K,
Will start with a “I like the new system, think it has decent potential etc etc..”
But.:
Pre-patch you were able to “select” anything, any trait you wanted in any “section” of the trait line eg: You could (if you wanted) have 3 adept traits in, lets say Explosives (engi main here..) Hell, you could even put traits in ANY trait line you wanted in order to make your own custon build. Guardian medi dps was a prime example: 0/1/6/1/6 (four trait lines used..)
Ok, people will argue that you can now have three Grandmaster traits.! Great, joy. But that example build never needed three GM’s.
Now we get to choose a fairly limited three FULL trait lines, but are locked in to which traits we can have.! Three adept, three Master and three GM. This is all well and good, and I get the “simplifying” things to make life easier for new players, but lets face it: It was fairly simple to start with: You picked what YOU wanted. Simple. I just can’t help but feel that things have been “over simplified.”
As I said at the start: I like the new system, I honestly think it has huge potential. The design works (being able to re-size the PvP build interface would be nice though, and moving the UI to suit would be pretty decent) and the theory behind making life simpler is always a good thing, I mean who wants to do more work than absolutely necessary?
My main concern is this: When Elite specs get brought in, are we going to loose one of those “limited” three trait lines, or gain an additional line? If we loose a line: The “Elites” had better be worth it, if not: Perfect, an extra trait line that (IMO) is sorely missing. I think its the former though.
As it stands at the moment, the patch has been “live” for a day, and teething problems will occur. I also know that the trait system will NEVER be reverted back to how it was: Like it or lump it situ. I like it, but do feel that things have been “dumbed down” way too much, after all: How hard is it to ask for advice and/or look over forums for a guide?
On a different note: if this simplifying of things is a prelude to build templates (I remember reading that it was a fairly complex thing to do with the old system) that would be great, it would actually make “most” of the changes worth it.
Conclusion: GW2 (for me) was all about being able to use whatever traits I wanted, being able to have a build that suited “my” play style. I cant help feeling that with the new system GW2 has reverted back to the days of limited selection, where games were linear.
With all that being said: I will continue to play, GW2 is the longest I have stuck with a game and I am intrigued to see what path it will take in the future.
Cheers,