Guild Wars 2

First off, yes, another sword topic.

I just wanted to get your opinions on an idea to change the sword. I don’t think it will change the functionality of the sword, but I think it will make the sword much easier to use. Changes listed below.

Kick – This skill now checks the range to the target. If the range to the target is 150 units or less, the skill animation has no leap component. If the range is greater than 150 units, the ranger leaps to the target and attacks. This skill now cleaves.

Pounce – This skill now checks the range to the target. If the range to the target is 150 units or less, the skill animation has no leap component. If the range is greater than 150 units, the ranger leaps to the target and attacks.

Hornet Sting/Monarch’s Leap – The available skill now changes based on the range to the target. If the range is greater than 200 units, Monarch’s Leap becomes the available skill. If Monarch’s Leap is used, the skill goes on its normal cooldown. If no target is selected or the range to the target is 200 units or less, this skill functions as normal, with Hornet Sting chaining into Monarch’s Leap.

What this does:
-You can circle strafe and dodge during the auto attack chain.
-You can melee without being on top of the enemy, if you can maintain the proper spacing.
-You can dodge away from your target without the auto attack sending you right back in.
-You can still stick to your targets or bounce between targets if you want.
-You can initiate with Monarch’s Leap if necessary.

I think this would be a serious improvement to the feel of the sword without ruining it for people who like the way it functions now. I haven’t fully thought out all of the implications with the #2 skill, but I think you will still be able do everything with it that you can now, plus a little more.

Not going to lie… I am somewhat in love with that monarch leap idea.

I like this idea. When you say it “has no leap component” are you suggesting they change the animation too? Because wouldn’t it be weird if you could strafe while kicking or leaping?

I can see this suggestion being implemented. They already have a range indicator for each skill. So they just need to incorporate a skill change based on whether it is red (out of range) or not.

KazNaka.4718:

I like this idea. When you say it “has no leap component” are you suggesting they change the animation too? Because wouldn’t it be weird if you could strafe while kicking or leaping?

Yeah, that might be kind of weird. The plan was to use the same animation without the leap feature if you were already in range to hit the target. I don’t know for sure how it would look if you could move during those animations, but I can’t imagine it to be any less realistic than the way the greatsword chain works. It’d be awfully hard to move during that spin that power stab has.

Looking at it last night, I don’t think it would look bad if you could move during the animation when not leaping. It would look about the same as it does when you jump and start moving when you’re airborne.

The devs say sword is working as intended, though. Still, I think this would open up options on the sword without destroying any existing options. That unique play style that they want to preserve wouldn’t go away.