Guild Wars 2

Elementals have some very powerful skills, especially the Elite Ice Elemental potentially being able to AoE Heal for 6570 up to 3 times within it’s life time with it’s Pseudo-Cleansing Wave.

However, it all comes to naught when you have no control over the elemental’s better skills and thus most of the time the Air Elemental’s stun is just completely random and can’t be taken advantage of for neither defense nor offense. Or when you’re hugging the Ice Elemental for the first heal and only when you finally give up and have to kite away does it cast the heal.

By giving Elementalists more control over the Elemental’s strongest skill by replacing the recharge-on-hold-until-it-dies with commands – like Necro minions and Ranger spirits – it would make Elementals alot more interesting, instead of a complete RNG pet.

So make it work like the trigger for Flesh Golem? I could see that working. Link it to the main effect the elemental has.

I do not like the hidden slavery message in the elemental mechanic. Direct control of the elemental would make that message stronger. You have bid a life form to accept your mastery, bonding it to you for a time. I would be happier if the elemental was manifested, but acted with self-interest. It should be a free agent that attacks only what attacks it. I would go so far as to say that it has no allegiance once spawned. If it is supposed to act as an ally, then there should be a pact mechanic. In that case, the elemental certainly would not be controlled by the caster. In fact, if every Elementalist had a pact with all the elements, then no elemental would attack an Elementalist, regardless of the fight going on. Both Elementalist would be allies of the element. Along with that, why would elementals of the same element attach each other? The current game allows it because it is based upon enslavement lore, which should not be promoted in this era.

ImProVocateur.5189:

I do not like the hidden slavery message in the elemental mechanic. Direct control of the elemental would make that message stronger. You have bid a life form to accept your mastery, bonding it to you for a time. I would be happier if the elemental was manifested, but acted with self-interest. It should be a free agent that attacks only what attacks it. I would go so far as to say that it has no allegiance once spawned. If it is supposed to act as an ally, then there should be a pact mechanic. In that case, the elemental certainly would not be controlled by the caster. In fact, if every Elementalist had a pact with all the elements, then no elemental would attack an Elementalist, regardless of the fight going on. Both Elementalist would be allies of the element. Along with that, why would elementals of the same element attach each other? The current game allows it because it is based upon enslavement lore, which should not be promoted in this era.

Ummm yeah…

Lore-wise, Elementals of Tyria aren’t like Elementals in the D&D universe who are demonic-like that lives on another plane of reality that needs to be pacted. They are a purely a manifestation of magic.

If anything, necro minions and ranger spirits are the ones who need to be more wanton like their predecessors.

Leuca.5732:

So make it work like the trigger for Flesh Golem? I could see that working. Link it to the main effect the elemental has.

Yep, I don’t see why not. Guardian Spirit Weaps are like that too but I forgot to mention them since they have been meh even when they were impervious to damage.

ImProVocateur.5189:

I do not like the hidden slavery message in the elemental mechanic. Direct control of the elemental would make that message stronger.

I didn’t really see the summoned ones as sentient, but rather as the elements temporarily given a shape. The ‘wild’ elementals however, I’m not so sure about. An Asura could probably answer that question.

As for making them controllable, there are 3 basic problems: they’d make the true pet professions less different (if anyone can control their pets, why does the ranger need the F2 skill?), they have more than 1 skill each (which one to pick for the trigger) and finally, every other summon skill would need to get that ability too (including warbands, thieves, golems, etc.).

ImProVocateur.5189:

<snip> ….. enslavement lore, which should not be promoted in this era.

A lore argument I can respect, even if I don’t agree with it. But this last line just negated everything above it for me, making it seem as if it’s some socialogical issue that relates to real life. We’re fighting dragon minions and dredge. Those are/were slaves. Not to mention, telling a dog to fetch or sit isn’t treating them like slaves. If it really helps you, don’t think of them as commands, but rather as requests for an ally to aid you.

ThiBash.5634:

ImProVocateur.5189:

I do not like the hidden slavery message in the elemental mechanic. Direct control of the elemental would make that message stronger.

I didn’t really see the summoned ones as sentient, but rather as the elements temporarily given a shape. The ‘wild’ elementals however, I’m not so sure about. An Asura could probably answer that question.

As for making them controllable, there are 3 basic problems: they’d make the true pet professions less different (if anyone can control their pets, why does the ranger need the F2 skill?), they have more than 1 skill each (which one to pick for the trigger) and finally, every other summon skill would need to get that ability too (including warbands, thieves, golems, etc.).

Frankly, I see no reason we can’t let all summoned minions do this. As far as the Elite Elemental having 2 non-basic abilities, that one’s simple as well. Tap the button/key for one ability, hold it down for half a sec for the other ability. Similar to the bomb throw/place in the Super Adventure Box. I’d also much prefer it if the Elementals stayed around until they actually were defeated, instead of being on a timer, but I’m not holding my breath on that one.

Sure wish I could summon a black guy to help me fight scarlet

FrownyClown.8402:

Sure wish I could summon a black guy to help me fight scarlet

I’ve seen Mr. T in our dungeon runs although he is alot more useful and cooler to talk to than an elemental.

You need to be in close proximity and at the same time having your health reduced to i think like 33% for there to be any real healing. Earth elite is a good choice if u are fighting as a dnd ele against a tank.