Guild Wars 2

In the new news about specialization, Necro was specifically mentioned quite a few times.

Specializations were confirmed to get lots of new traits, reworked traits, and a new set of skills, this was what we all pretty much expected.
One thing to note:“For example, the necromancer’s wells will all become ground targeted and the trait allowing ground targeting will be removed”
The next big thing is that trait-lines will not give specific stats anymore, this could potentially be a huge thing for necromancer and it might solve some of our trait synergy problems.
Last thing was this: “Have you ever wanted a different way to take advantage of all that life force? How about a new way to shatter illusions? These are some of the changes you can expect to see for your favorite profession.”
Pretty much confirms that death shroud will be getting a re-work or might be replaced completely. Thoughts on this?

I might be disappointed if they poorly change DS for the specialization because I kind of just want greatsword + old DS

Another thing. I think we will be getting shouts.
One specialization will have access to traps, while at least one profession’s elite specialization will be a full set of six shouts.

I’m NOT happy about all wells becoming ground targeted. Personally, I prefer having them cast at my feet without requiring 2 clicks or 2 button-pushes…

^This is what I thought too.

My #1 desire for the expansion would be new traits or something that replaces Deathshroud with other things.

Like say you activate your life force and instead of getting 5 new abilities like Deathshroud gives, you keep all of your weapon and utilities but you get a pulsing buff that gives you and your allies stability every 3 seconds. Each hit you take and each pulse reduces your life force.

Suddenly front line Necro’s in WvW become much more of a possibility.

For Dungeons they could have one that gives stacking Might or something instead of Stab and give Necro’s group support. Maybe just have one that increases your damage by x% or one that pulses a siphon effect that heals your main healthpool while youyr life force drains.

This is all wishful thinking, but being able to change what our life force does would really give the class good options to change how it plays.

Malchior.1928:

I might be disappointed if they poorly change DS for the specialization because I kind of just want greatsword + old DS

Another thing. I think we will be getting shouts.
One specialization will have access to traps, while at least one profession’s elite specialization will be a full set of six shouts.

I think they meant that for warrior xD like one ranger specialization will be heavily focused on trap skills, while a warrior’s or maybe guardian’s will be heavy focused on shouts skills.
I’m sure we’ll get some that are focused on minions, then one for corruption, wells, spectral skills, etc.

For Death Shroud, maybe they will make it a toggle, while it is on, attacks have some sort of bonus effect consuming a % of Life Force with each successful attack., or blocked, evaded, blinded., but you cannot gain Life Force while toggled.

Or maybe a way to consume it to heal yourself. I dunno, those are just two ideas.

Sabre.8627:

Last thing was this: “Have you ever wanted a different way to take advantage of all that life force?” How about a new way to shatter illusions? These are some of the changes you can expect to see for your favorite profession.
Pretty much confirms that death shroud will be getting a re-work or might be replaced completely. Thoughts on this?

I think it needs to be re-read, in context, to understand what was being said, exactly.

re: ground targeting, I think that a really small annoyance for few. I’ll certainly will get over it in like, maybe, 5 minutes.

Malchior.1928:

I might be disappointed if they poorly change DS for the specialization because I kind of just want greatsword + old DS

Another thing. I think we will be getting shouts.
One specialization will have access to traps, while at least one profession’s elite specialization will be a full set of six shouts.

Don’t put that evil on our necromancers…there are currently 6 classes that do not have shouts…it doesn’t have to all be about necros… Giving a class 6 shouts sounds a lot like one class is getting Paragon as a specialization since they will be getting a shout heal skill and a shout elite skill, and the GW1 paragon was all about that shout action. I don’t feel that the necromancer would specialize into becoming a paragon.

It sounds like they are actually reworking some professions. Which is really good because in our current state, at least in pvp, I don’t think a greatsword will do much. We’ll need new traits and skills that all hit the nail on the head, and an improved death shroud could also actually make us competitive.

I’ll stay optimistic about it.

“Last but not least, elite specializations will come with a full new set of traits, similar to what a core specialization provides. Equipping an elite specialization takes up one of your three specialization slots and grants you three minor traits and nine major traits for use. How does a trait that removes a condition every time you evade an attack sound? I’m personally excited about a grandmaster trait that has the power to grant my character a defiance bar!”

Anyone else hoping we are finally getting what we asked for as an attrition class?

Evil Seabass.5214:

I’m NOT happy about all wells becoming ground targeted. Personally, I prefer having them cast at my feet without requiring 2 clicks or 2 button-pushes…

I agree that I like the speed of casting at my feet, I think a nice happy medium for this change would be to make the offensive wells (corruption, darkness, suffering) cast around target, while the defensive ones (blood and power) are on our feet.

I think Engineer gets the shouts, shouts dosent really suite a Necro imho

Sabre.8627:

“For example, the necromancer’s wells will all become ground targeted and the trait allowing ground targeting will be removed

This is absolutely kittening terrible, kittening hell. I rarely use targeted wells because you need to have fast cast for it to not suck kitten. And fast cast doesn’t work for me as I constantly move my mouse around to control my camera so I can maintain complete situational awareness. kitten this kitten. Seriously.

Ravezaar.4951:

I think Engineer gets the shouts, shouts dosent really suite a Necro imho

Really, because I saw engi getting traps, being so technically savvy as they are.

Malchior.1928:

Ravezaar.4951:

I think Engineer gets the shouts, shouts dosent really suite a Necro imho

Really, because I saw engi getting traps, being so technically savvy as they are.

Could be, still dont think Necro getting shouts but we will see.

Ravezaar.4951:

I think Engineer gets the shouts, shouts dosent really suite a Necro imho

I don’t know about that, I can see us getting new shouts like “Kill Me Now” and “Imma Take Dirt Nap”

I prefer ground targeted wells, so this is a change I would support. However, I do hope that with the new specialization they also fix our class as a whole, and not just add more things that are broken.

Just use fast casting or semi fast casting and you shouldnt have much of an issue once you get used to it.

Overall these changes are good for the game. Its going to shake things up a lot for all classes and its going to be less restrictive because you no longer have to way in stat investment verses trait choice. You simply go for the traits you want.

Base necro will still be bad for PvE until we get finishers and utility reworks. But just being able to use maxed out trait lines in spite, curses and soul reaping will be a pretty big change for damage orientated builds. And combining and reducing the total number of traits will most likely improve blood magic.

Im actually very optimistic about specialisations now. Even with no major improvements this is a huge shake up to the PvE meta and a refreshing improvement to the build system. It only nerfs builds that invested in more than 3 lines currently (staff ele is about the only one that will be noticeably effected).

Another pretty major advantage to the new system. Necro can now trait for supportive and defensive stuff without losing all their damage. Currently investing in blood or death magic completely tanks your damage. With the new system that wont be as big of an issue. You wont lose any stats to gain defensive traits.

spoj.9672:

But just being able to use maxed out trait lines in spite, curses and soul reaping will be a pretty big change for damage orientated builds

Won’t Spite/Curses/Blood Magic be the best dps for PvE since they’re removing stats from trait lines? I mean, no point going into Soul Reaping with that system. And Blood Magic has Well cooldown reduction.

spoj.9672:

Another pretty major advantage to the new system. Necro can now trait for supportive and defensive stuff without losing all their damage. Currently investing in blood or death magic completely tanks your damage. With the new system that wont be as big of an issue. You wont lose any stats to gain defensive traits.

Won’t every other class get the same advantage? You could literally have fresh air eles with maxed out water and arcane lines.

They could change the traits in Soul Reaping and add some that are dps increases. They’ve said that existing traits are being changed, combined, removed, and new ones added.

Seems kind of hard to speculate too much until we see everything.

Roe.3679:

spoj.9672:

Another pretty major advantage to the new system. Necro can now trait for supportive and defensive stuff without losing all their damage. Currently investing in blood or death magic completely tanks your damage. With the new system that wont be as big of an issue. You wont lose any stats to gain defensive traits.

Won’t every other class get the same advantage? You could literally have fresh air eles with maxed out water and arcane lines.

Other classes didnt lose out as much as necro by going into those defensive trees. They either had more damage mod traits in those lines to make up the difference. Or those traits were adept or in offensive lines. Or on utilities and weapons. Necro struggles pretty hard to build anything meaningful other than damage. You have to fully invest in a defensive line whereas other classes only invest in them partially.

Evil Seabass.5214:

I’m NOT happy about all wells becoming ground targeted. Personally, I prefer having them cast at my feet without requiring 2 clicks or 2 button-pushes…

If you change the way ground targeting works in your settings, you can still do this but you will have to click it with you mouse. It is the second option down. As in, you press the key for your wells and it places the well at your cursor position; once the key is released it drops it. Still only 1 button push. If you ‘click’ with you mouse on the actual well skill, it just drops it at your feet. 1 click still, but need to use the mouse to press it, if you want it at your feet. Otherwise it is just a 1 button push wherever you point your cursor, which could be pointed at your feet as well; it just might be if a bit off centered (if that matters to you). So either 1 click with mouse pointed near your feet, or perfectly under you (as it is now) by clicking it with your mouse.

Aktium.9506:

spoj.9672:

But just being able to use maxed out trait lines in spite, curses and soul reaping will be a pretty big change for damage orientated builds

Won’t Spite/Curses/Blood Magic be the best dps for PvE since they’re removing stats from trait lines? I mean, no point going into Soul Reaping with that system. And Blood Magic has Well cooldown reduction.

Thats a possible variation. Depends how traits get shifted and combined. You can look at it two ways if we assume 66006. DS build getting a huge buff inside and outside DS. Dagger build getting a small buff and the ability to do some extra stuff with DS.

Its all speculation at this point. Either way its pretty exciting to think about. :>

I know there is a Q&A on Frisdays stream but I want more graphs,pics and maybe even a Vid asap. There is nothing more fun imho in an MMO then to come up with Specs and for that u need every little skill and trait.

I am still waiting for DS rework but on action>paper for those changes it looks good on paper tough.

Puppet.9712:

Evil Seabass.5214:

I’m NOT happy about all wells becoming ground targeted. Personally, I prefer having them cast at my feet without requiring 2 clicks or 2 button-pushes…

If you change the way ground targeting works in your settings, you can still do this but you will have to click it with you mouse. It is the second option down. As in, you press the key for your wells and it places the well at your cursor position; once the key is released it drops it. Still only 1 button push. If you ‘click’ with you mouse on the actual well skill, it just drops it at your feet. 1 click still, but need to use the mouse to press it, if you want it at your feet. Otherwise it is just a 1 button push wherever you point your cursor, which could be pointed at your feet as well; it just might be if a bit off centered (if that matters to you). So either 1 click with mouse pointed near your feet, or perfectly under you (as it is now) by clicking it with your mouse.

I disagree. If our defensive traits were meaningful we’d already be using them. We’ll be better off making full spite/curses/soul reaping for both power and condi than going into blood or death magic as they stand now.

I mean there are other changes that we don’t know about but our traits are generally weak, opening up more isn’t going to help us, it’s going to hurt us because most other classes have stronger traits.

Traits are getting a massive pass over, I wouldn’t count on that too much.

For all its problems, Death Shroud is really the only reason I’m playing this class. At least as a power build. I really hope it isn’t changed too dramatically.

Evil Seabass.5214:

I’m NOT happy about all wells becoming ground targeted. Personally, I prefer having them cast at my feet without requiring 2 clicks or 2 button-pushes…

You’re not using fast cast? o.O

Atherakhia.4086:

For all its problems, Death Shroud is really the only reason I’m playing this class. At least as a power build. I really hope it isn’t changed too dramatically.

I don’t want to create a off topic argument but it hold us back or at least it’s roots.

I don’t like it : Locked adept/master/grandmaster tiers traits.
In short, in the current system, this would be like having to choose between bloodthirst and Vampiric precision. This kill our freedom in to many way.

PS.: I hate the base ground targeted well as well. They made them usable underwater and now it’s like they remove this “feature” for the sake of getting rid of a trait.

Dadnir.5038:

I don’t like it : Locked adept/master/grandmaster tiers traits.
In short, in the current system, this would be like having to choose between bloodthirst and Vampiric precision. This kill our freedom in to many way.

Except as we’ve already seen they are combining traits. So it will be like choosing between Vampiric Thirst which gives both siphon on critical hit and 20% to all siphons, and Transfusion.

We’ll find out everything tomorrow ok the ready up.

I used only ground targeted wells mostly, using ground targeted only recently. Heres a tip if you worry about your mouse location when mouse-moving and fast targeting…. practice centering your mouse before you hold it so when you go to cast a well you just have to center your screen momentarily on where you want to cast. It becomes automatic with time and is very fast.

I agree about well of power being cast at your feet automatically though, extremely rare I want to use it otherwise.

Kilger.5490:

I agree about well of power being cast at your feet automatically though, extremely rare I want to use it otherwise.

Some commanders in WvW will have Necro’s put on Well of Power for choke points to give the front line Stab. If Well of Power wasn’t ground target it would limit group support since it would prohibit the Necro from using it on allies who aren’t near by. In PvE it wouldn’t be a big deal, but in other games modes it would be.

Edit: Meant the boons to condition, not the stab.

Keeping track of mouse location isn’t a problem. I lose precious milliseconds having to actually target something instead of the skill just being instantly used. I generally spin my camera a full 360 at least once a second in a fight.

Totbot.4583:

Some commanders in WvW will have Necro’s put on Well of Power for choke points to give the front line Stab. If Well of Power wasn’t ground target it would limit group support since it would prohibit the Necro from using it on allies who aren’t near by. In PvE it wouldn’t be a big deal, but in other games modes it would be.

Did they change it so stability affects not just the user?

Anyway, its not a bad usage as the front gets hits by lots of cc but there are so many other options.

Also do we have confirmation on the specialization name being Death Knight yet? /makes popcorn…

Kilger.5490:

Did they change it so stability affects not just the user?

Nope. The guy is confused.

Sorry, my mistake. Meant the conditions to boons, not the stab.

Making any of the wells not ground targeted would still reduce the utility they have.

Totbot.4583:

Kilger.5490:

I agree about well of power being cast at your feet automatically though, extremely rare I want to use it otherwise.

Some commanders in WvW will have Necro’s put on Well of Power for choke points to give the front line Stab. If Well of Power wasn’t ground target it would limit group support since it would prohibit the Necro from using it on allies who aren’t near by. In PvE it wouldn’t be a big deal, but in other games modes it would be.

Well of power doesn’t give allies stab, it only gives you stab.

I am going to have to think about the news page posts before speculating. There is nothing that hints at adjusting profession balance while there are also going to be changes to boss condition caps.

I do expect a number of balance adjustments following HoT for a few quarters.

Totbot.4583:

Making any of the wells not ground targeted would still reduce the utility they have.

Utility is nice and all, and targeted wells are great in larger teamfights. But in smaller skirmishes like 2v2 and 1v1 where I have to be on the point regardless I really don’t want to be using targeted wells. Ideally it would be optional, but there’s no point in hoping. Wells have gotten less satisfying to use. The removal of LichWells combo due to Meteornado being too strong was already a harsh blow against Wells imo. I’ll probably just end up slotting SArmor/SWalk/Wurm instead come HoT.

I’d like to get a skill that converts conditions into LF.

Sardonx.2697:

I’d like to get a skill that converts conditions into LF.

Unholy Martyr – Enjoy

I’m happy about the change to wells, I use that trait most of the time anyways.

The main things I am excited about though, is that trait lines are not bound to stats anymore. This combined with the extra trait points we can allocate looks like it might greatly increase viable builds.

I am not too bothered about losing a lot of current traits, most of them were useless anyways and it seems like they are trying to make every trait useful.

Whether we’ll be of any use in PvE parties remains to see. Hopefully we get some much needed reworks in addition to all this. Looks like they are making changes to Death Shoud, so maybe we will get something there.

Bhawb.7408:

Traits are getting a massive pass over, I wouldn’t count on that too much.

You’re assuming that traits are getting a massive pass over, but they may not be. Those ele water traits already shown sure don’t seem very different from what already exists. We’ll find out tomorrow if we’re also getting the same traits just rearranged too. I hope not, but these traits have existed for 3 years already.

They are getting a massive pass over because they are being combined and cut down into 9 traits total per line. Those example traits looked the same because they were basically all the current water traits combined together or the good ones left alone.