Guild Wars 2

I’ve been playing Druid since launch and though I will admit, I am a casual player, I feel like our specialisation is much weaker than that of other classes. I feel most professions received a strong bonus to the core mechanics of their design, enhancing them greatly, whereas the complete redesign and direction change of the Ranger to Druid has made it lackluster.

My examples.
Mesmer’s get much more clone and phantasm control. The specialisation solves many problems that I found with Mesmer and the right build and combination can create endless torrents of clones, making it very hard to track the actual Mesmer.

Thieves get far more evasion and mobility than they actually needed. I’ve seen builds boasting 8 consecutive dodge rolls while applying conditions. My experience with PvP against a Thief was shocking as they evaded everything I through at that. It was an impressive display of finesse.

I would love to be able to brag about the Celestial Avatar. I do really love it’s potential, but that’s it currently, potential. Celestial Avatar may have been designed with the upcoming raids in time but unfortunately it has left it appearing out of place in every other of the game, these being where we would spend most of our time. I find myself sometimes not needing to use Celestial Avatar or when I need to use it to save me in a clutch moment, death shroud style, it doesn’t deliver. When I activate it to help or save others they have there own heals and I get them to 100% in a single skill. I’ve never needed to use the full duration of the Celestial Avatar.

Change’s I propose. Please comment and provide feedback.

The simple act of using Celestial Avatar needs to change. In it’s current state it looks like it belongs in a healing meta that we will never get. Everyone can heal themselves and in general people design their characters to be self-sustaining. This could change in raids, but again, this may well be only 5-10% of our time in game. The form needs to be designed with that in mind. Sometimes we will switch and it turns out the person was fine. The simple fact that the bar must be full before activation and then drains a large chunk on termination is flawed and it makes the Celestial Avatar form a resource we don’t want to use. I feel like having it as a toggle bar would be more ideal and remove the cost of termination. This gives people more room for trial and error while learning this completely new mechanic, it also means we can switch form early instead of feeling like our actions should go towards increasing the charge bar asap.

Passive draining. This isn’t as much of an issue should my first point be implemented. Though should that not be implemented, Then I feel like each ability should have a ‘cost’ of energy instead of be free within the timer. This goes with my previous suggestion well, meaning that switch to the form early may mean the more powerful 4 and 5 skills are unavailable. Even with out the top suggestion it means the Druid can take on the healing role that it’s meant to take. ‘reactive support’ waiting in avatar form for the right time to heal. Currently most uses of Celestial Avatar form in my experience have felt wasted.

When switching form I feel like something should happen. Currently the only time Celestial Avatar form is useful is in really clutch healing moments, for myself or allies. Currently when you switch forms there is a short channel where you’re unable to do anything, but you can still take damage. Several times I’ve switched form in an attempt to save myself but have been unable to deliver because I couldn’t stop the onslaught. Either a brief moment of evade/block or a knockback or blind from my shining brilliance wouldn’t go amiss. Though once again this issue become less of an issue if I’m able to steadily heal using the above suggestions.

Losing the charge bar on downed is just painful and sad. I don’t fully understand it and don’t understand why it punishes you so much for it. It should be retained.

The charge bar itself should have a passive regeneration, though a slow one. Once again solved with above issues being resolved.

I understand that my suggestions, especially if all go into effect, may make the druid very OP. I also understand the Druid is meant to be a supporting specialisation that works best in a team. I just don’t understand why it can’t also work well by itself, like -every other specialisation-. I hope some love and care gets put into this.

TL;DR
Please make some of or all of these changes to Celestial Avatar.

Celestial Avatar becomes a toggled action and loses or has the termination cost reduced.
Celestial Avatar loses it’s passive draining and instead energy is consumed on ability use.
Celestial Avatar to become more ‘clutch’ by providing a short invulnerability state or applys a knock-back or blind.
Celestial Avatar charge bar is not removed on downed.
Celestial Avatar charge bar receives a slow passive regeneration.

1) no idea what that means
2) sure
3) sure
4) lol, just no, get good
5) is called auto attacking

I’d like if we also could have new, fun and improved ways of doing DPS!

I’d like CA to follow the weapon, so for raids you can have a staff => CA is like today with healing/support things.

If you are doing dungeons, fractals or open world and use e.g. a power based LB build, the CA should turn into some celestial being of doom, think boomkin from WoW, Lunar fall, stars falling and carpet bombing a big area etc etc. Of course you won’t build AF so fast, but when you finally do get into that CA – for the limited time it lasts – things be melting

Justine.6351:

1) no idea what that means
2) sure
3) sure
4) lol, just no, get good
5) is called auto attacking

1) When I say toggled action, I mean like a light switch. on and off. With out the need of having to fully charge up the bar.
2) Thanks ^^
3) Thanks ^^
4) You will get downed, this is part of GW2. You can’t avoid this eventuality.
5) The regeneration is intended for out of combat generation. Allowing you to start fights with CA, like every other profession can start fights with their new toys.

Meneh.2954:

I’d like if we also could have new, fun and improved ways of doing DPS!

I’d like CA to follow the weapon, so for raids you can have a staff => CA is like today with healing/support things.

If you are doing dungeons, fractals or open world and use e.g. a power based LB build, the CA should turn into some celestial being of doom, think boomkin from WoW, Lunar fall, stars falling and carpet bombing a big area etc etc. Of course you won’t build AF so fast, but when you finally do get into that CA – for the limited time it lasts – things be melting

I agree that the CA certainly needs more damage but changing it based on weapons would be impractical. The CA 1 skill is pretty much only useful on yourself, the time between placement and cast is too long to be used on allies. If that was changed to a high damage ability. or even just a damage ability. At least you have something to do while inside the form.

Tyr here, monthly check up

As ive said for 3 years, Ranger is absolute hot garbage

However, Druid is a beast. It doesnt seem awfully powerful at first, but it soon people will see its potential. Give it some time, promised

Bwadark.2519:

Justine.6351:

1) no idea what that means
2) sure
3) sure
4) lol, just no, get good
5) is called auto attacking

1) When I say toggled action, I mean like a light switch. on and off. With out the need of having to fully charge up the bar.
2) Thanks ^^
3) Thanks ^^
4) You will get downed, this is part of GW2. You can’t avoid this eventuality.
5) The regeneration is intended for out of combat generation. Allowing you to start fights with CA, like every other profession can start fights with their new toys.

4) yes you can avoid being downed. that’s called l2p. This is what anet is addressing with their war on zerker meta. They want players to grow in skill beyond DAMAGE! DAMAGE! DAMAGE! DODGE! DODGE! DOWNED! RALLY! MOAR DAMAGE!

5) Druids have AFG OOC with heals. The starting fights with partial/full resource bit, that’s carried from the previous fight quite often. For druid in spvp the match starts at full bar. For necro I’m not sure they have ooc life force gain? Maybe killing ambients with staff? In the case of warrior its 0% carry between fights, for revenant its 50% locked.