow, Focus, Torch, Pistol, Dagger, Staff&, Scepter

I’d love to go around all Staff Fighting (City of Heroes-style) as a warrior using kungkittenvia staffs.

Elementalist gets ? -> ?

Elementalist does not have: Hammer, Sword, Rifle, Pistol, Warhorn, Greatsword, Mace, Shield, Axe, Longbow, Shortbow, Torch

Much like the warrior, I’d have loved to see us turn an Elementalist into a melee fighter using a different form of staff and have the: F1, F2, F3, F4 elements influence the properties of the skills used.

Erukk.1408:

I heard the trailer might have briefly shown a thief with a rifle. All I could think was, “Wow… Are they actually adding the commando/sniper as a specialization?”.

Lols, that’d be awesome.

It’s great that we’re getting a new weapon(s), but I’m not too fond of the name changes that seems to come with them or the overall need to “specialize” in the first place. Is the default names of the professions that bad? Bad enough to rename the profession by adding in a new weapon?

I thought maybe Engineer → Forgemaster or something like that. Mesmer I’m 90% sure is Chronomancer. No idea on Necro. Elementalist (with Longbow) → Arcane Archer or some such, or with Sword → Warmage/Battlemage. No idea for anything else, really…

I think it’s fair to expect 5 specializations per class. The Druid is clearly an embodyment of the Nature Magic trait line, so I think we can expect one specialization and one weapon per trait line. This is also an easy way to come up with stuff for each specialization: the specialization itself gets weapon and utility skills based on the themes of each traitline.

Necro → reaper ? or perhaps warlock ?

Lucky Shot.7650:

I think it’s fair to expect 5 specializations per class. The Druid is clearly an embodyment of the Nature Magic trait line, so I think we can expect one specialization and one weapon per trait line. This is also an easy way to come up with stuff for each specialization: the specialization itself gets weapon and utility skills based on the themes of each traitline.

5!? that seems like a lot maybe too much or are you thinking its just the lines? I think we may see a some what 3 class system from this specialization but i guess we could see the pentagram system where you split up into healing support cc tank and dps. To have all 5 in this expansion maybe a bit much to ask for though.

I hoping for at least 2 different specialization for each profession in HoT. It wouldn’t be much of a specialization if it’s only a single choice. Plus, I’m sure we will get more with each expansion. Let’s just hope that the next one isn’t in 3 years again.

Erukk.1408:

I hoping for at least 2 different specialization for each profession in HoT. It wouldn’t be much of a specialization if it’s only a single choice. Plus, I’m sure we will get more with each expansion. Let’s just hope that the next one isn’t in 3 years again.

Well there is one chose now not to specializes so there would be 2 chose if they only add in one added super class. Keep in mind these super classes are not made to make the class better just more foces on a type of play.

Jski.6180:

Lucky Shot.7650:

I think it’s fair to expect 5 specializations per class. The Druid is clearly an embodyment of the Nature Magic trait line, so I think we can expect one specialization and one weapon per trait line. This is also an easy way to come up with stuff for each specialization: the specialization itself gets weapon and utility skills based on the themes of each traitline.

5!? that seems like a lot maybe too much or are you thinking its just the lines? I think we may see a some what 3 class system from this specialization but i guess we could see the pentagram system where you split up into healing support cc tank and dps. To have all 5 in this expansion maybe a bit much to ask for though.

Yes they are a lot, however they’ve been working on this for two years. Also, having five specializations wouldn’t be very hard to develop, assuming you create skills based on your current trait lines thus drawing inspiration from them. Dunno, maybe I’m just making up excuses to back up my dreams!

Elementalist prof will be able to equip sword

Jim.4680:

Elementalist prof will be able to equip sword

Main hand bolt off hand incinerator would be amassing!

The announcement repeatedly talked about specialisations as if there was one per profession — e.g., “the necromancer specialisation will be able to use greatswords”.

That might not sound like a lot, but these aren’t FFXIV jobs we’re talking about — Colin mentioned that a specialisation gets a new heal, a new elite, and a new set of utilities — that’s 22 skills in total — as well as a new profession mechanic (although it looks like druids will still have pets, so I’m not sure exactly what’’s different for them).

That’s 23 – 26 new skills per specialisation, making the specialisation system into the equivalent of three new professions — ignoring all of the weapon skills, heal skills, and elite skills that cannot be shared between profession and specialisation and would presumably have to be replaced with new skills.

A mesmer without illusions would need at least one skill replaced on every single weapon (2 in the case of sword offhand and the two-handed weapons), plus replacements for Ether Feast and Signet of the Ether.

An elementalist without attunements would need 20 new weapon skills just to cover the existing ele weapons, 20 more new weapon skills from new weapons to bulk out their number of choices to match other professions, and replacements for their healing glyph and elite glyph.

Jim.4680:

Elementalist prof will be able to equip sword

In case anyone is wondering, the evidence for ele swords is a female human wielding sword and dagger and dressed in incarnate armour visible between 1:13 and 1:19 in the trailer.

However, it’s only a complete guess that she’s some sort of elementalist — we never see her use skills, so the only thing we have to go on is that we’ve seen clear reveals of new weapons for necromancer and mesmer already. And the trailer could even be hinting at something crazy like, say, an adventurer who becomes a scholar on switching to their specialisation class.

Jski.6180:

I am hoping its a 3 chose system where you can chose more dps or more support or more tank. The 4th chose would be choosing to stay a balance set up by not choosing any of the 3.

Control OR Support.
Not DPS, not Tank, not Heal.

Better to not improve DPS because everyone will have to take it.

Kulvar.1239:

Jski.6180:

I am hoping its a 3 chose system where you can chose more dps or more support or more tank. The 4th chose would be choosing to stay a balance set up by not choosing any of the 3.

Control OR Support.
Not DPS, not Tank, not Heal.

Better to not improve DPS because everyone will have to take it.

I was just using what a lot of ppl have been asking for the 3 class system so i was simplifying into that mind set. My versos of the ideal would have classes give up something to use these super classes and the stander class would be a balances of every thing.

I’m not sure that it’s going to be simply a case of ‘each specialisation gets a new weapon’. Some new specialisations might not need a new weapon to implement.

I did some thinking on specialisations and came up with the following breakdown. Obviously just speculation.

Warrior: Berserker and Phalanx.

Phalanx gets spears on land. Berserker can wield 2 handed weapons in one hand, changing their skills when they do.

Guardian: Paragon and Monk

Paragon focuses on using shouts and has access to the spear on land. Monk focuses on consecrations, gets access to light armour and uses the staff in melee.

Thief: Assassin and Swashbuckler

Assassin improves daggers, stealth and conditions. Swashbucklers improve ranged weapons. Possible use of rifle/musket.

Engineer:

Hardest one to pick. Obviously one spec uses drones and a hammer. Further study needed.

Ranger: Druid and Marksman

Druid gets the staff and focuses on nature stuff, marksman gets the rifle and focuses on shooty stuff.

Mesmer: Chronomancer and Illusionist.

Chronomancer focus on manipulating the surroundings. Illusionist focuses on illusions, obviously.

Necromancer:

Again, somewhat hard to pick. One spec has a greatsword, but little information other than provided by Jory and Trehearne is available.

Elementalist:

I suspect that something will change along the lines of conjured weapons. I think it likely they will receive greatswords.

Thief pretty kitten sure gets a rifle (as seen in trailer)
Which makes him a sniper, possibly?

Not unreasonable. I saw the trailer at 4am so it’s likely I missed details.

Went over the trailer again. A medium class with a rifle was definitely there. Could be an engineer but I think it highly unlikely. Also saw the chronomancer mesmer wielding a shield.

Engineer = Mason (get it? Lol)

Necromancer = Reaper

Guardian = Executioner

Warrior = Void Knight

Mesmer =Chronomancer

Elementalist = Archemage

Thief = Demon Hunter

I think it’s safe to say that we’re getting two or more mutually exclusive specializations per class. Otherwise, the system wouldn’t be much more than a weapon addition.

I want something really out there, like a main hand torch on Mesmer.

Stormbolt.7293:

I think it’s safe to say that we’re getting two or more mutually exclusive specializations per class. Otherwise, the system wouldn’t be much more than a weapon addition.

Per the livestream, specialising grants “a new set of utility skills”. Or, in other words, you lose every single one of your twenty utility skills and get twenty different skills in exchange, plus modified traits, heals, elites, profession mechanic skills, and existing weapon skills.

This isn’t the equivalent of equipping a soul gem to turn into an ‘evolved’ version of your existing class, it’s the equivalent of equipping a soul gem to turn into a completely new class. Basically, GW2’s soul gems are equivalent to FFXIV’s weapons, and FFXIV’s soul gems are roughly equivalent to GW2’s weapons. Not that I expect to see anyone literally equipping a soul gem in GW2.

The whole point here, as I understand it, is to allow more variety for existing characters in the form of new skills, traits, etc. without risking any combinatorics-induced headspolosions (which is also essentially what FFXIV’s class-changing system does).

Stormbolt.7293:

I think it’s safe to say that we’re getting two or more mutually exclusive specializations per class. Otherwise, the system wouldn’t be much more than a weapon addition.

I want something really out there, like a main hand torch on Mesmer.

Well no its not just a wepon they are getting other new ability that only that super class can use it a lot of ways they are adding in 9 new classes at least 8 super classes and 1 full class i guess 10 if the 1 full class is getting a super class too. So even if they just add 1 super class per class you will have a chose of 2 types the stander class or the new super class.

Don’t forget that “a weapon previously unavailable to your class” does not necessarily mean a brand new weapon. Thiefs could get left hand sword for example, or guardians could go dual scepter (quite unlikely !).

Jski.6180:

Stormbolt.7293:

I think it’s safe to say that we’re getting two or more mutually exclusive specializations per class. Otherwise, the system wouldn’t be much more than a weapon addition.

I want something really out there, like a main hand torch on Mesmer.

Well no its not just a wepon they are getting other new ability that only that super class can use it a lot of ways they are adding in 9 new classes at least 8 super classes and 1 full class i guess 10 if the 1 full class is getting a super class too. So even if they just add 1 super class per class you will have a chose of 2 types the stander class or the new super class.

Yes, from the show it seems we are looking at 17 different gameplays now (not counting the various gameplays available to any given “base class” and probably “super class”)

evilunderling.9265:

Stormbolt.7293:

I think it’s safe to say that we’re getting two or more mutually exclusive specializations per class. Otherwise, the system wouldn’t be much more than a weapon addition.

Per the livestream, specialising grants “a new set of utility skills”. Or, in other words, you lose every single one of your twenty utility skills and get twenty different skills in exchange, plus modified traits, heals, elites, profession mechanic skills, and existing weapon skills.

I think you’re misinterpreting it. By “a new set of utility skills”, I take it more as 4 new utilities under the same set. Every class has at least 4 different sets of utilities. Warriors have, for instance, signets, stances, shouts, banners, and physical utilities. By adding a new set of utility skills, it probably means just adding a few more to choose from.

Though, you also get a new heal and elite, which isn’t much to be honest, specializations also add/change profession mechanics, which is HUGE. If anything, that will be what makes the class feel completely different.

Think about what that could mean for an Elementalist or Mesmer. If they get new profession mechanics, we may not see clone dependent Mesmers or attunment swapping Elementalists (although that’s probably unlikely).

I dont think that they mean 22 new skills with “a new set of skills”. The Relation between 1 new Weapon, 1 new Elite, 1 new Heal and 22 new Utility seems a little bit off. I think with a new set they mean " a few" aka 2-3 new Utilities per Spec.

Stormbolt.7293:

I think it’s safe to say that we’re getting two or more mutually exclusive specializations per class. Otherwise, the system wouldn’t be much more than a weapon addition.

Maybe not. We only have one solid example so far, but Druid to me seems more of a re-themeing of Ranger than just a new weapon. My guess is that Specializations are something to be built on in the future, not to come out with a full set out of the gate. They sound more like an expandable list of sub-classes than a static talent tree.

If that Rifle guy really is a Thief, then my guess for Thief is Corsair/Pirate/Swashbuckler.

— as well as a new profession mechanic

Did he? I swear I remember that at least being implied somewhere, but no one else seemed to have heard it.

Edit: It’s at about 37:54 in the video.

I’d honestly like to see some new weapons for a change. Expanding the available weapons to classes feels like a good thing, but it’d be nice to see some Class Specific type weapons, or new weapons in general.

Spellbook - There is already a decent animation for this thanks to the Guardian Elites.

Ioun Stones - You never see these in a lot of Video Games, which is a shame as they’re amazing, and I could see something like this being a Mesmer Signature Weapon easily.

Scythes - Necromancers comes to mind when I think of this, even though I know it’s more traditionally a Dervish weapon.

Spear - I know we have an underwater version in the Harpoon, but the land version feels long overdue.

Whip - Another weapon you don’t really get to see in a lot of games it feels like.

Loki.8793:

Per the livestream, specialising grants “a new set of utility skills”. Or, in other words, you lose every single one of your twenty utility skills and get twenty different skills in exchange, plus modified traits, heals, elites, profession mechanic skills, and existing weapon skills.

That’s theoretically possible, but imagine what that would imply for complexity creep. Adding four new utilities to the list of utilities already available to a profession adds far more possible builds than adding twenty utilities and sticking a wall between them and the existing set.

I think the most likely answer is that there will be a full twenty utility skills per spec, even if some are recycled partially or wholly from the base profession or even other professions so, e.g., a Chronomancer might have portal entre, feedback, and null field but has to exchange veil for the big purple clock thing.

The Arcanist (working title) might lose access to glyphs in favour of their new utilities, especially if they don’t use attunements.

Also, I think we can safely assume that this absolutely isn’t just one new weapon per prof — mesmers already have the fewest skills in the game, so shafting them by giving them just 2 new weapon skills when necros, rangers, and engies — all profs with more skills already — get five each strikes me as unlikely.

Greatsword on everyone.

I just hope that the specialization will bring brand new WEAPON skills, and not just utility skills + 1 new weapon.
What would be the ideal for me, is to be able to specialise (or not) each of the 5 weapon skills available for a weapon set independently and not as a whole.

I can almost guarantee you the Guardian will get a longbow or shortbow. Guardians have been requesting a long-range 2H weapon for a very long time.

Also… it is my understanding that the point of specializations this that you have to choose what specialization you want. Otherwise it isn’t a specialization, it’s just an upgrade. So you should expect there will be 2-3 specializations to choose from per class.

For Guardian I can imagine that Monk or Cleric will probably be one of them. I can see “Blackguard” being one as well. I can also see a Paladin or Templar or something.

If I were designing revamped progression and specialization mechanics:

GW2 is theoretically designed around a “soft trinity” of control, support, and damage, however the current control, support, and damage specs avaliable on a per-profession basis are generally lacking in role specificity.

Basically, the idea was, like GW1, that any character could fill any role. Where this fell apart was that in trying to get away from the trinity they created systems that prioritized damage as the most efficient means of content completion.

So, how to we let people keep playing their favorite characters without suddenly shoehorning them in to tank/heal/DPS party configs?

Specializations!

Each class has three avaliable specializations that grant one or two weapon sets and a range of skills/traits that make that class more… well… specialized for a specific role. Thus, for every existing class (and the new one) you’ve already got a jack-of-all-trades selection of abilities that can be built to varying degrees of success, while skewing heavily toward one of these roles. E.G. You can in theory build a guardian as control, support, or DPS, but guardians tend to have better control builds than the other two options.

Specialization aims to fix that. once earned, you can hot-swap to specialization builds to fill out party comps, so rather than sitting around waiting for a guardian or mesmer or whatever to finish your party, anyone in the party can just pick it up as needed. Your current characters, all of them, can play effective and useful support, control, or damage roles, but they can’t do them all at once.

This steps around the problem of simply adding skills and resulting with characters that have, say, great damage weapon skills preventing them from getting really useful support elites or utilities. Withthe specialization system, we can give a ranger the ability to play “main support” in the new content designed to require these roles by speccing in to druid. However, if that same range joins a pug that doesn’t need a support, but rather needs more damage, he can spec in to “marksman” right then and there, similar to how parties did some build shuffling in GW1 to fill out all needed roles.

Thus, you end up with a system in which any collection of classes can successfully complete content that is designed around a more role-focused meta without actually requiring players to wait for inordinate amounts of time because their PUG couldn’t find a support.

Some of what we see in the trailer seems to support this. There’s a shield mesmer, likely running the mesmer’s “tanking” focused spec. There’s an engineer with a wrench/greathammer, filling a melee DPS role in that spec, there’s a thief with a rifle filling a ranged DPS role, etc.

So, my thoughts are we’re looking at roughly three specialization options per class, which, like GW1, are horizontal additions to progression. If you’re currently geared out for DPS, chances are you’ll have all the equipment you need to run a DPS-focused specialization line, and if you want to use a new weapon that it opens up you can acquire that, or use the options in that spec that support your class’ basic weapons, but if you want to run tank on that same character, you might be able to do a decent job with your current equipment, using the spec’s traits and skills, but if you want to step it up a notch you might want to acquire a specialized set of gear for when you run it (similar to gear swaps for differing builds in GW1)

evilunderling.9265:

Stormbolt.7293:

I think it’s safe to say that we’re getting two or more mutually exclusive specializations per class. Otherwise, the system wouldn’t be much more than a weapon addition.

Per the livestream, specialising grants “a new set of utility skills”. Or, in other words, you lose every single one of your twenty utility skills and get twenty different skills in exchange, plus modified traits, heals, elites, profession mechanic skills, and existing weapon skills.

I figured that would be like 10-12 new skills in addition to what you already have. There are some basic skills that a lot of builds need to function, i.e. shadow refuge on thief, blink or decoy on mesmer, etc. It’s a specialization, not a total new class.

So I think it’d be neat, though it probably won’t happen, that should you switch your ranger to a druid, you could charm tougher pets I guess is the word.

These include creatures like minotaurs, rock dogs, and oh idk…a hippo (we’re goin to maguuma cmon)

Copestetic.5174:

It’s great that we’re getting a new weapon(s), but I’m not too fond of the name changes that seems to come with them or the overall need to “specialize” in the first place. Is the default names of the professions that bad? Bad enough to rename the profession by adding in a new weapon?

To be honest, I don’t really see myself why a specialisation mechanic is really needed rather than just going ’here’s some new weapons and maybe some lore behind the new weapons’.

Although I could see PopeUrban’s thinking working out. I guess we’ll find out.

But if they’re going to do it…

Dervishesque elementalist specialisation.

Probably spear will be released on mainland, and I don’t think it’s revenant considering the guy holding it, in the image, was human and not Rytlock

draxynnic.3719:

Dervishesque elementalist specialisation.

Considering that revenant seems to be 60-70%dervish and 30-40 ritualist I highly doubt it. Plus dervish used armor in between medium and heavy

I’ve been thinking about the ele specialization (like a lot of people) and I think there are 2 likely options.
I think they will add 1 new wep set (single 2H or 1 each MH/OH) for each class. I think the ele could get land spear for a closer, melee 2H thing, but most likely, I think we will get Sword/Warhorn.
2 swords would be great, but so far, they have avoided any class getting MH dagger/OH sword (ranger/thief seem to be purposely avoiding that while skirting the edge). Also, since we saw a Mes with shield, I just think warhorn is more likely for us. It is not used by a ton of classes, and it doesn’t look like it’s being added to any that we know so far, and it doesn’t make sense on other unconfirmed specializations so far except maybe Guardian.

Edit: ele could also get torch. Torch would make a lot of sense, but my top choice would be the spear melee ele

ALSO, let’s not forget that even though it’s new, the Revenant will most likely get a specialization and a new wep at 80, but not before.

Pistol/Focus! Only right answer to that….

usernameisapain.7163:

draxynnic.3719:

Dervishesque elementalist specialisation.

Considering that revenant seems to be 60-70%dervish and 30-40 ritualist I highly doubt it. Plus dervish used armor in between medium and heavy

I see where you’re coming from, but I have a couple of counters:

First, the only real dervish influence in the revenant we’ve seen thus far is that the revenant appears to be melee based, and that we think that the spirit invocations are a similar concept to avatars (just calling on spirits rather than gods). However, the avatars were actually only a relatively small part of the dervish playstyle. The distinct element of the dervish playstyle came through the application of enchantments and stripping them to power effects, and as yet we’ve seen no evidence of the revenant having such abilities. While those mechanics may indeed go to the revenant, they may go elsewhere instead or simply not be translated to GW2 (while I think they can be, ArenaNet may disagree, and they may well know better than I do).

Second, whatever mechanical similarity there might be, thematically the dervish focused on elemental powers rather than the powers of the Mists. The dyed-in-the-wool ritualist players have been unsatisfied since release with the explanation that the engineer represents the same playstyle – it was the theme they had fallen in love with, and they were willing to accept a different playstyle if the theme could return. The Revenant is likely in part the result of exactly that thinking. Thus, however close the Revenant may be to the dervish mechanically, diehard dervish fans might prefer to see a more elemental dervish in the form of a specialisation then the spirit-based replacement, just as many ritualists were unsatisfied with their profession’s technology-based substitute.

Third… on the armours…

Dervish armour was technically ‘medium’ in that it provided 70 base armour instead of 60 or 80, but in appearance, the dervish hoods and robes are much closer in appearance to a number of light sets than any of the current medium sets. Some of the heavy sets, such as Draconic and the Koda set, have some similarities, but on the whole, if someone was looking to recreate the dervish appearance, they’d do much better starting from a light set than medium or heavy. The increased durability of dervishes could be represented simply by giving elementalists with that specialisation increased toughness and/or vitality.

Here’s what I’d like:

Engineer = ???
Necromancer = Wraith
Guardian = Paragon
Warrior = Dervish
Mesmer = Chronomancer
Elementalist = Archemage
Thief = Assassin
Revenant = Ritualist
Ranger = Druid

But I’m a big GW1 fan so this may be a little too nostalgic. If so:

Engineer = ???
Necromancer = Wraith
Guardian = Zealot
Warrior = Berserk
Mesmer = Chronomancer
Elementalist = Archemage
Thief = Assassin
Revenant = Ritualist
Ranger = Druid