Guild Wars 2

Hello Internet,

For quite some time I’ve thought the game would be significantly better if players had a fourth utility slot, reasoning to follow. This is a seemingly easy to incorporate into the current GW2 system. But for any change to happen there needs to be a reason, right? That’s is what separates a frivolous change from one with value.

Ok, little backstory. When I started playing GW2 like most of you Anets belief was that every class could fill a roll, regardless of the differences that each class offers to each roll. Now… this is a ridiculously naive philosophy because in reality the differences of each skill depending on class will create a “tier list”. Example, Tempest are by far the best healing support in the game. This isn’t up for discussion, just watch any Pro-League match.

Now this isn’t because Ele’s are too strong (well… they are pretty boosted. but its nice to have a real healer in the game given the other factors in the game.. yata yata yata), it’s because their kit and abilities are the best suited for the job. Which is a good thing, I’m happy the games direction has finally admitted that some classes can be better than others in regards to specific need.

To bring this back to my request, a 4th utility slot. Because of the unique way classes perform different actions when you pick a class there are some skills that are often a requirement. Example, if you pick mesmer, you’re gonna bring portal. The skill offers a huge impact on matches if used well, and is unique to the class.

This is great, imo classes should have unique factors that are why you pick them in the first place. But because of the current number of slots it can be a limiting factor as well.

Part of why GW2 has such a stale meta is because utility skills make a huge impact on how traits tie together and when 1-2 of your 3 slots are spoken for you don’t get to branch out and combine different strengths well.

Having 4 utility slots as opposed to 3 would allow well rounded builds more flexibility to shift with the meta and will open up possibilities for numerous new builds moving forward.

NO! I don’t type in all caps very often, but when I do I’m serious.

Do you have any idea how overpowered thief and mesmer would become if there were a fourth utility slot? Imagine a thief taking Signet of Agility, Shadowstep, Bandit’s Defense, and Infiltrator’s Signet on top of Impact Strike? Or how about Portal, Blink, Signet of Illusions, and Well of Recall or maybe Well of Precog in place of Blink?

You have no idea the Pandora’s Box that would open if a fourth utility slot were to happen. It would be by far the worst thing to ever happen to Guild Wars 2 as there’s enough ability clutter in the game to keep track of.

“Tempest are by far the best healing support in the game”

Friend,

I understand you may have to unbind your keyboard turning in order to bind a fourth ability, but fear not.

Do you have any idea how… much better every class would be because they have another utility. Yes, that would be the point, adding an additional utility would make all classes stronger. Not just the ones you don’t like to play against.

While there has been a lot of “visual aids” as the community calls it, Anet has done a pretty good job of cleaning up the look of the game. And if I could fill you in on a little secret, it’s not a good idea to play GW2 by going 123456789 on your keyboard over and over. If you choose the right spell at the right time it will give you a better result.

With that being said the addition of one utility skill will not directly cause a spike in visual chaos. Because not every skill has an outlandish animation, and pool of spells would remain the same.

Agemnon.4608:

NO! I don’t type in all caps very often, but when I do I’m serious.

Do you have any idea how overpowered thief and mesmer would become if there were a fourth utility slot? Imagine a thief taking Signet of Agility, Shadowstep, Bandit’s Defense, and Infiltrator’s Signet on top of Impact Strike? Or how about Portal, Blink, Signet of Illusions, and Well of Recall or maybe Well of Precog in place of Blink?

You have no idea the Pandora’s Box that would open if a fourth utility slot were to happen. It would be by far the worst thing to ever happen to Guild Wars 2 as there’s enough ability clutter in the game to keep track of.

“Tempest are by far the best healing support in the game”

Lol, I love how or Mes, you struggled (read failed) to find a good fourth utility for Mesmer.

BTW, the picks would be decoy or MoD, possible mantra cleanse to open up more builds, either way, hardly scary OP. Thief? yes, but you should have gone with any other class to prove your point XD

well, maybe give players a choice.

take
3 utilities 1 elite

or
4 utilities 0 elite (4th utility taking up the elite slot)

The balancing is tough enough and powercreep insane enough with just three utilities. If you have a 4v4 at mid that’s four extra utility skills per side, big instant AoE interrupt, AoE CC, etc., and too many classes can do too much as it is.

Lol, I love how or Mes, you struggled (read failed) to find a good fourth utility for Mesmer.

What’s wrong with Well of Precog? The chill and then the alacrity after effect sounds powerful if timed and placed properly. Any friendly Tempest in the field can charge attunements faster while hostile Tempests would take longer to recharge due to the chill.

Tempest are by far the best healing support in the game

That’s true, but imagine taking Eye of the Storm with Flash Freeze, Lightning Flash, and Aftershock? It would be even better. Too good in fact. Great disengage plus two aurashare utilities, one that casts chill and the other reflecting projectiles. As it is now however you need to make a choice based on the opposing comp: take Aftershock for the reflect or if you don’t notice enough projectile hate in the other comp to justify it take Flash Freeze. With four utility slots one could simply take both with swapping Aftershock out for Feel the Burn.

Deimos Tel Arin.7391:

well, maybe give players a choice.

take
3 utilities 1 elite

or
4 utilities 0 elite (4th utility taking up the elite slot)

This. I would realy like this. Not another key number but more flexibility.

Agemnon.4608:

The balancing is tough enough and powercreep insane enough with just three utilities. If you have a 4v4 at mid that’s four extra utility skills per side, big instant AoE interrupt, AoE CC, etc., and too many classes can do too much as it is.

Lol, I love how or Mes, you struggled (read failed) to find a good fourth utility for Mesmer.

What’s wrong with Well of Precog? The chill and then the alacrity after effect sounds powerful if timed and placed properly. Any friendly Tempest in the field can charge attunements faster while hostile Tempests would take longer to recharge due to the chill.

Tempest are by far the best healing support in the game

That’s true, but imagine taking Eye of the Storm with Flash Freeze, Lightning Flash, and Aftershock? It would be even better. Too good in fact. Great disengage plus two aurashare utilities, one that casts chill and the other reflecting projectiles. As it is now however you need to make a choice based on the opposing comp: take Aftershock for the reflect or if you don’t notice enough projectile hate in the other comp to justify it take Flash Freeze. With four utility slots one could simply take both with swapping Aftershock out for Feel the Burn.

What’s wrong with it is that you just proved, again, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Much like the majority of the people on the forums who don’t like Mesmer, thief or whatever.
Well of Precognition doesn’t grant chill it’s aegis. And it used to be invuln, then blur, now it’s in the current state of aegis. And guess what? Maybe 3 people use it. Anet trashed the skill.

Now, I think the OP has a decent idea as it could allow classes to take condi utility rather than have to trait for it, open up different builds whatever. But I think that before we look at that we need to actually fix balance issues with the game and things with other aspects of the game.

Just adding is to dangerous. It will add to power creep which we don´t need and controling balance would become harder.
But opening elite slot for normal utility will open flexibility without serious power creep. But don´t be blind. Even this might give more power to some builds/classes.

Ouch, meant Well of Recall, my bad.

Wolfric.9380:

Deimos Tel Arin.7391:

well, maybe give players a choice.

take
3 utilities 1 elite

or
4 utilities 0 elite (4th utility taking up the elite slot)

This. I would realy like this. Not another key number but more flexibility.

I would like this idea. Opens up options if needed, more build diversity.

BetterHappy.2517:

Hello Internet,

For quite some time I’ve thought the game would be significantly better if players had a fourth utility slot, reasoning to follow. This is a seemingly easy to incorporate into the current GW2 system. But for any change to happen there needs to be a reason, right? That’s is what separates a frivolous change from one with value.

Ok, little backstory. When I started playing GW2 like most of you Anets belief was that every class could fill a roll, regardless of the differences that each class offers to each roll. Now… this is a ridiculously naive philosophy because in reality the differences of each skill depending on class will create a “tier list”. Example, Tempest are by far the best healing support in the game. This isn’t up for discussion, just watch any Pro-League match.

Now this isn’t because Ele’s are too strong (well… they are pretty boosted. but its nice to have a real healer in the game given the other factors in the game.. yata yata yata), it’s because their kit and abilities are the best suited for the job. Which is a good thing, I’m happy the games direction has finally admitted that some classes can be better than others in regards to specific need.

To bring this back to my request, a 4th utility slot. Because of the unique way classes perform different actions when you pick a class there are some skills that are often a requirement. Example, if you pick mesmer, you’re gonna bring portal. The skill offers a huge impact on matches if used well, and is unique to the class.

This is great, imo classes should have unique factors that are why you pick them in the first place. But because of the current number of slots it can be a limiting factor as well.

Part of why GW2 has such a stale meta is because utility skills make a huge impact on how traits tie together and when 1-2 of your 3 slots are spoken for you don’t get to branch out and combine different strengths well.

Having 4 utility slots as opposed to 3 would allow well rounded builds more flexibility to shift with the meta and will open up possibilities for numerous new builds moving forward.

I would be open to a 4th utility skill, just for more options. Like you stated some skills are such a staple for the class its basically mandatory and takes up so much room.

However before that and trying to balance it, i would prefer they balance what they already have better.

Make elite specializations balanced with other specs. When announced anet said elite specs weren’t meant to be “stronger” than current specs, just a new way to play the class.

Maybe balance other skills to be able to compete with said staple utility skills. Imagine if mesmer had 5 or 10 other choices that were just as good as portal. Would be insanely op right? Not if all classes had the same opportunity for op skills. This way when choosing utility skills it would actually be a “hard choice.” B/c you would strongly have to factor in what you get vs what you lose (similar idea to choosing an elite skill, assuming elite skills were balanced)

More diversity, especially in weapons. And adding more skills in general. GW1 had a ton of diversity b/c it had hundreds of skills, and 2ndary professions. I get its a different game different beast with different mechanics, but in the expansions most classes got what 1 new weapon, and just a very small handful of new skills many are unused. Now imagine they added say 10 skills per class and 2 weapons with new skills, one could have a ton of diversity. Sure they would always be fotm builds, but say certain new skills countered certain things one would have a lot more options.