Guild Wars 2

I think most of you have noticed that the Symbols traits are pretty crowded in the Honor trait line. This create two issues: if you want to really focus on improving your symbols (since when fully traited they are pretty kitten good) you have to sacrifice a lot of very useful utilities, either it be improving shouts, 20% 2h skill reduce, etc. I think it is legitimate that we have to sacrifice in some areas, since that causes us to carefully chose our traits but in this case I think it is a little frustrating, especially since in 90% of the cases nobody puts more than 5 points into Zeal or Radiance. I believe there is room for improvement.

My suggestion is very simple:

1) Put Writ of Persistence in the Zeal Adept tier (maybe switch with Protector’s Impact). This would allow someone to chose between longer symbols and larger symbols very early in the game. In addition, it would free up space for either 20% 2h reduce or Writ of the Merciful at only 20 pts in Honor (freeing up 10 points).

2) Make Smite a symbol. I think it’s frustrating that all 2h weapons have symbols while only 1 out of 3 1h weapons has one (Mace). Maybe that sounds boring but I believe Smite could also use some improvement, it’s damage component is fine but since most Guardian abilities have both an offensive and defensive effect (and no Scepter ability does), I believe adding a buff to Smite in the target area would make much sense. Perhaps Might or Fury, making Scepter more offensive-oriented.

This would especially allow one to fully trait their symbols without sacrificing 20% 2h reduce with dual 1h weapons, allowing for Meditation DPS builds to add support to their team – something which it currently lacks, which makes this build very unattractive for teamplay. It would also allow for a more control-oriented bunker to go Mace/Shield + Scepter/Focus, focusing on point-based control and support (through symbols).

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?