Guild Wars 2

Overload is a boring mechanic and adds nothing new to the Elementalist. I know that it isn’t true, but it feels like a lot less thought went into the Tempest than other elite specs.

Every other class got some kind of coherent theme that differed from that of the base class. For example, we were told that the Reaper is meant to be a melee brawler horror-movie-monster with a focus on chill, I think they did that really well, and that’s amazing. But then they just call the Tempest “frontline close ranged support” which is exactly what the Herald is. And they seem to do it better than us. I just feel like the Tempest is lacking on a conceptual level and it’s just the same old Ele with a new offhand.

The Tempest makes me want to switch to an Engi or Mesmer. And that is a real shame, since Ele was my first class and remains my favourite to this day.

I always pictured the tempest as a storm that builds up and unleashes. Currently overloads aren’t that good (though I will use fire in PVE), but if they get substantial damage buffs then an elementalist overload will be an “OH SHISHKABOB” moment for enemy players.