Guild Wars 2

I said it in the other thread, I’ll say it here, and I’ll probably say it again a few more times in the future: there is absolutely nothing this oh-so-vaunted melee staff can offer the Thief that Sword/* doesn’t already cover.

Want a defensive/controlling set? Sword/Pistol has a monstrous evade, a stun, a rapid-fire daze, a pulsing blind field, and Weakness on its autoattack. It also deals buttpiles of damage mostly by existing.

Run Sword/Dagger instead? Trade the stuns and dazes for stealth and all the cripple in Creation, as well as excellent boon control for the PvP types or the two and a half instances you need boon control in the rest of the game. Still do buttpiles of damage, still get extra evasions. Both sets have the Sword’s innate shadowstep approach w/extra condition handling and also a high-damage cleaving autoattack with Weakness to take the edge off incoming damage.

Pretty much the only thing the sword can’t do is instantaneous burst, and somehow I think the crazed-insanity Backstab builds have that covered. The Thief is packed with excellent and comprehensive melee options as it is. There is nothing this staff can do that will be worth bothering with insofar as melee goes, and we can all take a good long look at the poor Necromancer to see how well “dark spellcaster” goes in this game, eh?

Staff for Thief elite spec would be a bigger travesty than warhorn for the Tempest. At least the warhorn might force some weird creativity out of ArenaNet for the class, and the warhorn itself is narrowly distributed. Everybody and their blasted mothers has a staff, though, and between all those guys, everything the Staff can really do is already done.

Useless. Just friggin’ useless. What a lousy friggin’ waste of an elite spec.

Can someone point me to what is the source of the whole Thief rifle speculation in the first place. Is it still just a character in a trailer that we a) assume to be a player character b) assume to be a medium armor class wielding a rifle c) assume to be a Thief.

Seems rather flimsy, likewise the source for Thief getting melee staff is just an artistic background of what is assumed to be the specialization background image. Polearms in the initial HoT trailer come to mind, not to mention said image conveniently is missing both ends of the weapon depicted as far as I recall, so it could just as well be a Thief using a kit with a bundle that has a long haft for example.

Crise.9401:

Can someone point me to what is the source of the whole Thief rifle speculation in the first place. Is it still just a character in a trailer that we a) assume to be a player character b) assume to be a medium armor class wielding a rifle c) assume to be a Thief.

Seems rather flimsy, likewise the source for Thief getting melee staff is just an artistic background of what is assumed to be the specialization background image. Polearms in the initial HoT trailer come to mind, not to mention said image conveniently is missing both ends of the weapon depicted as far as I recall, so it could just as well be a Thief using a kit with a bundle that has a long haft for example.

The source of the rifle is there is a group of people who believe no two classes can have the same weapon for their elite spec (this has never been stated by anet). If you take this to be true though by a process of elimination of available weapons rifle best fits thief.

The source of the melee staff thief is not just the art background by also a data-mined staff skin that looks exactly like the staff in the the art background. This data-mined staff was data-mined at the same time that a large number of elite specialization weapons were data-mined.

sebradle.7034:

The source of the rifle is there is a group of people who believe no two classes can have the same weapon for their elite spec (this has never been stated by anet). If you take this to be true though by a process of elimination of available weapons rifle best fits thief.

Well as for what weapon fits Thief that is assuming the weapon will act in similar fashion to how it is on other classes (ie. Staff = ranged magic stick, for example). Ergo, there is really no credibility to the rifle speculation at all, beyond that it would be nice since SB is utility and AoE more so than a viable ranged weapon.

sebradle.7034:

The source of the melee staff thief is not just the art background by also a data-mined staff skin that looks exactly like the staff in the the art background. This data-mined staff was data-mined at the same time that a large number of elite specialization weapons were data-mined.

Like sword (or more recently warhorn) was datamined for Eles. Granted it still seems to be Rifle 0 vs Staff 2 if you are to keeping score.

Personally I don’t mind a melee staff, we don’t have a two handed melee weapon on Thief as far as I know plus at least it is something that forces them to create new things rather than borrowing from old (fresh animations at the very least, granted they might be able to re-use some of the Revenant base animations, however, those are entirely defensive skills so we can probably assume Thief would be more offensive and thus different).

sebradle.7034:

Crise.9401:

Can someone point me to what is the source of the whole Thief rifle speculation in the first place. Is it still just a character in a trailer that we a) assume to be a player character b) assume to be a medium armor class wielding a rifle c) assume to be a Thief.

Seems rather flimsy, likewise the source for Thief getting melee staff is just an artistic background of what is assumed to be the specialization background image. Polearms in the initial HoT trailer come to mind, not to mention said image conveniently is missing both ends of the weapon depicted as far as I recall, so it could just as well be a Thief using a kit with a bundle that has a long haft for example.

The source of the rifle is there is a group of people who believe no two classes can have the same weapon for their elite spec (this has never been stated by anet). If you take this to be true though by a process of elimination of available weapons rifle best fits thief.

It was also strongly hinted, that all the specializations were shown in the trailer. Engi and Ranger were easily recognizable, so it was reasoned out that the third medium armor character shown would be a thief. And that character was holding a rifle.

(mind you, there was also a sword/dagger light armor character that most people suspected then of being an ele. This also conflicts with the currently assumed by many ele elite weapon skin – warhorn – that was datamined recently in the same batch as the melee staff skin and “thief staff” background image)

The main argument against staff is that unless it will go in some weird direction that has nothing to do with the melee staff idea at all, it is highly unlikely to add anything to the thief that the current d/d, s/d and s/p builds don’t already cover. Rifle on the other hand can expand thief class.

Whether it be staff or rifle, thief spec will suck.

Staff will suck less than rifle imo. Why? because nothing will replace shortbow. It’s too good, I can’t see any scenario where i would take a rifle over it, unless they made the rifle really kittening weird and exactly like sb. Staff could be cool Prob will suffer from the same fact that it wont be better than weapons we already have, unless it pulses blinds and does crazy damage.

I mean rifle thief would just be like ranger right now, annoying, except without the ability to provide group stealth, blinds, etc. Unless you go d/p d/d etc and rifle in which case you would not have SB and lose out on great things as well…see how circular this is…

Arobain.8274:

each class gets 1 new weapon, if a class already gets that weapon for their elite spec, another class will not be getting it for their spec, rest assured that thief is getting rifle

Could you provide proof to this reasoning cause I have never heard `anet say anything about that limitation just cause one class gets a staff doesnt mean the other class cant get it.

If they are going to add staff for a thief they better add the bo staff skin for them

Astralporing.1957:

It was also strongly hinted, that all the specializations were shown in the trailer.

We never saw warriors in the trailer. And to this day we cannot be sure what they getting – seems to be a torch but the desing doesnt fit warrior nor berserk style.

Crise.9401:

Can someone point me to what is the source of the whole Thief rifle speculation in the first place. Is it still just a character in a trailer that we a) assume to be a player character b) assume to be a medium armor class wielding a rifle c) assume to be a Thief.

…

Source of the rifle has been linked back to trailer videos and various “thief” NPCs – like a picture of the leader of Order of Whispers – holding a rifle.

Most are also going under the assumption that no two elite specs can share the same weapon. Though if you think about it, future elite specs definitely will have collisions, or a lack of a weapon in general (warriors first!) – unless they start release new weapon types.

So yeah you’re right.

Other class specs (namely guardian) has also been speculated through trailer videos, where it was seen just barely for a glimpse.

- I guess it could very well be that they’re trolling us with engineers.

skowcia.8257:

Astralporing.1957:

It was also strongly hinted, that all the specializations were shown in the trailer.

We never saw warriors in the trailer. And to this day we cannot be sure what they getting – seems to be a torch but the desing doesnt fit warrior nor berserk style.

OH pistol \o/

you know i was thinking.. i know we’re all surprised we might have been wrong about the whole sniper rifle thing but isnt that for the best?

How cheese is rapid fire ranger now.. imagine being one-shotted from 1500 range away by the class known for spike damage

If thief doesn’t get rifle nothing short of a complete gw1 remake with gw2 graphics could possibly compel me to buy HoT, just my 2 cents.

penelopehannibal.8947:

Gern.2978:

How so? From a logical point of view, it makes far more sense than staff because of all the reasons I listed originally.

This sounds to me like what you’re saying is “My point of view is above everybody else’s and only I have a logical opinion”.

I’ve already said earlier that the thief already has more ranged attacks than melee. So in my opinion, it makes more sense for thief to get staff rather than rifle.

Anything can happen though, even with the picture of a specialisation background, that’s clearly a thief holding a [&C6EXAAA=], anything can still happen. Thief could end up with a focus yet. Imagine running around as a thief with the Inquest key-shaped focus!

It’s doubtful thieves will get staff since rangers are already getting the staff. It’s also counter to the theme of thieves to use staffs.

If anything thieves lack long range weaponry and a rifle would round out the thief class in that manner.

Solid Gold.9310:

Ranger wants a rifle, not a stupid staff.

^ World of Warcraft wants their player back.

On a more analytical note, if you had read or even partially looked at the current ranger skills, the natural magics, you would possibly know that the druid/staff spec is the most congruent choice for any of the classes so far.

DeathPanel.8362:

It’s doubtful thieves will get staff since rangers are already getting the staff. It’s also counter to the theme of thieves to use staffs.

If anything thieves lack long range weaponry and a rifle would round out the thief class in that manner.

ArenaNet never said each weapon will be unique to one elite specialisation. >.<

Presumably, arenanet wants money from gemstore sales. This means that spreading weapons over all the classes is a better plan, as otherwise we just unlock a staff skin and use the wardrobe to duplicate it as needed.

With rifle warriors being in the dust – its a wonder anyone buys rifles at all and all that work the art team do to design them and make their new sounds is wasted.

Thief having rifle would be good for their sales, would promote the use of an underused weapon and would give a new dimension to thieves that may attract players to the class who prefer ranged heavy combat.

There is clearly only one way to resolve this.

Thief spec will be melee rifle.

skowcia.8257:

Astralporing.1957:

It was also strongly hinted, that all the specializations were shown in the trailer.

We never saw warriors in the trailer. And to this day we cannot be sure what they getting – seems to be a torch but the desing doesnt fit warrior nor berserk style.

You know people also said the shield would not fit mesmer, and geuss what? ANet made a shield that fits mesmer perfectly. People in this thread really are way too narrowminded, ANet have shown time and again they have lots of creativity, and torch should be a pretty easy one to be creative with even

I don’t see a problem with a thief and a melee staff, it would suit well the profession, martial arts and everything.
Same for the rifle, the problems of this are not from the fact that it wouldnt fit.

‘Melee Staff’, by itself, is a problem. The weapon was conceived as a mage’s staff, and many staves are far too intricate and ornamental to work as melee weapons. For every staff skin that might actually not come apart if you clonked someone upside the head with it, there are five that are just completely laughable as melee weapons.

No, the Revenant should not have gotten melee staves. It’s a weird, bass-ackwards kludge they’re clearly using to try and drum up extra excitement to the class, and/or to quietate some of the various halberd/polearm rabble-rousery. It’s not natural, it doesn’t fit, not even on a heavily mystical straight-up caster like the Revenant.

On the Thief? A gadgety, physical force-y class almost as forward-thinking as the Engineer? It’s ludicrous. What self-respecting Thief looks at this and says “I’m going to hide that under my coat and then whack people upside the head with it when they least expect it! That sounds like a much better plan than my cutlass and flintlock!”

Gern.2978:

None of what you just suggested is very different form how thief is played right now.

They may not have aegis, or blocks, or retalitation. But they have some of the best mobility and evasion in game, and make one of the best “high mobility decappers” as they are right now.

Thieves aren’t very good at decapping. They don’t have a means to force someone off point to neutralize it, nor the sustain to do the usual sumo wrestle over the point that a bunker can. Your primary method of decapping involves BURSTING the enemy down quickly to capture the point, which isn’t, or at least shouldn’t, be possible against a dedicated bunker. Thieves perform the role of a back capper and roamer, not a resilient brawler who can knock people off the point.

No where did I mention PVE in my post. I am talking about a melee support build for SPVP that has the sustain to weather a few AoE attacks without going down immediately, and can push out enough support to keep their allies alive. In other words something where using a zerker amulet isn’t automatically the best option.

GummiBear.2756:

skowcia.8257:

Astralporing.1957:

It was also strongly hinted, that all the specializations were shown in the trailer.

We never saw warriors in the trailer. And to this day we cannot be sure what they getting – seems to be a torch but the desing doesnt fit warrior nor berserk style.

You know people also said the shield would not fit mesmer, and geuss what? ANet made a shield that fits mesmer perfectly. People in this thread really are way too narrowminded, ANet have shown time and again they have lots of creativity, and torch should be a pretty easy one to be creative with even

The difference between designing a weapon for mesmer and for thief/warrior is that mesmer’s have physical and magical attacks. This allows them to make more creative weapon skills, and they can make a weapon like shield or torch fit on mesmer. However, it’s a lot harder to make a rifle or a staff fit on a thief without introducing a ton to the class. I think torch kind of fits on warrior and could be similar to ranger torch, dropping a field etc. but I just can’t see any way that rifle or staff will be on thief without it being pretty useless in pve and pvp.

What I’m getting from the pro-rifle crew is that you want the entire first elite spec to be dedicated to replacing p/p instead of wanting p/p to be able to do its job.

Nyx.7342:

Staff will suck less than rifle imo. Why? because nothing will replace shortbow. It’s too good, I can’t see any scenario where i would take a rifle over it, unless they made the rifle really kittening weird and exactly like sb.

Except ideally riffle would actually be able to deal decent dmg at its max range unlike SB, which you need to be melee to get max dmg from it, due to the slow travel speed of the cluster bomb projectile and you cant fire another before it explodes (whether you trigger the explosion or it hit something)

Nyx.7342:

Staff could be cool Prob will suffer from the same fact that it wont be better than weapons we already have, unless it pulses blinds and does crazy damage.

You mean like s/p or d/p does currently?

Ergo rifle will suck way less than staff, since it will actually provide something to the class it doesn’t have already

Coldtart.4785:

What I’m getting from the pro-rifle crew is that you want the entire first elite spec to be dedicated to replacing p/p instead of wanting p/p to be able to do its job.

What I’m getting from the pro-melee staff crew is that you want the entire first elite spec to be dedicated to replacing s/x instead of wanting p/p to be able to do its job.

I like how you assumed that I’m pro-staff. I also like how you assumed that I think staff will be like s/x but better while wilfully ignoring all the mechanics that exist that a melee weapon could use that thief doesn’t have access to at all, let alone on s/x.

glehmann.9586:

There is clearly only one way to resolve this.

Thief spec will be melee rifle.

Why not both? The Mohican people used a rifle stock as a weapon, called a Gunstock War Club. It wouldn’t be a stretch to combine the two :P

Coldtart.4785:

What I’m getting from the pro-rifle crew is that you want the entire first elite spec to be dedicated to replacing p/p instead of wanting p/p to be able to do its job.

While I would love to see P/P get buffed, the only way it could fulfill the role that rifle can, is if they buffed P/P’s range to 1200.

YuiRS.8129:

I guess our sword is exactly the same as warrior’s sword. They’re melee and swords, right?

Oh hey, what if they actually had different skills? I wonder…

Ironically, thief sword skills is similar to warrior.
1 → 3 attack chain with cripple at 3rd skill applying a cripple
2 → A form of gap closer and applies a form of movement hinder on hit.
3 → Burst skill

Coldtart.4785:

What I’m getting from the pro-rifle crew is that you want the entire first elite spec to be dedicated to replacing p/p instead of wanting p/p to be able to do its job.

They’ve tried to ‘fix’ P/P something like five times now.

Has it ever been good? Even once? Or has MH Pistol pretty much always been completely worthless outside of bass-ackwards P/D builds which rely on condition application out of stealth rather than the actual MH Pistol attacks?

Yes, if outright replacing the P/P set with a superior option is what it takes for Thieves to be able to fight worth a snot at a range greater than make-out distance, then I am all for replacing P/P.

It would, after all, be replacing a set which has always underperformed drastically, rather than trying to replace a set which is already excellent.

Coldtart.4785:

I like how you assumed that I’m pro-staff. I also like how you assumed that I think staff will be like s/x but better while wilfully ignoring all the mechanics that exist that a melee weapon could use that thief doesn’t have access to at all, let alone on s/x.

And what exactly is missing from current thief melee weapons that melee staff might introduce?

It will be focus, calm down all.

DevilLordLaser.8619:

They’ve tried to ‘fix’ P/P something like five times now.

Has it ever been good? Even once? Or has MH Pistol pretty much always been completely worthless outside of bass-ackwards P/D builds which rely on condition application out of stealth rather than the actual MH Pistol attacks?

Yes, if outright replacing the P/P set with a superior option is what it takes for Thieves to be able to fight worth a snot at a range greater than make-out distance, then I am all for replacing P/P.

It would, after all, be replacing a set which has always underperformed drastically, rather than trying to replace a set which is already excellent.

That’s exactly what they did with the guardian’s ranged weapon. Instead of going through the tremendous effort it would take to make scepter good, they just gave guardians Longbow. Why do people think they will treat thieves differently, and why is it so bad if they give them the “dragonhunter” treatment?

Gern.2978:

DevilLordLaser.8619:

They’ve tried to ‘fix’ P/P something like five times now.

Has it ever been good? Even once? Or has MH Pistol pretty much always been completely worthless outside of bass-ackwards P/D builds which rely on condition application out of stealth rather than the actual MH Pistol attacks?

Yes, if outright replacing the P/P set with a superior option is what it takes for Thieves to be able to fight worth a snot at a range greater than make-out distance, then I am all for replacing P/P.

It would, after all, be replacing a set which has always underperformed drastically, rather than trying to replace a set which is already excellent.

That’s exactly what they did with the guardian’s ranged weapon. Instead of going through the tremendous effort it would take to make scepter good, they just gave guardians Longbow. Why do people think they will treat thieves differently, and why is it so bad if they give them the “dragonhunter” treatment?

But… scepter is good in the right situation. Well, actually it was better before the trait changes, but still. Large hitbox enemies in PVE it’s quite nice.

Jerus.4350:

Gern.2978:

DevilLordLaser.8619:

They’ve tried to ‘fix’ P/P something like five times now.

Has it ever been good? Even once? Or has MH Pistol pretty much always been completely worthless outside of bass-ackwards P/D builds which rely on condition application out of stealth rather than the actual MH Pistol attacks?

Yes, if outright replacing the P/P set with a superior option is what it takes for Thieves to be able to fight worth a snot at a range greater than make-out distance, then I am all for replacing P/P.

It would, after all, be replacing a set which has always underperformed drastically, rather than trying to replace a set which is already excellent.

That’s exactly what they did with the guardian’s ranged weapon. Instead of going through the tremendous effort it would take to make scepter good, they just gave guardians Longbow. Why do people think they will treat thieves differently, and why is it so bad if they give them the “dragonhunter” treatment?

But… scepter is good in the right situation. Well, actually it was better before the trait changes, but still. Large hitbox enemies in PVE it’s quite nice.

“Good in the right situation” doesn’t cut it. Scepter is mediocre in PvE, and worthless in PvP. Thief P/P isn’t much better.

I don’t care anymore about this petty “who’s getting what?” Shenanigans. I just want to know more info on elite specs regardless. Anet is really milking the last drop from me.

penelopehannibal.8947:

DeathPanel.8362:

It’s doubtful thieves will get staff since rangers are already getting the staff. It’s also counter to the theme of thieves to use staffs.

If anything thieves lack long range weaponry and a rifle would round out the thief class in that manner.

ArenaNet never said each weapon will be unique to one elite specialisation. >.<

But judging from the current reveals that is the route they are going.

My point about staff not begin on theme for thieves and that they lack a dedicated long range (1200+) weapon is still valid.

uglydan.1638:

glehmann.9586:

There is clearly only one way to resolve this.

Thief spec will be melee rifle.

Why not both? The Mohican people used a rifle stock as a weapon, called a Gunstock War Club. It wouldn’t be a stretch to combine the two :P

Yes. Thieves will hold a rifle by the barrel. Skill 1 will attack with the rifle like a club. Skills 2-5 will cause you to shoot yourself.

If it’s about range then it obviously will be hammer.

Actually, I’m surprised that no one is talking about OH sword more.

Well, seeing the argument is pretty much thief needs something that is 1200 range. (Which is subjective) I think off hand sword won’t cut it.

I think the problem with 1200 range is that it is alot harder to combo off. Going d/d + rifle would make rifle pretty much a stand alone weapon.

FrizzFreston.5290:

Well, seeing the argument is pretty much thief needs something that is 1200 range. (Which is subjective) I think off hand sword won’t cut it.

I think the problem with 1200 range is that it is alot harder to combo off. Going d/d + rifle would make rifle pretty much a stand alone weapon.

For all we know it could have a grapple shot that pulls enemies to you. The only thing we know for sure is that thief is the only profession limited to 900 weapon range, and by that principle alone, a 1200 weapon would have an inherent benefit, even as a secondary weapon for casual PvE. Any other consideration is pure guessing.

Leablo.2651:

FrizzFreston.5290:

Well, seeing the argument is pretty much thief needs something that is 1200 range. (Which is subjective) I think off hand sword won’t cut it.

I think the problem with 1200 range is that it is alot harder to combo off. Going d/d + rifle would make rifle pretty much a stand alone weapon.

For all we know it could have a grapple shot that pulls enemies to you. The only thing we know for sure is that thief is the only profession limited to 900 weapon range, and by that principle alone, a 1200 weapon would have an inherent benefit, even as a secondary weapon for casual PvE. Any other consideration is pure guessing.

There’s no inherent need for thief to have a 1200 range weapon. Thief already has several skills to close the gap.

Even so, the range on the weapon would just make it more difficult to fit in the picture of the thief as a whole. Thief has stealth, dodges, jumps and is overall just very mobile. A rifle in the form of a sniper at 1200 range is the kind of opposite. Sitting back at long range occasionally moving.

That said, there’s a possibility of more of a shotgun/assault rifle that would only work at close to 900 range where the rest of the thief skills would just make more sense with.

FrizzFreston.5290:

There’s no inherent need for thief to have a 1200 range weapon. Thief already has several skills to close the gap.

And it’s going to help a lot against targets that are better ranged (i.e. several world bosses). There’s a reason why i don’t bring my thief to Claw fight.

FrizzFreston.5290:

Even so, the range on the weapon would just make it more difficult to fit in the picture of the thief as a whole. Thief has stealth, dodges, jumps and is overall just very mobile. A rifle in the form of a sniper at 1200 range is the kind of opposite. Sitting back at long range occasionally moving.

It doesn’t have to be as stationary as warrior one, you know. A Gunslinger spec (with rifle and pistol traits – those pistol traits that are sorely missing in the current traitlines) would be an interesting option, for example.

On the other hand, melee staff does fit the current thief way too much – it is unlikely to add something to Thief that would change the way it is played now. And that would make it completely superfluous.

Astralporing.1957:

FrizzFreston.5290:

There’s no inherent need for thief to have a 1200 range weapon. Thief already has several skills to close the gap.

And it’s going to help a lot against targets that are better ranged (i.e. several world bosses). There’s a reason why i don’t bring my thief to Claw fight.

Undoubtedly, there’s more ways to do the claw fight than just to stand at 1200 range. Or other world bosses for that matter. I can’t think of any places that need 1200 range.

FrizzFreston.5290:

Even so, the range on the weapon would just make it more difficult to fit in the picture of the thief as a whole. Thief has stealth, dodges, jumps and is overall just very mobile. A rifle in the form of a sniper at 1200 range is the kind of opposite. Sitting back at long range occasionally moving.

It doesn’t have to be as stationary as warrior one, you know. A Gunslinger spec (with rifle and pistol traits – those pistol traits that are sorely missing in the current traitlines) would be an interesting option, for example.

Pistols are still is 900 range, while I was merely commenting that rifle in the form of a sniper at 1200 range. But you’re right, it doesn’t have to be that. Even then, I see it more in the form of something what the engineer currently has, which is more of a shotgun style than some sniper.

On the other hand, melee staff does fit the current thief way too much – it is unlikely to add something to Thief that would change the way it is played now. And that would make it completely superfluous.

Hmm, depends on the imagination of the developers, I suppose. But that is definitely something that can be worrisome. However the staff would also be the only two-handed melee weapon the thief would have. So in a way that already is an unfilled spot.

FrizzFreston.5290:

There’s no inherent need for thief to have a 1200 range weapon. Thief already has several skills to close the gap.

Even so, the range on the weapon would just make it more difficult to fit in the picture of the thief as a whole. Thief has stealth, dodges, jumps and is overall just very mobile. A rifle in the form of a sniper at 1200 range is the kind of opposite. Sitting back at long range occasionally moving.

That said, there’s a possibility of more of a shotgun/assault rifle that would only work at close to 900 range where the rest of the thief skills would just make more sense with.

Since the specialization class changes the class pretty drastically as seen with the dragon hunter and reaper reveals it’s pretty obvious that if in fact the rifle will be the new weapon for thieves that there will be a trait line and mechanics to account for the long range abilities.

It’s plausible that the new specialization will be something like Marksman or Sniper in that theme with ranged DPS as the focus.

DeathPanel.8362:

Since the specialization class changes the class pretty drastically as seen with the dragon hunter and reaper reveals it’s pretty obvious that if in fact the rifle will be the new weapon for thieves that there will be a trait line and mechanics to account for the long range abilities.

It’s plausible that the new specialization will be something like Marksman or Sniper in that theme with ranged DPS as the focus.

Yes, it’s definitely possible, but to make the specialisation work with the rest of the class might be more difficult, or require more mechanical changes. But the main point was that’s not a necessary attribute even though it’s obviously interesting/cool/stylish. If anything, it’s up to ArenaNet to make it work of course.

Thief is the only profession in game that does not have a 1200 range weapon. With that being said since the rifle is only used by two professions having a third would only make sense, especially the already existing lack of range. and no steal does not count.

Dont think Anet gonna give broken stealth class 1200m sniper rifle O.O

Calling it now: melee staff, but 1200 range attacks through kits.