Guild Wars 2

Hello fellow players and ArenaNet,

I rarely visit the forum and when I do is mostly to read the patch notes so before I start with the main point of this topic, I wish to express my gratitude to ArenaNet for making such a great game and even if I don’t agree with every decision taken to improve the game, I still love this game and think its the best mmorpg at the moment.

Ok, so ever since I started playing 3 years ago I have always love and played Ranger (even when we were hated for those bearbows), and when Druid was announced along with the expansion I was REALLY excited about it. And although a Druid is not necessarily a shapeshifter I certainly made my own expectations to be so and I have to say I’m not disappointed with the result but I still wish it would have been a shapeshifter instead. So I decided to start this topic to let you guys know how awesome it would be to have a shapeshifter for next elite spec.

I believe a shapeshifter would benefit the Ranger in many ways and the goal of this is not just to satisfy my desire to play a shapeshifter but also to improve the Ranger class in many of the areas that many players have been asking for improvement. And I will start by explaining on some of the mechanics that I have in mind:

- The strongest point of this elite spec is to transform the Ranger body in one of the many species based on the pet being in use by the Ranger.
- When the shapeshifter transforms it will dismiss the pet for the duration of the transformation replacing the weapon skills with unique skills based on the species transformed.
- For the duration of the transformation, the shapeshifter will receive the current trait bonuses that would normally only affect the Ranger pet.

With this mechanics it gives the shapeshifter a lot of synergy with the current Ranger specializations, it gives the Ranger a new and different play style, it could help making useful many of the unused pets AND it would satisfy our need to play a shapeshifter because the Norn elite skills are simply a no-no (except for the snow leopard one but only for the invis and the mobility skills). And before anyone starts making assumptions of how this elite spec would force the Ranger into using specializations that have pet bonuses, let me tell you that is not necessarily the case as depending on the skills added for each transformation (like the snow leopard from Norns) this elite spec would not only give the option for the Ranger to fight transformed, but it would also give new tools to use to help you support your teammates, withdraw from a fight or simply traveling.

So what does everyone thinks of this idea? Share your thoughts with me if you think this could work or not and why. And if you love the idea please post something and let know ArenaNet what we want for the next elite spec. And sorry everyone about my broken English I’m trying my best to be as clear and understandable as possible.

Have you tried playing the Norn?
…
The only thing I can think of about every single player asking for shape-shifting is this question. You can already play one.
I don’t see a reason why would ANet make another same concept (that we can already declared as miserable fail).

Also – ANet made Rangers a pet-class. Your suggestion goes strictly against their definition of ranger. The verdict would naturally be “Not happening”.

When it comes to my personal opinion – I don’t like shape-shifting. I like the style of dual target combat (pet) and the spotter running through the jungle by learning the way of nature and beastly tricks that he applies in smart combat.
I do not want to be a magical beast that fights with his body mass.

Tragic Positive.9356:

Have you tried playing the Norn?
…

Must not have bothered reading the OP.

but ya I admit to skimming it too as its a huge wall of longwinded text.

To op, yeah it would be cool, if it is implemented right, as an elite spec.
You said something about snow leopard being the only one worth anything and ya that’s true. I used to love being zerker ranger (am rampager gear now) because when used snow leopard I wouldn’t just run away with it, I would fight with it, its fairly good considering its a racial skill.

If they could make “beast skillbars” good then it would be like having new weapon sets to choose from.

Justine.6351:

Tragic Positive.9356:

Have you tried playing the Norn?
…

Must not have bothered reading the OP.

Yea… I only briefly checked through it. I saw something mentioned but I still think that having a transformation race is good enough in terms of options.
Transformation is a game-play that a lot of people shun and don’t like. Forcing it onto rangers just like a healer role is not a way to go.