Guild Wars 2

So it seems like we only get one specialization this expansion, but no telling what we’ll get beyond that, so I’d like to throw an idea out there for fun: Make-Your-Own Specialization!

Here’s one of mine:

The Fast Caster!

• Gains access to the Main Hand Pistol.
• One of its special new mechanics is an alternative way of utilizing illusions as resources. When you double click, or signify through certain methods, a skill, you can Fast Cast it by killing off one of your three illusions[IP not included, as it is not shattering]. This makes the skill instantly cast, or gives you a second of quickness at the moment of cast to increase the channel speed.

What are your dream subclasses for Mesmer?

I like the idea of adding more to the “Illusions as resource” thing! That’d be neat.

Personally, I’d love a glamour-based mesmer as our specialization. The “new mechanic” would replace existing Illusion spells with similar, stationary Glamour spells. For example, iMage would become a glamour that pulses Confusion on enemies inside. iZerker would create a zone that pulses damage and cripples.

We’d keep the spirit of our shatters, but they’d shatter our glamours now instead.

It might play a little too similar to a well-o-mancer, but I think the variation in glamour effects and the shatter mechanic would keep it distinct. It would give a nice option to those of us who want to play the mesmer class and love the flavor of the spells but don’t want to rely on squishy clones/phantasms to do our dirty work for us. It’s a good complement to our pet-heavy playstyle now, while also giving us an AoE focus to complement our current dueling strength.

I’m wondering about a more focused illusionist – imagine recombining clones and phantasms so all illusions look like you and do some actual damage (much less than phantasms, obviously). Then replace shatters with illusion based utility skills. Some ideas being:
Synchronised dodge
Teleport/swap with furthest illusion
Change appearance (To a nearby enemy, for example)
Synchronised cast (whatever ability you use next)

Preferably this would come with some way of scaling illusions to larger fights, such as more/tougher illusions summoned against more enemies, increasing the illusion cap or harsh illusion-death effects.