I’m absoutely Pro Staff too …
This self made upo “rule” of every class may get only a different weapon was childishly stupid to begin with already, so I hope with every E Spec reveal, that Naet does something to break this nonsense up and show the people, that not everything is so easily foreseeable, as some people might think that they know what will happen and what Anets plans are as if they would be all knowing prophets.
I want to see Thieves getting the Ascetic E-Spec, as a kind of martial artistical synonymed form of a Monk, which are no Monks per see, but just share the background of praying for their sins to be forgiven and finding to their inner self through absolute self control and the help of martial arts, making the Ascetic the Elite Specization, which focuses on Acrobatics from the Thieves – so Dodging, Quick Movement, Counter Attacking through Blocks and Parades with the Weapons, thus giving the thief a more tanky weapon build thats dealing DPPs through defense by using the force of the enemy against themselves what would lead to a complete new and unique gameplay for thieves, that of punish their enemy hard for trying to burst down a thief at melee range, if they can successfully counterattack with their staves the attacks form the enemy.
Staff should be a weapon for thieves, that strongly rewards the player for very good positioning and knowing your enemies and their potential attack methods to counter them at the right time while parading or dodging at the same time the attack to give the thief a very strong and reliable alternative build to the ones, which rely on tons of stealth, as the Ascetic would be basically a nearly stealthless E Specc except for when you would use Utility Skills that stealth you.
I think the Ascetic would receive then MANTRAS as Utilty Skills to be able to perform his quick Counterattacks, which would automaticalyl fire off at the right situations, when you have prepared a Mantra, so that an Ascetic Player could decide to use the Mantra charges either for passive automatic Counter Attacks or for active combat effects. Mantras do also fit to the theme of “Self Control, Concentration and Meditation”
So if its not Mantras, Meditations owudl be a good alternative, but Mantras I think offer the better more versatile gameplay mechanic for the combat system for usign them either as automatic passive effects or active effetcs if you use up the charges in a moment, where you don’t get attacked and beign in a situation of defending yourself to wait on the perfect moment for a counter attack.
When using Mantras as initiant move, they could return Initiative for the Ascetic, based on the concept, that the Staf Weapon Skill will all use also Initiative.
Steal gets changed for the Ascetic to “Chakra Flow”, a mechanic, that lets the Ascetic charge up his Chakra Flow to temporarely empower the Regeneration Speed of Initiative, receive a little Stat Boost while charging up chakra to certain levels (similarly clustered like Adrenaline, so Stat Boosts in 4 steps) allowing the Ascetic to change with F2 at full Chakra to change into “Ascension Mode”, where Soul and Body of your Character become one perfectly within yourself where the Ascetic receives in this state as long the Chakra Flow hasn’t reached 0 (slowly sinks) some non removeable Boon Effects similar to the Guardian Virtues, that also effect allies while being in the near of the Ascetic, Boons that are called “Morale Effects”, thats why have also positive influence on your nearby allies, as the shear presence of you increaes then in this mode the morale of your nearby allies to new heights, what would give this E-Spec then also some nice situational support options.
While being in Ascesion Mode, the Weapon Skills of the Charactre would changed then also to Ascension Skills that the Ascetic can use only as long the Chakra Flow hasn’t reached 0.
The difference between this mechanic and the Necromancers Death Shroud which is similar is, Chakra Flow doesn’t get reduced if you receive damage, because unlike Death Shroud doesn’t protect Ascension Mode your real health behind a practical second health bar
Ascension Skills give the Ascetic quite some nice extra mobility and control while being in that Mode, making his counter attacks more dangerous, while improving the players options for better positioning and overall tanky controling counterplay (when using especially the Staff)
I’d so love the E-Spec, if Thief would receive something like this with HoT.
Personally I like the idea behind sub classes ~ quoted from Chris Whiteside
