Guild Wars 2

Specializations, Part Two: Reward Tracks and Elite Specializations:

But wait, there’s more! We’re also making some core changes to each profession that are dependent on the elite specialization equipped. 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.

A while back the Devs previewed a Ready Up episode with the new Verdent Brink area. A lot of people got a screenshot of the warrior Adrenaline bar having a second ‘F2’ ability.

The description above describes that very detail which leads me into my question:

Speculating, do you think Rangers new ability will be an additional ‘F2’ allowing us to activate our pets second ability? Like Wolfs Knockdown or the Drakes tail Swipe?

I’m only speculating….carry on.

It is another or the same pet mechanic, what we can see in the trailer. I hope they will change the pet in a more passive/supporting way. So the pet is something like spirits. But i think, it won’t happen.
Yesterday they have show us the new system. And in the new system you can use beastmastery and druid. But beast mastery will be useless, if we lose the pet mechanic or change the pet to a passive mode.

Well, the trailer doesn’t specifically point out what the Druid profession mechanic is. Yes, there is a pet, but it doesn’t show HOW the pet is used. I think it was put there to illustrate that it is a Ranger—>now—>Druid, but that’s just me. Not to mention since it has not been spelled out the pet could now, when Specialized as a Druid, be tied to Utility Skills or Weapon Skills or Elite Skills and not as a profession mechanic. I mean, until they state specifically what the Druid prof mechanic is, we can speculate anything.

Not likely that we get a new F2 skill. If you look in the Control Options you’ll see there’s a blank F5 now. It’s likely that it’ll get use with the Druid profession mechanic and/or as the F5=Stow/Unstow keybind that we need. Personally, after much thought (about five minutes total), I think they’re going to go the Auroa route with pets and using the F5 button to initiate it. I don’t think it’s going to be a “Transform & Merge with Pet” I think the pet will disappear and you’ll get a buff for a limited amount of time. I would love, however, just the ability to perma-stow on my Druid as my F5 if we are indeed keeping the forced AI companion… I’m still holding hope that in a future Elite Specialization they’ll remove the pet completely. I’m guessing for the next expansion.

Well if other professions is getting something extra on their F-keys, and rangers only get a fast key for stowing the pet, I’m going to be very disappointed. I’ve honestly never felt the need to be able to stow the pet. Never.

Happy for you, OG, that you’ve never wanted/needed to stow your pet or not have it out during combat or during a jump puzzle or just in general. I have quite often wanted to stow or perma-stow my pet depending on the situation… Just give me the option to do it, Anet! But, I digress.. I doubt they’ll make the F5 that perma-stow although anything is possible… but it is arguably reasonable for them to give us another open keybind like they did for active/passive. I think that route is much much more likely and quite possible when HoT goes live.

Not this again…Ranger = Pet. If you don’t like pets don’t play the ranger.

Now, what would be interesting is gaining stats if your pet gets downed. Right now we focus on keeping it alive..what happens if that focus is switched?

It makes sense..if your pet up and dies I think a ‘rage mode’ would occur.

That or we get the power to befriend ambient creatures. Wouldn’t that really tick some people off in WvW?

Not this again…Ranger =/= Pet. If you don’t know then I cannot help you.

Now, what would be interesting is gaining stats if you perma-stow your pet. Right now we focus on doing damage while our pet is dead. What happens if we get buffs for perma-stowing pets?

It makes sense..if your pet is useless while ‘alive’ then it can be at least be useful while stowed.

That or we get the power to tell the pet to take a hike. Wouldn’t that really tick off some people in GW2?

Learn to use the F3 key? I don’t know what to say, if you don’t like pets…there are 7 other professions to play (8 if you include Revenant).

I think they should leave the F2, but replace Swap Pet. Give Druids a single pet, with higher health, and a stronger F2.

Then replace Swap Pet with ‘Shapeshift’, which transforms the druid into an animal form based on the weapon they have equipped. For offhands, have the last two skills change slightly based on whatever form the druid is in.

Then prevent Druids from using Shortbow and Longbow, and have the traits for them affect other weapons, but only while shapeshifted.

Poof, Druid.

Perhaps Druid gets the “Aspect” mechanic discussed in CDI?

Sarision.6347:

Perhaps Druid gets the “Aspect” mechanic discussed in CDI?

This is what I think will likely happen, they were loving the idea of the Aspect mechanic discussed in the CDI.

Hmm well I like the idea of pets being tactical weapons; stowing it and unleashing it have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Sarision.6347:

Hmm well I like the idea of pets being tactical weapons; stowing it and unleashing it have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Same here, i’d like it even more if we had ONE pet instead of 2.

Heh looks like we’re both on the same page.

Gotejjeken.1267:

Learn to use the F3 key? I don’t know what to say, if you don’t like pets…there are 7 other professions to play (8 if you include Revenant).

And I would play those other professions more if they were as fun as sword+X ranger, but sadly, they are not. The only one that comes close is Thief sword+dagger or dagger+dagger, but it just doesn’t feel the same. Of course, you would know that if you played any of the other classes and wouldn’t make such a silly remark.