Guild Wars 2

So today I was exploring maps with my necromancer, and I don’t know even how I came up with such an idea. Basically, there could be a master or grandmaster trait, which would make corruption skills draw a related condition from allies (Bleed for Blood is power, vulnerability for pandemic, etc.) and/or apply a boon on allies. Blood is power could simply apply might on allies, Corrosive poison cloud – regeneration. Fury could be thrown in too, I guess on Corrupt boon, because it has longer cooldown so wouldn’t be so OP.
Regarding trait system changes, this effect could be added to Toxic landing (with specialisation system it not only reduces fall damage, but shortens corruption CDs by 20%. Sure there can be balance issues, so it could be made that it only reduces CDs by 10%. If it was too powerful for an adept trait, it could be swapped with something from major traits.
Such a trait wouldn’t require a huge rework on trait lines, yet it would enhance necros in dungeon encounters alot, imho. Thematically it could be explained that necros corrupt themselves and draw corruption from other players (if it’s made to draw a condition from allies) and enhances them in exchange.

I’ve been trying to figure out exactly what kind of feedback to put here for a while now, and I’m still not sure, so I’ll try to be brief.

• Corruption feels like the wrong category for boon generation. Maybe ally condition transfer, but the skills are generally about damage and control. Boon generation / support seems more appropriate on wells, spectrals, or signets, since those categories have support options.
• Corruption skills could use a little more trait support. Currently the only modifier is the 20% reduced cooldown, which is a bit boring compared to the other categories.
• Instead of granting boons, converting conditions might be more appropriate, in the fashion of Well of Power.

Condition removal is a really over-done and currently boring part of “teamplay”. It can be done in so many ways, including our soon-to-be shouts, it just doesn’t have any meaningful impact. It also doesn’t help perception issues, since people don’t notice who is drawing conditions, just that they don’t have any.

Not that Blood is Power/CPC couldn’t be made to more interesting team support utilities, which I think they should be, but this isn’t the way to do it.

Vampiric Aura could potentially go a long way, especially if it’s ‘active’ rather than the passive procs blood magic has had in the past. That lets it be stronger. It’s a damage buff AND a sustain buff for your allies, and you certainly know the necro is the one who gave it to you.

Necro can (and to an extent does) offer a lot of ‘teamplay’, just…. Wait for it…

In a selfish manner.

Lich form is powerful. There’s no mistaking that. It also leaves the necromancer incredibly vulnerable. A good team can make great use of this sudden burst of power if they set things up for the necro.

Reaper is looking to be similar. A class that is potentially kitten, but can only achieve it’s full potential if teammates help it. Blighter’s Boon could get kindof crazy if the rest of your team is slathering you in boons, and Gravedigger will have the potential to outright turn a teamfight into a slaughter if used well, making enemies hesitant to ress through sheer AoE pressure, and being able to put out enough raw damage to force people off points. Don’t even get me started on what a little quickness and a Gravity Well will let a Reaper accomplish.

Necro is meant to be a selfish class. Why not make it so rather than helping it’s allies, it participates in the team by being stupid strong if it’s allies help it?

I want to see Reaper becomes a sort of ‘rockstar’ spec. Make necro a class that can be kitten, that can do crazy triple-kill executions and wipe out whole teams. But at the same time, the guy who can’t do it alone.

The day I look at the other classes as my roadies is the day necro is finally built right.

Except Chronomancer. If we’re the frontman, they’ll be the guitarist.