Guild Wars 2

TL;DR: Please make Compounding Celerity more like Time Marches On because:

• Compounding Celerity as written is not a very desirable trait for anyone (due to structure, not just numbers).
• The Inspiration line as a whole could use more “Wow!” factor in HoT.
• If there’s any kind of mesmer it’s safe to free from the tyranny of Traveler runes, it’s one running Inspiration.
• The flavor of a speed boost like TMO fits Inspiration, obviously (that’s why Compounding Celerity is already there).

As written right now, Compounding Celerity is a relic of old mesmer design (the profession’s unique mechanics acting as weaknesses) rather than new mesmer design (using our resources and unique mechanics as our strengths).

That’s it. Pretty simple!

~

Super-long version for bored people:

So, the Chronomancer trait thread is abuzz with input and theories from the community. A lot of it is giddy and rapturous because, well, Chrono looks like a great trait line overall, with several traits that reflect an understanding of mesmer issues the developers want to resolve.

However, one poster said they were concerned about Time Marches On being in Chrono, because it makes the +25% passive speed boost only available for folks who take the elite spec. (Also that it was pretty powerful so it should maybe be a major trait. I think that’s a fair observation as well.)

And I thought about it a bit and noticed…

Compounding Celerity.

Even with its planned buff, Compounding Celerity is a pretty sad trait. Why? Conceptually, the trait seems pretty similar to Warrior’s Sprint or Speedy Kits, which are both highly-valued traits. It’s pretty simple:

• Compounding Celerity does nothing for you out of combat.
• Compounding Celerity is also rather unreliable in combat, especially when things aren’t going well for you and you’re desperate for a bit of speed to kite or run away.
  That’s a problem with the way the trait functions, not just the numbers. Even if it gave you, like, 10 seconds of swiftness per shattered illusion, it just wouldn’t be a very interesting or reliable thing.

And the reason folks without access to stuff like Warhorn and Speedy Kits feel forced into Traveler runes? They need reliable speed, especially in WvW. I think whoever wrote this trait for Chronomancer was amply aware of this.

So, why Inspiration?

Obviously the flavor fits since there’s already a (sadly useless) speed-buff trait right there.

But, moreover, it’s a safe place to stash it.

See, Inspiration is the profession’s most supportive trait line. It offers less offense and control than any other line, and arguably it’s no better than Chaos or Dueling for personal defense. But Inspiration gives you quite a few group-oriented healing abilities (as well as the highly-valued focus reflection for PvE). So

“Freeing up” the rune slot (by taking away the reliance on Trav runes) would make it easier for Inspiration mesmers to do one of these:
1. Take an offensive rune to compensate for the line’s not-very-aggressive traits. (Remember how Inspiration used to have a +15% phantasm damage minor, which has now been made baseline? I think that was because the devs have always felt it needs a little something to compensate you for going so deep into generally-not-very-aggressive traits.)
2. Take a defensive rune to give their build with some legit staying power.
3. Take a rune that sets up some kind of group-support synergy. Why not, right? You’re taking a whole line that’s very heavily leaning in that direction already.

Compounding Celerity’s right there, and it’s pretty straight-up useless right now, even with the planned HoT changes. Make it a reliable +25% passive speed boost (with whatever else you want to throw on there extra) and it’ll be a useful and relevant trait again, and do a lot for Inspiration in game modes where we seldom use Warden’s Feedback.

(What should you do with Time Marches On if you bring its mechanics into Compounding Celerity? I dunno. I think you could leave it where it is, even. It’s not like anyone was going to take both TMO and Compounding Celerity before, anyway.)

You may be thinking, “Isn’t this redundant with other stuff?” (Especially if Signet of Inspiration offers a Swiftness buff.)

I dunno. Maybe.

I think it’s pretty easy to come up with useful traits that buff move speed in different ways. Look at the extra rider on Time Marches On, for instance.

I also don’t think it’s a problem to give folks different ways to access an important aspect of the game. It’s not like there’s just one “damage” trait line, after all.

Mesmers are suuuch a kite-y/in-and-out class that this really isn’t something you should be stingy with, anyway. (Anyone who needs to reliable hit a mesmer in the face with something at point-blank range has their own gap speed buffs and gap closers anyway.)

Indeed. Compounding celerity in its current form is rather useless. Making it a passive +25% speed buff will make the currently rather lackluster inspiration tree more attractive relative to the rest, especially relative to the elite specialization.

One idea for the “add on” effect of compounding celerity is to merge it with illusionary defense (i.e. -3% damage for every illusion you have), which is currently in the chaos tree. Illusionary defense is another rather weak trait that people currently do not and will most likely not take, so merging both seems obvious. Of course, this will require the devs to generate another adept trait for the chaos line.

A second possibility is to have compounding celerity add 3% move speed for every illusion we have, with I-persona counting as one illusion. With a 3% move speed increase per illusion, we will effectively get swiftness with 3 illusions, and be slightly faster if we have 4.

Edit: Clarity

+1 to the OP here. Very well thought out.

Good post! I agree, Compounding Celerity is underwhelming, to say at least.

However, I’m not a huge fan of the promoted solution. You see, the Inspiration line is meant to provide support. A passive 25% speed boost fits to the Chronomancer, I don’t think that’s the case for Inspiration.

Now, having two traits that would basically do the same doesn’t make much sense anyhow. Remember how Anet said they want to promote using our shatter skills? Then how about something like this:

Shattered Celerity:
Grant swiftness (5s) to your allies for each illusion shattered (10s ICD).

>>Make it work with Ilusionary Persona<<. There you go, supportive swiftness that works out of combat. ICD is needed for obvious reasons. Max possible swiftness would be 20s in combat, if you’re lucky enough to stand next to all illusions shattered. Some might say that it’d be overpowered for Power shatter builds to be that mobile. Mind you, those builds would give up a lot of damage to pick the Inspiration traitline.

Out of combat/roaming? Mental Torment as a short speedbuff for your group. 5s base plus possible +duration buffs on a 10s CD is worth taking imo. Swiftness on Shatter (as long as it works with IP which is baseline now) would promote our class mechanics, be supportive, reliable and it wouldn’t just be a copypasta of “Time Marches On”.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t remember us having any method to reliably share swiftness. Curtain doesn’t stack, Chaos Storm is random.

I’m with tetrodoxin on this one. Compounding Celerity definitely needs something, but I’m not sure a passive 25% speed boost is it. Sharing Swiftness to your allies on shatter seems a lot better, particularly as it fits well with Inspiration’s selfless aspects.

tetrodoxin.2134:

However, I’m not a huge fan of the promoted solution. You see, the Inspiration line is meant to provide support. A passive 25% speed boost fits to the Chronomancer, I don’t think that’s the case for Inspiration.

I think a 25% passive speed boost with some additional “supportive” rider probably fits the line just fine.

Why? Look at the HoT Adept tier. All three traits want you to be close to allies who are getting absolutely pounded on. But you’re playing a class that isn’t meant to facetank damage at all, outside of short bursts of evasion. Playing “combat medic” effectively actually benefits from mobility even more than playing an aggressive role. (I don’t think Inspiration should be pigeonholed into this niche entirely, though. Let’s face it: Mender’s Purity is also good for purely selfish reasons, and this is perfectly fine.)

It’s certainly not the only way to do it, though, of course!

tetrodoxin.2134:

Shattered Celerity:
Grant swiftness (5s) to your allies for each illusion shattered (10s ICD).

I see where you’re going with this, but I think the specific example isn’t effective.

• Your net overland speed when you’re by yourself is actually considerably slower than Trav runes.
• It’s so fiddly. Like Speedy Kits but you have to put important stuff on cooldown instead of just spamming your pseudo-weapon-swap with abandon.

Overall, it’s a trait I’d consider taking for the group buff while still wearing Trav runes so I can keep my personal speed up, especially in bad circumstances.

tetrodoxin.2134:

Some might say that it’d be overpowered for Power shatter builds to be that mobile.

Enh, that ship has sailed already, given how many new tools for bursty power shatter builds are in Chrono anyway.

I see where you’re coming from, but a passive boost for yourself isn’t support no matter how you see it. If there’d be some direct support added to it… sure, but then why not use swiftness afterall. Maybe those 25% for yourself and the swiftness on shatter (without IP) for your allies… which kinda feels too powerful already. I also highly doubt that Time Marches On remains unnerfed.
And yes, there are some selfish traits in this traitline – which makes it even more important to add some more team-oriented traits!

Still, that wouldn’t negate the fact of this 25% buff existing two times. I don’t think that’s a good circumstance at all. Does it stack? Would be OP. It doesn’t? Welp, incompatible traits aren’t good either. It just feels wrong to have two traits that similar.

ASP.8093:

• Your net overland speed when you’re by yourself is actually considerably slower than Trav runes.

Maybe, probably. Is it really that important? In combination of what else we got (blink, phase retreat, curtain) I think it’s more than enough to catch enemies or roaming in general. We’ve all managed to roam before Traveler Runes were changed, and some of us (me included) still have builds that don’t use them. It’s not like you only get swiftness on shatter. You still have your old stuff as well.

ASP.8093:

• It’s so fiddly. Like Speedy Kits but you have to put important stuff on cooldown instead of just spamming your pseudo-weapon-swap with abandon.

Is it? You could just use mind wrack with its 11s CD all the time, basically. That’s hardly fiddly, imo. I’m not a Warrior, I don’t want passives everywhere. Do something for your buffs! :P

ASP.8093:

Overall, it’s a trait I’d consider taking for the group buff while still wearing Trav runes so I can keep my personal speed up, especially in bad circumstances.

Exactly! There’s much more synergy. You also have that Chronomancer trait still lying around.

ASP.8093:

Enh, that ship has sailed already, given how many new tools for bursty power shatter builds are in Chrono anyway.

I give you that, but the Chrono traitline is still being balanced

Good reply, Tetrodoxin!

Still, that wouldn’t negate the fact of this 25% buff existing two times. I don’t think that’s a good circumstance at all. Does it stack? Would be OP. It doesn’t? Welp, incompatible traits aren’t good either. It just feels wrong to have two traits that similar.

I think we know +25% buffs don’t stack based on testing other classes with traits/signets that give the same thing.

I agree that it’d be sorta inelegant to have two +25% passive speed traits, which makes a different mechanic for Compounding Celerity kinda desirable. I think one being a major means it’s not a particularly grave issue, though.

I suppose from the trait line’s general perspective, a Swiftness boon makes more sense (since you can try to combo it with the new Signet-of-Inspiration-phantasm trait or whatever). Still thinking.

It’s worth pointing out that not all of Inspirations traits are focused on purely support. Some are focused on Phantasms. Some (Compounding Celerity & Restorative Illusions) are purely selfish.

Some should maybe be considered for a rework.