Guild Wars 2

Hi guys,

So the new trait system has been announced: https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/traits-unleashed-forty-new-traits-and-more/

I love many of the changes (swap traits on the fly, horizontal progression, etc.) However, I am concerned about the consequences on early leveling.

With the new system, traits will only be available starting at level 30. Which means that new characters will receive their first Adept Minor Trait at level 30, and their first Adept Major Trait (if they choose to spec into the same line) at level 36 (if I’m understanding the article correctly.) In the current system, new characters get their first Adept Minor at level 15 and their first Adept Major (in the same line) at level 20.

Wouldn’t the new system make it hard for new Eles to level? As it is, early Ele leveling can be hard, especially since our profession mechanic is tied to a Trait line and we depend on traits for basic survival. With the new system, Stone Flesh/Renewing Stamina/Final Shielding/Cantrip Mastery/Soothing Wave, as well as the passive stat boosts from Water, Earth and especially Arcana are now farther away, forcing new Eles to rely only on equipment (which is always in flux while leveling) and their weapon and utility skills (which are on long cooldowns) to survive. Imagine fighting Risen, Dredge, or Veterans without your basic defensive traits…not pretty.

I think the bigger issues are, as always, Ele’s lack of built-in survivability and over-dependence on Arcana…but the new system is just exacerbating this situation.

Thoughts?

I dont think the current traits will help you at all before lvl 30

Well no a lot of ele survivability comes at the max of the lines the lesser of the lines work with the max well but alone they do not give ele the survivability ppl want. That kind of the problem with the ele class when leveling it up all the good things come at the high levels nearly max levels. But that the ideal behind the mages classes they are not made to be tankly they sit back and do lot of effects and dmg or they have high movement to get in and get out fast.

rhodoc.2381:

I dont think the current traits will help you at all before lvl 30

Conjurer + LH blind spam.
Preddy gud comrade

Not sure why they pushed the acquisition of the traits back. This just makes early-level even less interesting. As for survival, I don’t think it will matter much, I never slotted defensive stuff for leveling pve anyhow.

This seems similar to the stuff they were talking about in the Chinese version, where the game also boosts your stats early on to make things easier.

I think ANet is aware of how completely and utterly painful it is to level an Ele at early levels.

My hope is that they’re just trying to refine the leveling curve, and properly boost the Ele’s stats early on so that it’s much easier to kill stuff and survive.

I’m interested in seeing how all of these changes to traits, crit damage – and whatever else they have in store – all play out. But not being able to get Persisting Flames, Fresh Air, or Evasive Arcana until level 80 makes it hard to learn good ele habits and rotations while leveling.

On the other hand, being able to swap traits on the fly sounds great. 30/30/10/0/0 one minute, 0/20/25/25/0 the next? Yes please!

I asked Roy Cronacher about early leveling concerns in the main discussion forum thread:

Roy Cronacher.1576:

Glenstorm.4059:

Roy Cronacher.1576:

Phadde.7362:

This is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! ! !
I’ve wanted something like this for a long time and now that it’s finally coming, you managed to make it This kitten Good!

Such a refreshment! There are a ton of things like these that should be looked over, and it really feels like we (literally) have to wait ~2 years to see them change.
Might actually be my favorite patch of all time!

Thank you! This is the side of ANet that should never be turned away from us!

I’m glad you are excited, and we are too. This is just the first taste of stuff coming in the build. There will be many more blogs. =)

Thanks for the updates! Really excited about these changes!

Could you please also address concerns regarding early leveling difficulties for new players (especially for classes like Ele and Mesmers) since important defensive traits are now only obtainable starting at level 30 rather than at level 15?

We have done some tuning on monster stats pre-80 to account for players having less traits, and stats from traits. We wanted to push back traits to give characters more meaningful progression up to 80 and keep things simpler for a new player to learn over time.

Sounds like they did the opposite of your suggestion, Neko (lowering monster stats rather than buffing Ele stats.) This is fine by me honestly!