Guild Wars 2

Jerus.4350:

I think everyone always fears an awful AI spec. I don’t think ANet would do that to us. I mean if they did it’d just be undeniable proof they’re either kittened or hate us. I’m with you on barricades/shields, when I just heard the name I was picturing Wall of Reflection type skills. Throw up a holographic barrier to protect the team, or augment a weapon with a holographic edge. Personally I was/am hoping for a healing + support spec, but to me holosmith sounds more like a more strait support spec. We’ll help the team by blocking attacks for them while augmenting the damage, and I’m ok with that.

I just really hope it’s not more personal sustain or strait DPS. We have those covered with Scrapper and Condi/power core Engi.

This spec still could go as a power dps spec, true we have that covered, but you have to admit it, its silly we have it covered just by a plain and single AA, when our class should be about complexity with a rewarding playstyle.

Ivantreil.3092:

Jerus.4350:

I think everyone always fears an awful AI spec. I don’t think ANet would do that to us. I mean if they did it’d just be undeniable proof they’re either kittened or hate us. I’m with you on barricades/shields, when I just heard the name I was picturing Wall of Reflection type skills. Throw up a holographic barrier to protect the team, or augment a weapon with a holographic edge. Personally I was/am hoping for a healing + support spec, but to me holosmith sounds more like a more strait support spec. We’ll help the team by blocking attacks for them while augmenting the damage, and I’m ok with that.

I just really hope it’s not more personal sustain or strait DPS. We have those covered with Scrapper and Condi/power core Engi.

This spec still could go as a power dps spec, true we have that covered, but you have to admit it, its silly we have it covered just by a plain and single AA, when our class should be about complexity with a rewarding playstyle.

It’s more than just a single AA, though heavily just a single AA. My biggest gripe with the profession right now is that our versatility just doesn’t seem to be there like it used to. The game evolved and left most of our peripheral talents behind leaving us with being primarily a DPS.

So, with a name like Holosmith, I’d imagine they’d become some kinda battle artificers. I’ve got a few theories on what their mechanic could turn out as.

• 1/ The Holosmith passively creates holographic weaponry during combat. A meter that defaults to 0 builds up while in combat. Once it reaches Max, the Holosmith can press R to swap weapon to a powerful Holographic weapon not too dissimilar to Elementalist’s Conjured weapons.

• 2/ The Holosmith actively creates weapons and armor for allies in Combat. The Holosmith can press R whenever to change their weapon skills for Holosmithing skills, where they can create Holographic weapons, grant holographic forcefields to allies or create obstructive terrain for enemies.

• 3/ The Holosmith is surrounded by a Forcefield that grants them an extra layer of separate HP over their current HP. This overlay takes priority damage before the Holosmith’s own HP and regenerates separate of their normal HP. They’d also have some way of giving this kinda Forcefield HP to allies and maintain it.

I hope it’s a mix of the last two options.

i bet it will be a cc spec, with holograms that cause KB and stun, and make engi use teleports, might have as well some refelctive shields

TheSwede.9512:

• 3/ The Holosmith is surrounded by a Forcefield that grants them an extra layer of separate HP over their current HP. This overlay takes priority damage before the Holosmith’s own HP and regenerates separate of their normal HP. They’d also have some way of giving this kinda Forcefield HP to allies and maintain it.

I want this to happen. Honestly it would be nice if engi finally got an elite spec that used his weapon all the time and engi wouldn’t need to swap it for kits/holo weapons/whatever other bundle.

If we’ll get a sword, I want to use/see it all the time and have a mechanics that would provide something else than stuff that overrides the weapon. Same with the new utilities, there are so many options – signets, mantras, glyphs, symbols, traps, shouts. Let’s use those!

Jerus.4350:

I think everyone always fears an awful AI spec. I don’t think ANet would do that to us. I mean if they did it’d just be undeniable proof they’re either kittened or hate us. I’m with you on barricades/shields, when I just heard the name I was picturing Wall of Reflection type skills. Throw up a holographic barrier to protect the team, or augment a weapon with a holographic edge. Personally I was/am hoping for a healing + support spec, but to me holosmith sounds more like a more strait support spec. We’ll help the team by blocking attacks for them while augmenting the damage, and I’m ok with that.

I just really hope it’s not more personal sustain or strait DPS. We have those covered with Scrapper and Condi/power core Engi.

Wouldn’t surprise me if we saw inspiration from the ritualist of GW1 with the weapon enhancement team boons. (IE Splinter Weapon)

https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Splinter_Weapon

Ivantreil.3092:

Jerus.4350:

I think everyone always fears an awful AI spec. I don’t think ANet would do that to us. I mean if they did it’d just be undeniable proof they’re either kittened or hate us. I’m with you on barricades/shields, when I just heard the name I was picturing Wall of Reflection type skills. Throw up a holographic barrier to protect the team, or augment a weapon with a holographic edge. Personally I was/am hoping for a healing + support spec, but to me holosmith sounds more like a more strait support spec. We’ll help the team by blocking attacks for them while augmenting the damage, and I’m ok with that.

I just really hope it’s not more personal sustain or strait DPS. We have those covered with Scrapper and Condi/power core Engi.

This spec still could go as a power dps spec, true we have that covered, but you have to admit it, its silly we have it covered just by a plain and single AA, when our class should be about complexity with a rewarding playstyle.

The first wave of elite specs should not be used as an example, imo. It was their chance to fix some holes in the professions and they tried to do too many things at once.

With 2 specs to work with, they can go back and rework aspects of the first specs. Scrapper was supposed to be a tanky spec, not power dps. They can push that identity further, and make holosmith the dps option.

RabbitUp.8294:

The first wave of elite specs should not be used as an example, imo. It was their chance to fix some holes in the professions and they tried to do too many things at once.

With 2 specs to work with, they can go back and rework aspects of the first specs. Scrapper was supposed to be a tanky spec, not power dps. They can push that identity further, and make holosmith the dps option.

Well as I said before Holosmith looks more like the DPS focus Elite Spec for Engineer where Scrapper is made for Tanking as we see traits for scrapper focus on stability, increase defense, and Toughness

Two of the skills look like traps being a Cage trap to lock a person inside for a Arena and there is a saw blade skill that could be a sawblade trap. However, looking closely at it more it could be a Range attack Utility being the Holosmith launch a holographic sawblade at a enemy at range with this Utility skill.

there is also the 2nd utility skill obtained which has a Shield around a person which is most likely the defensive HoloBarrier skill for protection when fighting. The Elite Skill looks like a laser beam attack from the art design.

As for Utility it looks like a mix of offensive and defensive utility to survive engagements but what they do we just have to wait until official reveal.

I did argument it could be a dps spec, but i didnt cross in my mind until now that it could be a support dps spec, like ps warrior for example, it doesnt have the best dps that warriors can pull out, but its so valuable due to the support it grants to the team, the dps only helps to reinforce his value.

I think something similar to the ps warrior could be bringed to us, in terms of the theme of course.

Ivantreil.3092:

I did argument it could be a dps spec, but i didnt cross in my mind until now that it could be a support dps spec, like ps warrior for example, it doesnt have the best dps that warriors can pull out, but its so valuable due to the support it grants to the team, the dps only helps to reinforce his value.

I think something similar to the ps warrior could be bringed to us, in terms of the theme of course.

Power stacker is a great idea. I just wonder if Anet is able to pull it off so that both PS war and this option were equal.

maybe theyll have passive augmentations that can be removed for an active effect. as im reading what im typing im realizing this is just the herald. so nvm.

ScottBroChill.3254:

maybe theyll have passive augmentations that can be removed for an active effect. as im reading what im typing im realizing this is just the herald. so nvm.

And? It’s not like each profession has their specific skill types only by themselves. I could see this being implemented for other professions. But if I were to bet, I’d guess we’ll get signets or glyphs however after seeing the leaked picture it seems like different type.

ScottBroChill.3254:

maybe theyll have passive augmentations that can be removed for an active effect. as im reading what im typing im realizing this is just the herald. so nvm.

Or Virtues
Or Signets

Still, it’s not like classes have monopolies over game mechanics.

Given the theme of “light” that this spec is going for, what everyone is calling the sawblade ability is actually a camera’s aperture.
Now for speculation, I’m confident we’ll be seeing a “charging over time” mechanic given the solar nature, that would potentially overcharge our abilities but I’d like to propose that it could be used more like necro’s death shroud where it grants new weapon skills (=kits) upon activation.

Corthyll.7635:

Given the theme of “light” that this spec is going for, what everyone is calling the sawblade ability is actually a camera’s aperture.
Now for speculation, I’m confident we’ll be seeing a “charging over time” mechanic given the solar nature, that would potentially overcharge our abilities but I’d like to propose that it could be used more like necro’s death shroud where it grants new weapon skills (=kits) upon activation.

Just to add, I’ve also noticed that there are a lot of traits with a circuitry drawn. So we get light theme combined with the circuit theme?

Death Shroud like mechanics was something I suggested some time ago for the golemancer elite spec – getting a golem suit with separate abilities that would provide additional protection and functionality. I wonder what “charging” mechanic for it would Anet use. Whether it would need just kills like Death Shroud does or something else.

leviathan.2148:

Just to add, I’ve also noticed that there are a lot of traits with a circuitry drawn. So we get light theme combined with the circuit theme?

Death Shroud like mechanics was something I suggested some time ago for the golemancer elite spec – getting a golem suit with separate abilities that would provide additional protection and functionality. I wonder what “charging” mechanic for it would Anet use. Whether it would need just kills like Death Shroud does or something else.

The Light is still generated by a machine so most likely it involves modifying the circuits of the thing that generates the light in specific ways such as increase intensity and adjustment to focus.

EdwinLi.1284:

The Light is still generated by a machine so most likely it involves modifying the circuits of the thing that generates the light in specific ways such as increase intensity and adjustment to focus.

Could be true considering we can see a sun/moon, clouds with wind and a lightning bolt within the circuits. I’m pretty excited for the elite spec.

Somebody in other thread quite accurately pointed out that recent turret change made turrets independent from our tool belt. I am 100% sure it’s a step towards elite spec that changes how tool belt works. I’m fairly sure we’ll get something in place of tool belt.

Samug.6512:

Somebody in other thread quite accurately pointed out that recent turret change made turrets independent from our tool belt. I am 100% sure it’s a step towards elite spec that changes how tool belt works. I’m fairly sure we’ll get something in place of tool belt.

Yes, they just need to move toolbelt skill for medkit to utility slot or one of medkit skills because it’s the heal for player and they’ll be able to replace toolbelt completely with something else. I hope it happens and that it will be something useful.

They should redesign the profession to get rid off the tool belt, merging it with slot skills or whatever. Right now it’s restricting the potential of the profession and its future elite specializations.

Holosmith smells of Mesmer to me.

Lonami.2987:

They should redesign the profession to get rid off the tool belt, merging it with slot skills or whatever. Right now it’s restricting the potential of the profession and its future elite specializations.

How is it restricting future elite specializations? We only just saw 1st generation of elite specs, we have no idea what they are capable of, and the game itself is capable of.

The die is probably already cast, but holographic…. kit? Hehe it would be a cool way to get a new kit, rather than running the same old kits over and over.

Lonami.2987:

They should redesign the kits … Right now it’s restricting the potential of the profession and its future elite specializations.

FTFY

leviathan.2148:

Lonami.2987:

They should redesign the kits … Right now it’s restricting the potential of the profession and its future elite specializations.

FTFY

So scrap the Engineer that we’ve all been playing for 4 years and give us something different? No thanks. I don’t see how that’s even an option.

Jerus.4350:

So scrap the Engineer that we’ve all been playing for 4 years and give us something different? No thanks. I don’t see how that’s even an option.

So it’s better to play the same kit build for another 4 years? No thanks.

Lonami.2987:

They should redesign the profession to get rid off the tool belt, merging it with slot skills or whatever. Right now it’s restricting the potential of the profession and its future elite specializations.

It doesn’t necessarily affect the potential of future elite specialisations – a future engineer elite specialisation could easily have a feature wherein the elite specialisation has it’s own toolbelt skills rather than having those skills be determined by the slotted utility skills.

Missing out on the current toolbelt skills would be a sacrifice, but the only skill I can think of that would be rendered nonviable by losing the toolbelt skill would be the medkit, and that’s no great loss in its current state as it is (unfortunately).

leviathan.2148:

Jerus.4350:

So scrap the Engineer that we’ve all been playing for 4 years and give us something different? No thanks. I don’t see how that’s even an option.

So it’s better to play the same kit build for another 4 years? No thanks.

Strange, pre-HoT I ran a 3 kit Nade/EG/FT build with power gear. As HoT approached condi became viable with sinister gear and the rework to conditions. We also gained mortar kit and the current 4 kit build came out. HoT gave us quickness/alacrity which put that build into overdrive to actually play. Rocket boots is a solid alternative especially on mobile enemies, if we got a rework to gadgets it might see a lot more use. The same can be said for Flame Turret, if turrets got a real upgrade in functionality that might also get a chance to sit in the spotlight.

But, if things stay like they are for condi builds for 4 more years that’d be fine by me. I’m hoping we have other roles open up for different play styles. I want to see a damage/support build like warrior has, or a healing/support build like druid, and maybe a damage/healing build. I want to see meaningful growth in the area that Engineers are supposed to excel, versatility, not change just for the sake of change.

You know, if anything they should achieve with the next expansion, it shouldnt be about if power or condi is viable, it should be about in how many ways we can achieve viable condi or power builds with different setups.

That or a spec that put us in the support role.

[quote=6596227;Jerus.4350:}

Strange, pre-HoT I ran a 3 kit Nade/EG/FT build with power gear. As HoT approached condi became viable with sinister gear and the rework to conditions. We also gained mortar kit and the current 4 kit build came out. HoT gave us quickness/alacrity which put that build into overdrive to actually play. Rocket boots is a solid alternative especially on mobile enemies, if we got a rework to gadgets it might see a lot more use. The same can be said for Flame Turret, if turrets got a real upgrade in functionality that might also get a chance to sit in the spotlight.

But, if things stay like they are for condi builds for 4 more years that’d be fine by me. I’m hoping we have other roles open up for different play styles. I want to see a damage/support build like warrior has, or a healing/support build like druid, and maybe a damage/healing build. I want to see meaningful growth in the area that Engineers are supposed to excel, versatility, not change just for the sake of change. [/quote]

Funny how when you mention other non-kit skills that are solid, you always add something like “if they get rework/upgrade”.

It’s great that you’re satisfied with the current meta. I on the other hand would finally like a viable build that doesn’t use a kit. I’d like a gadget based build or elixir one,, or even a turret one or gyro based one in pve. I’d like a build that uses rifle as a weapon, not just something that fills the weapon slot. Or how about a shield?

I’m sick of kits. I’m sick of pistols. And I’m sick of AA spam that’s the basis of the power build. I had enough of their usage for almost 5 years. If you’re satisfied, more power to you. Me? I’m bored and I want different options than those that have barely changed since vanilla.

Jerus.4350:

Strange, pre-HoT I ran a 3 kit Nade/EG/FT build with power gear. As HoT approached condi became viable with sinister gear and the rework to conditions. We also gained mortar kit and the current 4 kit build came out. HoT gave us quickness/alacrity which put that build into overdrive to actually play. Rocket boots is a solid alternative especially on mobile enemies, if we got a rework to gadgets it might see a lot more use. The same can be said for Flame Turret, if turrets got a real upgrade in functionality that might also get a chance to sit in the spotlight.

But, if things stay like they are for condi builds for 4 more years that’d be fine by me. I’m hoping we have other roles open up for different play styles. I want to see a damage/support build like warrior has, or a healing/support build like druid, and maybe a damage/healing build. I want to see meaningful growth in the area that Engineers are supposed to excel, versatility, not change just for the sake of change.

Funny how when you mention other non-kit skills that are solid, you always add something like “if they get rework/upgrade”.

It’s great that you’re satisfied with the current meta. I on the other hand would finally like a viable build that doesn’t use a kit. I’d like a gadget based build or elixir one,, or even a turret one or gyro based one in pve. I’d like a build that uses rifle as a weapon, not just something that fills the weapon slot. Or how about a shield?

I’m sick of kits. I’m sick of pistols. And I’m sick of AA spam that’s the basis of the power build. I had enough of their usage for almost 5 years. If you’re satisfied, more power to you. Me? I’m bored and I want different options than those that have barely changed since vanilla.

Nerfing kits wouldn’t get you the result you’re looking for though, buffing gadgets/turrets would (and they’re not even that far off). Elixirs are a different thing, they’re actually pretty solid overall. Elixirs however only shine when self buffing is valuable, so they’ll never be part of a group PVE meta unless we got some kind of boon sharing (applied force + Elixir U with sharing would be a nice alternative to Chronomancer but not as good).

So yes, I mention gadgets/turrets needing upgrades because they do. If our current kits were lowered to rocket kick and flame turret levels we’d just fall out of the meta not gain a viable option.

As for wanting new options, sure I’m all for that, but that doesn’t mean nerf the old ones. If they made holosmith a power build I’d be quite ok with that (I personally would prefer a heavy support build though). If they did something like having a trait where every holosmith utility skill used places a damage buff on yourself for all sword skills it’d be a self contained system that would take a loss if you jumped to kits.

There is no need to destroy the old to get something new.

Jerus.4350:

Nerfing kits wouldn’t get you the result you’re looking for though…

I wasn’t talking about nerf though. I was talking about redesign of them. I don’t want kits to be nerfed. they’re the only decent utilities we have. But they need redesign IMO so that they’re not the only good option.

I can’t believe I say it but IMO the purity of purpose of the kits needs to be narrowed down. Each kit should serve a different purpose IMO. For example:

• Bomb kit-close combat power dmg
• Flamethrower kit-close combat condi dmg
• Grenade kit-ranged condi dmg
• Tool kit-defense and tanking
• Med kit-group heal
• Mortar kit-long range hybrid dmg

This could be IMO first step in the kit redesign. But that won’t be enough. It’s very difficult to make other skills as good as skill bundles that kits are. Kits need to get some downside in comparison to other utilities. Or the new elite spec mechanic needs to be based around supporting of the use of 1-skill utilities. There are many options and yet still it’s very delicate.

But something needs to be done with the kits or we’ll be stuck with the same builds for another 5 years.

I got ya, sorry usually when I see people asking for kit ‘fixes" it’s more ’nerf this down so that my preference is more powerful", my apologies.

I agree for the most part, my only disagreement comes in that grenade changes would require a lot of work on other skills to bring us back into the state we are now and I don’t trust ANet to make that transition at all, or at the very least not smoothly (6 months of negligence at best). As I see it FT, Toolkit, and Mortar are solid as they are. Med kit obviously needs work, and Bomb kit could easily be shifted without much trouble, especially if they put some effort into making gadgets work and rocket boots got a boost (thinking something like when gadgeteer is active add burning stacks to the use of the leap and the toolbelt skill).

I do think FT could use some work in usage though as flame blast has issues with overall timing and practicality of use, I’d like to see it changed into something similar to the Elementalist warhorn Lightning orb skill so it doesn’t get lost in the ground, from there either make it detonation or not and just have the blast when it reaches the target… or something else but usage is an issue with that skill.

Anyways, not in much disagreement on this last post, just mainly a concern on if they would actually give us back what grenade changes would lose to achieve what should be it’s right spot.

Kits are mostly dmg.

PvE uses kits because PvE is all about dmg. And you only use dmg kits (nades, bomb, FT and Mortar) in PvE.

You go on PvP and WvW and sudenly you use gyros and one utility/support kit.

If PvE needed mobility, a stun-break, condi cleanse, etc… You would see other utilities getting more use.

The reason engi has a dps spot in raids and other pve content is because it can fill up its entire skill bar with pure dmg…

Ardid.7203:

wolfyrik.2017:

Holograms? I’m calling it, new class utlity will be third set of utterly worthless AI.

That’s my fear, too. I hope they instead make it more like armors, barriers, limb extensions and the like.

that’d be pretty sick, like the melee attacks in ME2/3.

Lightsbane.9012:

Ardid.7203:

wolfyrik.2017:

Holograms? I’m calling it, new class utlity will be third set of utterly worthless AI.

That’s my fear, too. I hope they instead make it more like armors, barriers, limb extensions and the like.

that’d be pretty sick, like the melee attacks in ME2/3.

I’m thinking DC Lantern type constructs but with more a magitech flair from GW2 (instead of a bubble it’s a ‘soccer ball’ type collaboration of hexagonal panels)

I just want more options for Main and Off hand weapons.
It’s stupid that we have the least amount of weapons to use, can’t swap them and most of our kits have exactly the same attack repeated 5 times but with different colors.

The fun part of the game (with other classes) is that you have a wide array of actions and utility in the weapons and can swap then around weaving your moves and actions into it. Engineer has just been spamming the best attacks on cooldown, but they all do basically the same thing.

Rifle and shield should be better, same with Healing kit and maybe even Elixir gun on PVE. Then a new main-hand weapon and we’re done.

We certainly need a new power based main hand. I just fear that they won’t touch the shield to be better in any way and we’ll end up using pistol OH for both condi and power builds.

I just realized an important thing.

Each spec artwork is facing to the right or to the front in the unlock window however if we check the real, correct facing on the full artwork from HoT, which had exactly the same facing as the vanilla one, we can say that engi is definitely getting a MAIN HAND sword.

I doubt that they’ll go in a different way with this expansion so the new artwork with all specs will have exactly same facing as the previous ones and this helps us determine for real whether MH or OH shall be used.

leviathan.2148:

I just realized an important thing.

Each spec artwork is facing to the right or to the front in the unlock window however if we check the real, correct facing on the full artwork from HoT, which had exactly the same facing as the vanilla one, we can say that engi is definitely getting a MAIN HAND sword.

I doubt that they’ll go in a different way with this expansion so the new artwork with all specs will have exactly same facing as the previous ones and this helps us determine for real whether MH or OH shall be used.

Well that was quite obvious for me, giving us offhand sword would force us to run pistol main hand, therefor forcing a condi build.

Samug.6512:

Well that was quite obvious for me, giving us offhand sword would force us to run pistol main hand, therefor forcing a condi build.

Good for you but something being obvious or logical doesn’t guarantee it being so. This is basically a confirmation of it actually being main hand so it deserves a mention IMO.

leviathan.2148:

We certainly need a new power based main hand. I just fear that they won’t touch the shield to be better in any way and we’ll end up using pistol OH for both condi and power builds.

I’m not sure. If people are running Power builds shield will still be better than offhand pistol. It’s 1 CC and a heavy burn skill on off hand. The poison dart deals up to 2*power scaling damage after all hits. Blowtorch deals 1*power if you’re at really close range. Rifle3 deals 1.76*Power at close range (and it is 50 units farther than blowtorch)

At least Shield offers SOME survivability. I can’t really think of Engineer going melee and not just dying without stuff like the many blocks and evades of Scrapper Hammer. So I think that the shield will still be a must for power.

If anything people would run Rifle and not the sword for power builds if Sword+Shield ends up being horrible. I really want Sword Shield to be viable for both Condi and Power builds tho D= But condi would mostly likely run Pistol off hand for burst.

you dont have to have evades/blocks in pve and i doubt holosmith will be focused towards pvp/wvw the way scrapper is.

shield might be required for class mechanics anyways (whos to say), but it being pure defense means s/p might be the “better” choice in pve since damage is damage and shield has none. but sure, that [pistol] sure would be silly.

Samug.6512:

I find the traits/skills order very interesting (it already was mentioned by someone else in this thread). We get our minor traits very quickly, with 3 major traits. I have no idea tho, if those major traits are 3 adepts, or maybe one of each – adept, master, grandmaster (this order wouldn’t make a lot of sense tho).

I wrote an article about a year ago to the effect that this was exactly what they should do.

To summarise, the reason is that it’s not really viable to take up an elite specialisation until you have at least one trait from each category. You don’t need the utility skills (since you can use core utilities), but if you don’t have at least one of each category of major traits, you’re going into battle with holes in your build. With the HoT unlock order, this effectively meant that it wasn’t practical to start using the elite specialisation until you were most of the way through.

Going adept, master, grandmaster would allow players to use the elite spec with a complete build fairly early in the unlock process, with further unlocks expanding their options and encouraging players to try new skills and traits as they’re unlocked. If you place the grandmasters on the last quadrant of the wheel, though, a lot of players will defer using the elite spec at all until they get there.

seems fun

Corthyll.7635:

Now for speculation, I’m confident we’ll be seeing a “charging over time” mechanic given the solar nature, that would potentially overcharge our abilities but I’d like to propose that it could be used more like necro’s death shroud where it grants new weapon skills (=kits) upon activation.

Personally I think that would be a terrible shame.

One of the most appealing things about the profession is that it doesn’t have any cooldowns or other limitations on weapon / kit swapping.

You can use one weapon set if you prefer. Or equip as many kits as you like and either hop around madly using all their long cooldown stuff or just have them there as an option. For the sake of flexibility.

IMO this freedom is the single best thing about the profession. Adding an elite spec which craps on the best thing about the profession would be horrible.

Not that ANet haven’t done exactly that before though.

Caeledh.5437:

Corthyll.7635:

Now for speculation, I’m confident we’ll be seeing a “charging over time” mechanic given the solar nature, that would potentially overcharge our abilities but I’d like to propose that it could be used more like necro’s death shroud where it grants new weapon skills (=kits) upon activation.

Personally I think that would be a terrible shame.

One of the most appealing things about the profession is that it doesn’t have any cooldowns or other limitations on weapon / kit swapping.

You can use one weapon set if you prefer. Or equip as many kits as you like and either hop around madly using all their long cooldown stuff or just have them there as an option. For the sake of flexibility.

IMO this freedom is the single best thing about the profession. Adding an elite spec which craps on the best thing about the profession would be horrible.

Not that ANet haven’t done exactly that before though.

I agree that losing the toolbelt would cause us to lose one of our defining mechanics. Hopefully the elite spec would not change us having these available. I was more basing my idea around a solar cell charging; the way the captured energy could be utilised was my point of speculation. I was thinking that it could be our “F” key that activates the additional skill bar (kit) and using the skills might remove energy. This would still enable our toolbelt skills to be active.