Guild Wars 2

Quite a bit of new information about how specializations will work and also how the trait and skill system is changed with HoT:

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/specializations-part-one-a-primer/

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/specializations-part-two-reward-tracks-and-elite-specializations/

For what i understood, the specializations are like a new trait line. Hopefully they make the necessary changes so that when we select a trait line we really feel like using that spec, the water spec example sounds like right for me.

Can’t wait to try it out

I was not expecting such extensive changes. While change is, of course, inherently evil, I am feeling cautiously optimistic about these.

My main concern is about old skill points, and what MF crafting mats they’re going to be turned into (and on what basis).

The other question I have is about Hero points, and whether there’s any possibility at all of a fully-unlocked character (in terms of skills and traits) losing any of their abilities. If, for instance, the character hasn’t done all the hero challenges (since points are strictly available and strictly limited). The article doesn’t say so explicitly, so a confirmation would be reassuring.

Now that’s interesting. More ui screenshots, more details about stuff that matters. Not this frogs on shrooms lore.

We’ll have to wait and see how it plays out, but it didn’t seem half bad and I’m grateful for the information!

My biggest complaint is to how it sort of puts on you rails. I don’t like being pigeonholed into exactly 3 specializations. What if I want to more deeply specialize in one thing, or hybridize into all 5?

I’m actually a little excited as well as worried.
I hope that specialization tracks won’t be a boring grind.

These changes seem huge and look like a step in a very good direction.

The real challenge that Anet will face is making sure some of the most popular and fun builds that currently exist in the game remain viable. When looking at a single trait line, were going from 13 choices in the grandmaster slot down to just 3. That is a pretty big jump. Those three choices at grandmaster will have to be role defining.

I think they will make it work and make it fun, but, in the back of my mind, I cant help but worry a little about over-simplifying the game – the way similar design choices cut player customization in other games. Playing around with new builds is a huge part of the game for me.

Again, though, I think they can pull it off – especially as they add in new abilities, weapons, core mechanics and future specialization choices.

tramwajarz.2369:

I’m actually a little excited as well as worried.
I hope that specialization tracks won’t be a boring grind.

hmmm..
if masteries makes you not level after 80…
and all other points come from skill challenges…
you will have to do skill challenges..
wonder how that will effect WvW people.

I understand this the following way:
the current trait system gets revamped into this “core specialisation”-thing.

Am I right here?

Darquise.9607:

I understand this the following way:
the current trait system gets revamped into this “core specialisation”-thing.

Am I right here?

current trait system is going away, this new system is going to be in place

phys.7689:

tramwajarz.2369:

I’m actually a little excited as well as worried.
I hope that specialization tracks won’t be a boring grind.

hmmm..
if masteries makes you not level after 80…
and all other points come from skill challenges…
you will have to do skill challenges..
wonder how that will effect WvW people.

That’s actually pretty good question. I hope we’ll get some answers on friday stream.

Also how would you obtain a bloodstone or any of the skill point currency items from Miyani/Class Trainers.

What I like about the information we have about the new system
- Stats and traits are seperated. This put more emphasis on trait. Good trait were never used because they were on a trait line that were not giving good stats. It open build diversity a lot.
- Less trait, but making them more meaningful. Let’s face it, there is a lot of useless trait. Even if you check across all 3 game modes there is a lot of trait that nobody use except for giggle. At the same time they only removed 3 adept trait and 1 master for each line so we still have a good amount of choice, and if they do their job right we gonna have more meaningful choice.
- A new way to get trait. Good for me I already had 8 level 80 when they changed how we get trait, but I’m glad they change it. It was always a obstacle for new player when I was trying to explain different build.

What i dislike about the new information
- We need to choice 3 trait line and complete them. No more 2pts in some line just to get something specific that could help us in a particular situation. This limit build diversity a bit. Most guardians in PvE get 5pts in Radiance it’s bad if you have to go full 6pts in this line if you only have two handed weapons while the other 2 grands master trait are pretty bad. You end up with a grandmaster trait that don’t really help you.
- Accumulated skill points will give you some crafting material?? I’m not sure to really understand this right. What will happen to ALL those mystic toilet recipe that need some skill points??

pretty large cut to build diversity, they say it will allow them to balance better, but ehhh we ll see

Thaddeus.4891:

What I like about the information we have about the new system
- Stats and traits are seperated. This put more emphasis on trait. Good trait were never used because they were on a trait line that were not giving good stats. It open build diversity a lot.
- Less trait, but making them more meaningful. Let’s face it, there is a lot of useless trait. Even if you check across all 3 game modes there is a lot of trait that nobody use except for giggle. At the same time they only removed 3 adept trait and 1 master for each line so we still have a good amount of choice, and if they do their job right we gonna have more meaningful choice.
- A new way to get trait. Good for me I already had 8 level 80 when they changed how we get trait, but I’m glad they change it. It was always a obstacle for new player when I was trying to explain different build.

What i dislike about the new information
- We need to choice 3 trait line and complete them. No more 2pts in some line just to get something specific that could help us in a particular situation. This limit build diversity a bit. Most guardians in PvE get 5pts in Radiance it’s bad if you have to go full 6pts in this line if you only have two handed weapons while the other 2 grands master trait are pretty bad. You end up with a grandmaster trait that don’t really help you.
- Accumulated skill points will give you some crafting material?? I’m not sure to really understand this right. What will happen to ALL those mystic toilet recipe that need some skill points??

most likely they will change them into this new crafting material, that they will give for excess skill points

Blaeys.3102:

These changes seem huge and look like a step in a very good direction.

The real challenge that Anet will face is making sure some of the most popular and fun builds that currently exist in the game remain viable. When looking at a single trait line, were going from 13 choices in the grandmaster slot down to just 3. That is a pretty big jump. Those three choices at grandmaster will have to be role defining.

I think they will make it work and make it fun, but, in the back of my mind, I cant help but worry a little about over-simplifying the game – the way similar design choices cut player customization in other games. Playing around with new builds is a huge part of the game for me.

Again, though, I think they can pull it off – especially as they add in new abilities, weapons, core mechanics and future specialization choices.

this is where i’m not sure i like. u have to use 1 of those 3 traits at each level. w/ the water magic they talked about, what if i used to like using all 3 adept traits , now i only get 1 adept and have to use one of those grandmaster’s. i think the limiting choices is going to be annoying

Olvendred.3027:

While change is, of course, inherently evil…

I really hope you don’t actually believe that.