Recently on an interview with Guild Wars 2 Junkies I was asked a question about what the new WvW skill progression might be and I kind of blanked. I gave it more thought after the show and this is what I have come up with for a system that I would like to see.
I envision the new system of abilities for WvW to be based on the current trait system in GW2 just with fewer paths. So say you have 3 paths Siege Master, Tactician, and Logistics (Or something like that). These trees would have the adept, master, and grandmaster trait levels as well as the intermediate bonuses. The rank system would progress similarly to sPvP, gaining points for kills, finishing enemies, capturing camps/towers ect, and defending objectives. Every Level up in WvW rank gives you a point you can place in a trait line. Lets take Siege Master for example, where every point in the tree Increases base DMG of siege the player uses (at a rate that isn’t over powered). Intermediate trait levels would bring things like % increase in range and increased toughness while on siege while the adept, master, and grandmaster trait levels could have options of more importance like reduced cooldowns and maybe even allow siege to combo finish. To unlock the traits themselves you would spend Badges, tier one trait options would cost 150 Badges and then scale up accordingly. Respecing would also have a badge cost and not a monetary cost.
For balance reasons I think you should probably only be able to go to grandmaster in a certain trait line and then adept in 1 other. There also needs to be increased badge earning rate based on your rank level to help classes that play more of a support role in wvw.
Trait ideas for the different trees could be things like: passive siege regeneration, passive, siege health pool increase, increased repair amount per supply, + 2-5 passive supply load, inspire guards (guards are buffed near player), Stealth attacker (player does not count towards orange X’s), Speed Siege builder (quicker build time), increased dmg against enemy siege, upon successful escorting of a dolyak +5% supply is delivered (non stacking), Escorted Yaks + Toughness/vit/swiftness, +tough/vit for players capping an objective or defending (in the control circle).
Obviously there would need to be allot of balancing done but what do you think of this possible way they could implement a WvW rank based progression and ability system?
I think that it would bring a whole new dynamic to WvW group composition. Which players in your group will man siege (Siege Master), which will escort yaks and repair damaged towers (Logistics), and which will be making the push to attack objectives and defend your own (tactician). Let me know what yall think!
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