I’ve been playing gw2 for this three years but I dont have more than 1k hours played, mostly all dedicated to pvp. Furthermore, saying this:
I think the GS1 chain of reaper, is way too slow. The 3rd one is great with the chill (and Vulnerability from reaper spec) but 3/4 seg for the 1st and the 2nd attacks is a really slow animation, maybe the slowest of all classes+weapons in the 1st attack. All GS classes have this in 1/2. It’s reasonable to see it in PvE, cause NPCs don’t like to dodge. However, I love PvP and GS Reapers and is easy to basically dodge all the damage in human form (mainly coming from Gravedigger, or a 4,5,3,2 chain). Additionally, the people using GS dont use the AA’s just all the other skills. I think a weapon is defined by his AA.
Notwithstanding, I don’t have much experience, but I suggest 1/2 sec the 1st two autoattacks from GS1, and a buff to “Your Soul Is Mine!” (heal shout), “Nothing Can Save You” and “Suffer”. Don’t know why but this 3 shouts feel underpowered. Moreover, I would also nerf damage/CD from the 1 and 2 in Reaper Form and increase the 5 in shroud Damage or lower the animation.
To sum up, I don’t think that reaper is underpowered, but a lot of people use it without GS because the Shroud is OP, not because the GS. That’s OK if you want and elite spec without his elite weapon although I don’t see it (elite specs are defined BY their weapons).
Sorry for my english and forgive me if my points arguing this are bad or incomplete. This is my first post, don’t kill me