Guild Wars 2

I was thinking about my engineer yesterday, the elixir’s and random buffs.

I know the devs have mentioned before about how they like RNG (random number generation) but it serves no real purpose in games were players have to make a decision for one skill over another.

It may have been mentioned before but i thought we could have conditional requirements for an elixir buff depending on what we (the player/avatar) were doing at the time.

For example. (tool belt skills)
Elixir S – The random buff is either a stealth or stability. To make the gameplay more dynamic, why doesn’t the stealth buff apply when we’re below 50% hp and the stability apply above?

Surely we would like stability at the beginning of a pvp fight to stop instant CC’s. Stealth would be a useful tool when we’re under pressure below 50% hp.

The Elixir B is the same. Tool belt. Swiftness, retaliation, might, fury.

If we are moving buff = swiftness
If we are stationary = retaliation
If our energy is above 50% = Might
If our energy is below 50% = Fury.

The list could go on. E.G If we’re being attacked = retaliation. If not = might.

Just an idea on how to improve a system to be used in a better, smarter way.

Discuss
Oxegen.

Anything but the RNG, just ANYTHING. I’m just tired of getting the wrong boons, especially concerning the Toss Elixir S.

It has been complained about since before release and Anet still justifies their decision to have so much RNG on the Engineer only.

Sometimes you will get lucky and the RNG will work in your favor and sometimes(most times for me) you will get unlucky and do something like pop Stability when trying to escape and quickly die, when going stealth, dropping targetting and giving a chance to heal would have saved you.

Some ppl have embraced the RNG and have just learned to deal with it but for me it just adds a layer of gameplay to our profession that nobody else has to deal with. You could argue how powerful it is to have different options in a single skill but imo it is much more powerful to know exactly what will happen when you use something so you can easily make a quick judgement on how to move foward.

With RNG and Elixir S most situations boil down to;
I hope this pops Stealth so I can get away(etc)
or
I hope this pops Stability so I can stomp(etc)
(same thing with Elixir X)
Well put hope in one hand and kitten in the other.

The other Elixirs (H,B,U) are just added effects to me, I hardly take notice to what RNG boons I get since because its random you cannot plan around and single one.
Low on Health?
Use Throw Elixir H and get swiftness
gratz to you unlucky person!

The arguments are nothing new however and it would seem like Elixir RNG is here to stay. Anet devs want to defend their decision even though they know it was a bad one or they wouldnt even consider changing the RNG, like they have already have.

Good idea! I have been thinking about something similar as well. RNG is the only thing that I hate while playing with my engineer.
Need to stomp guardian? BAM, stealth!
Need to get away? BAM, stability!
Could use swiftness to get to teammates? BAM, protection!
Need some regen? BAM, swiftness!
And what gets me the most? Converting 5 conditions into x second swiftness while point holding!
Seriously……. either set some rules, as suggested by OP (something like Guardian’s Contemplation of Purity for Elixir C), or get rid of RNG in skills completely.