I was thinking about, what the new Specialization-System can give us rangers in the future. The problem of ranger-specializations is, that we can’t get rid of our pet or the half of our main-traits is lost.
So future specializations need pets in some forms with own abilities. They need F2 (special attack) and F4 (pet swap) as trigger for many traits.
The role of the Pack Leader is to use more, weaker pets instead of controling one more powerful pet. With the Pack Leader you can encircle your enemy and hunt him down. You can focus more on your own skills and get help of your pets, if you really need them. It is possible to have several pets at one time with different speciality, but these pets are more weaker in damage output.
Class mechanic:
The Pack Leader class mechanic is to summon pets in fight, which help you for a short time.
F1: select/deselect Attack Target for Pet (like current ranger F1/F3)
F2: all pets start their special attack (recharge 20s) (like current ranger F2)
F3: ground target area for pets to guard (like guard without buffs)
F4: change between the two types of pets (like current F4 without summon the pet)
F5: summon the current selected type of pet
F1-F3 are for commanding the pets. You can select two types of pets from all of your pets and you can change between these two types with F4. With F5 you can summon the current selected pet. F4 needs a recharge of ~20 s. The recharge of F5 could be dependent of the summoned pet-type. The skills of the pets will be dependent on their pet-type. So each bird will do the same.
Examples of pet types:
Birds: With F5 you will summon two weak birds (low recharge, normal duration). Their F2 blind one target.
Canine: With F5 you will summon one dog (normal recharge, normal duration). His F2 willknock down his target.
Drake: With F5 you will summon one slow drake with high vitality and toughness (high recharge, normal duration). With F2 he will whirl around and daze enemies.
Feline: With F5 you will summon a cat in stealth (5s) (low recharge, low duration). With F2 it will roar and gain all allies around might.
…
To reduce the programming effort, we only need functionality for the pet types. So every bird will do the same, but you can change the look by selecting a raven or an owl.
Weapon:
The Pack Leader will also use a staff like the druid. The staff is for melee attacks and defence.
The weapon will have a slow, melee, auto cleave with three attack-steps. The last attack step will knock back enemies in front a little.
Skill 2: inflicts vulnerability if hit from behind or side.
Skill 3: a whirl attack and all enemies around get blindness. The ranger get the animation of a whirling drake-spirit. (like 3 of the most ranger weapons)
Skill 4: whirl the staff before you for a short time to create a shield against projectiles (reflect?). Blocks next melee attack and ends.
Skill 5: smash the staff to the earth. Bugs, snakes and spiders come out of the earth to attack enemies nearby. Poison? Bleed? Cripple?
Skills:
The Pack Leader get skills for summoning pets (Minions), which fight by his side for a short time (15s?).
Heal: summon a moa and heal yourself. The moa will heal allies around with his screech in short intervals.
Utility 1: summon a wolf. The wolf will immobilize the foe in short intervals.
Utility 2: summon a jungle stalker. It gives 3s stealth to you and all your active pets by skill activation.
Utility 3: summon a boar. It attacks enemies in a line kocking them down by skill activation.
Utility 4: summon a drake. It shots poison clouds in intervals.
Elite: summon a strong bear. The bear will take conditions from allies and boons from enemies around in short intervals.
What are your thoughts? What did you like and dislike? Give Arenanet some nice ideas for future specializations!