Guild Wars 2

As you who at least mained a guardian know, we got a special place in a group’s heart. People love it if a group has a least a guardian. Why? a good meat shield, they expect you to be front line help soaking up damage, then the cleanse, the stability, protection boons, the emergency party heal/block etc…. Now that we got ranged option that a lot of folks ask for, then traps. I can’t help but wonder what’s the party’s reaction when the only guardian in the group wielding a bow and stays behind the dagger elem most of the time, especially when he starts planting traps. Nothing negative, just wondering.

A) are you killing things?
B) are you dying?

If you answered yes to A and no to B, then there’s generally no issue

The thing is quan that thats only true in old content. We still don’t know what the newer kind of content will be. Its possible that things like wings of resolve or the new shield of courage will be more useful in defending allies. Both of which benefit from being a little further back in order to be able to see visually events happening in order to cut them off. (See an enemy about to use a massive ranged attack. Wings of resolve to its target and put up the shield to block it. Or fire the defensive arrow right through the flight path to cut it off as it fires)

Ive also noticed that so far atleast anet is leaning towards more frequent large enemy types. I wouldn’t be suprised to see frenzy mobs make a comeback (large difficult to cc mobs that deal more damage teh longer the fight lasts)

Against those types traps will be the best kind of support you could possibly bring. Allowing to dragonhunter to set up his traps and lead the mob into there range dealing massive spike damage and setting hte mob up for the other players spike damage would be HUGE in fighting things like an upgraded risen abomination….or a dinosaur.

I feel like people are currently judging the dragonhunters capabilities based on the content that exists right now. Which to make clear I don’t blame them for. But its fairly obvious thats not what the dragonhunter seems to be designed to fight. There described as big game hunters. Which only matters if theres actual big game regularly enough that having a build dedicated to fighting them is useful.

Dragon hunter looks like a wvw spec. I think 2 dh and 3 backline will be the new meta. Staff/lb support/dmg

I definitely think camping longbow will be a boot worthy offense as much as a staff camping guard, a longbow camping ranger, a rifle camping warrior, a short bow camping thief, or a greatsword camping mesmer in dungeons/fractals. Those weapons definitely have their place in dungeons/fractals for encounters that are better to range/kite, but everyone needs to equip an appropriate weapon for the encounter at hand. If a player is causing the boss to ping pong back and forth between them and the rest of the melee group, that’s a common boot no matter what profession you play. …its just annoying and causes all kinds of problems.

I personally think its a mistake to have a trait like the dragonhunter “pure of sight” that encourages a player to camp range in spite of encounter mechanics. I find it irritating that they put that trait in an unavoidable spot too…as a minor…when it only benefits ranged weapons.

I think the ranged traps + the longbow are a bit counter intuitive to group play though…just like the ranger healing spring. You are either placing the ground targeted buff away from the group or away from yourself by design.

The dragonhunter longbow is definitely a nice addition, but it will just need to be used appropriately and not have people attempt to use it exclusively over all other choices….business as usual really.