Guild Wars 2

Here are some suggestions from the preview of the Guardian Core Specializations.

Zealous Scepter should not be in Zeal. Scepter has no Symbol and should not be in a Symbols(Zeal) line. Or make Smite a Symbol. It doesnt have to do AoE damage or provide any boons, just make the AoE a Symbol so it can benefit from Symbols traits.

Binding Jeopardy should move to Radiance. The Blind/Vulnerability Guardian from Virtue of Justice renewing on kill is currently in the same line(Radiance) and should be kept that way. Retribution(+10% damage while under Retaliation) should be in Zeal instead, since it only adds damage. It would also benefit from Zealot’s Speed and Greatsword’s Symbol if it were in Zeal too(since Zeal has the Greatsword trait).
These two should exchange places since they are both Master.

Focus Mastery and Stalwart Defender should not both be in Valor. Most people use either Focus or Shield, not both. This reduces our trait choices because Shield trait a Master but Focus trait an Adept. If they both remain in Valor, they should at least both be Adept(make it one or the other, choose Focus or Shield). Or Virtuous Mallet could be moved to Valor(since Glacial Heart is currently in Valor) instead. Rename it Valorous Mallet.

Consider moving Unscathed Contender to Valor. It would have great synergy there.

Pure of Voice(Shouts), Monk’s Focus(Meditations), Perfect Inscriptions(Signets), Expeditions Spirits(Spirit Weapons) are all Grandmaster traits.
Master of Consecrations(Consecrations) should also be moved to Grandmaster and have an added effect(such as 1 stack of Might for 5s every second for anyone standing in it).

putting 2 weapon traits in the same slot would totaly bone people who use both weapons, so no

Meh, I think Master of Consecrations should stay where it is unless it gets a major buff. Not just something like getting a bit of might from them, something more like “consecrations become water fields” would merit it being a GM trait (for example).
Making it a GM would also remove the whole “pick your virtue” thing they have going in the virtues line between Permeating Wrath/Battle Presence/Indomitable Courage.

They should merge all realiation givers traits into one – Wrathful Spirit (our sources of Aegis have long cooldown); Healer’s Retribution (all our healing skills have long CD); Retaliatory Subconscious (this is the dumbest trait in the game, I don’t even need to argue abot it). They are too weak becouse the heavy cooldown for the low duration (3 secs).

Also, currently we can achieve full time retaliation with GS + Virtue line (theres no need for +retal duration) + Save yourselves.

In this way shoulbe be open space for new and useful traits as well. No one will take any of them, mainly the kittened Retaliatory Subconscious and I don’t know why they will keep it in the game. At least change to “reflect 20% of all damage you take for 5 seconds when disabled. 30 sec cooldown”.

I agree with pretty much all the changes listed. Except for changing out Focus Mastery and Stalwart Defender. Both are defensive in nature thus it makes sense for them to be in Valor.

I found it peculiar that Zealous Scepter was in Zeal instead of Radiance. You could swap it with Inner Fire in Radiance but i’m not sure how much good that would do.

Symbolic Power needs a 60% or 100% proc rate, imo. The proc chance may never happen in such a low duration. Not to mention people will easily move out once they see it =/

Currently the three master traits in Zeal don’t really conflict one another. Everyone would choose Retribution over Zealous Blade if you were to switch out Binding Jeopardy. 10% > 5%

If they give Shield Aegis (which is a likely possibility) we could be seeing Focus and Shield wielding Guardians running Retributive Armor instead of Monk’s Focus.
It makes for an interesting concept and a personal option i’d like to have.

The problem is that the synergetic traits are in different lines.
With the Elite specialization line coming, we can assume that we will all(really, who isnt going to?) be investing 1 line into the Elite specialization.
That only leaves us with 2 more lines.

Let’s say I want the Blind/Vulnerability combo on my Elite-spec Guardian, which I currently get by only putting 3(only 3!) trait points in Radiance. In the new system, I have to take the whole Zeal line AND the whole Radiance line to get this combo. This means my 2 remaining trait lines(since the 1st is the Elite spec one), leaving room for nothing else!

In addition, certain Adept choices are simply bad, such as Honor and Virtues.

Honor: Invigorating Bulwark vs Protective Reviver vs Protector’s Impact.
Here is an example of very bad choice.
Use a Mace. If you do not, then you have a choice between a useless on-revive trait or an even more useless fall damage trait.
I want to spec in Honor because of Pure of Voice, and I am stuck with this useless trash!

Virtues: Unscathed Contender vs Retaliatory Subconscious vs Master of Consecrations.
So, unless I use Consecrations, all 3 of these traits are rather bad.
People dont spec in Virtues because of Consecrations, but because of Virtues. All I want from this line is Absolute Resolution(and maybe Indomitable Courage), but I have to choose between bad and worse Adept traits.

I think they really need to move some traits around.