Figured I’d Spitball a few ideas out there for new Ranger skills, maybe give ANet some ideas, or maybe just entertain myself for a few minutes while I write this up.
Ranger Weapon: Staff
A support-oriented long/mid-range weapon primarily for team use.
1. Burst of Life – The user lobs a “plant ball” that blooms into vines and brambles at a single target. It then bounces to up to four other targets, friend or foe, granting the user’s allies minor healing (and an effect that looks like vines and flowers blooming on them) while causing damage to enemies. Unlike other bounce skills, it bounces all four times from the primary target, simultaneously, making it a targeted pseudo-AoE.
Enemies: 3 second bleed, minor damage.
Ally: Minor heal
2. Grasping Vines – The user shoots out a cone of vines that bind enemies, keeping them from moving.
Enemies: 1 second immobilize, 4 second cripple, medium damage.
Cooldown: 8 seconds.
3. Wall of Brambles – The user creates a wall of thorny plants thick enough that it blocks projectiles and causes bleeding to enemies that pass through it.
Enemies: 3 stacks of bleeding for 5 seconds.
Duration: 4 seconds
Cooldown: 15 seconds
4. Explosive Growth – The user creates an ever-growing patch of plant life that suddenly bursts with energy, aiding allies and knocking down enemies. There is some delay before the patch detonates, making it easier to dodge, and easier for allies to walk into.
Enemies: Medium damage, knockback/down.
Allies: 5 seconds regen and vigor.
Radius: 240
Cooldown: 20 seconds
Special: Blast Finisher
5. Aegis of Spring – The user channels forth a whirlwind of flower petals, healing allies, then granting protection at the end of the duration.
Allies: 5 ticks of minor healing over 3 second channel, ending with a 10 second protection buff.
Radius: 600
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Special: Light Field during channel.
Healing Skill: Natural Remedy – The user and pet is wrapped in vines and flowers, becoming protected from attacks for a few precious seconds while healing and curing conditions.
Healing: Medium
Conditions Cured: Bleeding, burning, poison, immobilize, cripple, and chilled.
Special: Invincible and stable for 3 seconds of channeling, but character and pet is immobilized for the duration.
Cooldown: 25 seconds
Utility Skills:
Spore Trap – Trap. Set a trap that weakens foes that pass through it.
Enemies: Weakness for 1 second.
Duration: 5 seconds.
Cooldown: 20 seconds.
Special: Smoke Field
“Fetch!” – Shout. Command your pet to go get your target and bring them back to you.
Enemy: High damage, pull towards player upon hit by pet.
Range: 1200, but the pet has to run up and make contact in melee.
Cooldown: 30 seconds.
Signet of Life -
Signet Passive: Grants you and your pet increased Vitality and Compassion.
Signet Active: Revive your pet and refresh the cooldown on pet swapping.
Range: 1200
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Crack of Lightning – Survival. The user summons a bolt of lightning on top of them, blinding nearby foes with the flash and disappearing into hiding for a short time.
Self and Pet: Stealth and quickness for 4 seconds.
Enemies: Blind for 5 seconds.
Cooldown: 35 seconds.
Special: Breaks Stuns
Wind Spirit: Spirit. Summon a spirit that grants allies a chance to gain endurance with every attack.
Endurance Regained: 50%… Alternatively, Vigor for 5 seconds.
Duration: 60 seconds.
——> Whirlwind: The spirit tosses enemies into the air with a sudden gust of wind.
——> Enemies: Blowout/knockback and minor damage.
Elite Skill: Maelstrom – The user summons forth a powerful storm in the area, crippling enemies and dealing devastating damage. Like combining Glyph of Storms (air, water, and sand animations) with churning earth, looking like the world itself is trying to obliterate everything inside.
Enemies: Heavy damage over time, cripple for 5 seconds, weakness for 5 seconds.
Duration: 5 seconds.
Radius: 480
Special: Lightning Field?