Guild Wars 2

Ok, mixing a little hearsay, some datamining, the initial HoT video, and some patterns we’ve seen in skills already in the game here’s my bets for Druid. 90% of which will be wrong .

Staff

• 900 range auto attack. Probably not a 1-2-3 chain skill.
• One defense-for-self button. Maybe a wall of vines that absorbs projectiles for 3-4 seconds.
• One PBAoE group buff. Probably vigor, possibly fury
• One ground targets “burst of growth” attack, likely with cripple, possibly bleed (thorns)
• One vine attack using the same wide-line attack shape as the Revenant’s ‘road’ cast, likely with a cripple effect. Possibly knockdown.

Glyphs
Variable effects based on the family of the pet you have out. Probably some overlap so each glyph has 3-4 modes total (much like Elementalist Glyphs key to current attunement)

• Obligatory healing glyph with pet family-themed secondary buff. Bear-heal!! (bear adds protection, birds add swiftness, pigs add a condition cleanse, etc.)
• Glyph adding additional effect to your next 5 attacks. Effect set by current pet’s family (spiders poison, birds blind, felines bleed, drakes burn, etc.)
• Glyph for rezing downed-but-not-dead allies. Ally recovers with added bnefit based on pet family.
• Glyph applying a large buff to your pet and a small buff to you depending on pet family.
• Condi-cleanse glyph with small AoE buff to you and allies based on pet family.
• Elite glyph summoning “Primal Pet” matching the family of your current pet. The One True Bear!

Traits

• A glyph trait that adds the effects of both your pets (out and stored) to your glyphs + 20% cooldown.

where is my shapeshift?
rework please

Nike.2631:

Ok, mixing a little hearsay, some datamining, the initial HoT video, and some patterns we’ve seen in skills already in the game here’s my bets for Druid. 90% of which will be wrong .

Staff

• 900 range auto attack. Probably not a 1-2-3 chain skill.
• One defense-for-self button. Maybe a wall of vines that absorbs projectiles for 3-4 seconds.
• One PBAoE group buff. Probably vigor, possibly fury
• One ground targets “burst of growth” attack, likely with cripple, possibly bleed (thorns)
• One vine attack using the same wide-line attack shape as the Revenant’s ‘road’ cast, likely with a cripple effect. Possibly knockdown.

Glyphs
Variable effects based on the family of the pet you have out. Probably some overlap so each glyph has 3-4 modes total (much like Elementalist Glyphs key to current attunement)

• Obligatory healing glyph with pet family-themed secondary buff. Bear-heal!! (bear adds protection, birds add swiftness, pigs add a condition cleanse, etc.)
• Glyph adding additional effect to your next 5 attacks. Effect set by current pet’s family (spiders poison, birds blind, felines bleed, drakes burn, etc.)
• Glyph for rezing downed-but-not-dead allies. Ally recovers with added bnefit based on pet family.
• Glyph applying a large buff to your pet and a small buff to you depending on pet family.
• Condi-cleanse glyph with small AoE buff to you and allies based on pet family.
• Elite glyph summoning “Primal Pet” matching the family of your current pet. The One True Bear!

Traits

• A glyph trait that adds the effects of both your pets (out and stored) to your glyphs + 20% cooldown.

Pretty grim, I sincerely hope you are wrong.

Agree with Sina, if any of this is close to being relatively accurate… ranger and even druid is dead on arrival…

Nemesis.6938:

where is my shapeshift?
rework please

Um, Tyrian druids don’t play D&D…?

Agree with Sina, if any of this is close to being relatively accurate… ranger and even druid is dead on arrival…

^ this

Although :

Glyph for rezing downed-but-not-dead allies. Ally recovers with added bnefit based on pet family.

I’m sure a very large part of the ranger community would commit suicide after seeing another rez skill for the ranger in the Druid elite spec. The 2 that we already got are already to many.

NB.: Not to mention that you overuse the word “bear” to the point i’m getting sick

Kailee.8790:

Agree with Sina, if any of this is close to being relatively accurate… ranger and even druid is dead on arrival…

Ranger’s needed changes are Ranger’s needed changes — and no Espec can address that. Druid is built on Ranger and it has to NOT crash any existing Ranger traits, which means we’ll see a pet and either pet swapping or something that triggers pet-swap procs. The apple cannot fall far from the tree, so set your expectations accordingly. Data-mining suggests Druids get glyphs. The defining characteristic of glyphs is variable effect or secondary effect based on attunement. “Attunement” for Rangers is “what family is your pet?”.

Plus Fido was right there in the Druid video clip.

Dadnir.5038:

NB.: Not to mention that you overuse the word “bear” to the point i’m getting sick

Its meant as a salve to Norns , who currently are getting a profession that turns them into a spiritual cripple (Revenants can’t EVER assume their totem form).

Nike.2631:

Kailee.8790:

Agree with Sina, if any of this is close to being relatively accurate… ranger and even druid is dead on arrival…

Ranger’s needed changes are Ranger’s needed changes — and no Espec can address that. Druid is built on Ranger and it has to NOT crash any existing Ranger traits, which means we’ll see a pet and either pet swapping or something that triggers pet-swap procs. The apple cannot fall far from the tree, so set your expectations accordingly. Data-mining suggests Druids get glyphs. The defining characteristic of glyphs is variable effect or secondary effect based on attunement. “Attunement” for Rangers is “what family is your pet?”.

Plus Fido was right there in the Druid video clip.

The one leaked trait specifically uses the word “Aspect” to describe the new class mechanic feature.

It may be tied into what pet we bring but it sounds like an independent system.

i called “nature based staff wielding ranger” over a year ago

my theory is that it will be support based, thorny/viny CCs, maybe some bleeds thrown in.
and some healing support skills, maybe in the form of growing flower pods,

i think the utilities could be stances (as a call-back to GW1)

I really hope druid finally gives rangers some utility in teamfights.

I expect lots of the new Resistance boon. Group wide resistance buffs would be a very strong niche ranger could fill, finally giving it some utility.
Staff should be CC focused, throw in a few AoE things as well.

Ranger could really need another decent weapon, current choices are kinda limited by either clunky mechanics (sword anyone?) or just lackluster overall performance (e.g. shortbow).

The new “aspects” will probably apply boons/buffs to your allies in range either when you swap aspects or as a passive effect while you use a certain aspect.

Glyphs could be interesting, curious what they’ll do with them.

Also wondering what happens to the pet. No idea how they’re going to handle this.

EDIT: Agree with Sina too, if that’s anywhere close to what we’ll get, druid is trash.

We could use more condi removal

Anyone else feels like druid is gonna be their attempt at making a support ranger build while dismissing spirits?
They said they wanted to give each class a new role with the spec, but we already have support y know..
I’d rather have daredevil and give druid to thieves lol

Liewec.2896:

i called “nature based staff wielding ranger” over a year ago

my theory is that it will be support based, thorny/viny CCs, maybe some bleeds thrown in.
and some healing support skills, maybe in the form of growing flower pods,

i think the utilities could be stances (as a call-back to GW1)

No I want real druid magic not just thorns and viny crap where is my lightning?????

Not very likely.

• All staff weapons have 1200 range autoattack.
• where is the skill from the video?

Holland.9351:

Not very likely.

• All staff weapons have 1200 range autoattack.
• where is the skill from the video?

Uh, Guardian staff is 600. Revenant and Thief staff autoattacks are 130. You’re thinking of staff in the hands of light armor… which the Druid is not.

The one shot we’ve ever seen of a druid? The points staff and colum of vines blasts downrange as Fido lunges in? The original HoT video.

Substance E.4852:

The one leaked trait specifically uses the word “Aspect” to describe the new class mechanic feature.

Well ‘aspect’ had a very specific meaning in the Ranger CDI — a bonus for not having a pet out. We’ll have to see. Whatever it does, it has to work with~

• Alpha Training Pets have Opening Strike.
• Expertise Training Pets deal extra condition damage and have their condition durations increased.
• Shared Anguish Incoming disables are transferred to your pet instead.
• Empathic Bond Pets periodically take conditions from you.
• Allies’ Aid When you begin reviving an ally, you use search and rescue on them.
• Vigorous Training Pets grant vigor to nearby allies when activated.
• Invigorating Bond Your pet heals allies in an area when executing a command [F2] ability.
• Pack Alpha Your pet is more powerful, and their skills gain recharge reduction.
• Companion’s Might Your critical hits grant might to your pet. Critical strikes from your pet’s basic attack cause bleeding.
• Go for the Eyes Your pet gains toughness. Your pet’s command [F2] ability causes blindness to foes around it.
• Loud Whistle While your health is above the threshold, your pet deals more damage. Your pet swap gains recharge reduction.
• Natural Healing Your pet gains natural health regeneration and improved healing.
• Wilting Strike Your pet inflicts weakness on their target(s) when executing a command [F2] ability.
• Pet’s Prowess Pets move faster and deal more damage on critical hits.
• Beastly Warden Your pet taunts foes near them when executing a command [F2] ability.

Has to at some point count as a pet swap to trigger~

• Clarion Bond Cast Call of the Wild when you swap pets.
• Poison Master After swapping pets, your pet’s first attack will inflict poison; Your poison damage is increased.
• Zephyr’s Speed You and your pet gain might and quickness when you swap pets.

And deal with not getting the full benefit of~

• Brutish Seals Activating a signet grants might to you and your pet. Signets recharge faster.
• Moment of Clarity Gain an attack of opportunity for you and your pet on interrupting a foe. Daze and stun durations you inflict last longer.
• Predator’s Onslaught You and your pet deal increased damage to disabled or movement-impaired foes.
• Companion´s Defense You and your pet gain protection when you dodge roll.
• Refined Toxins While you are above the health threshold, your strikes inflict poison. While your pet’s health is above the health threshold, its strikes inflict poison.
• Bark Skin You and your pet take less damage while your health is above the threshold.
• Bountiful Hunter You and your pet deal more damage per boon that is on you.
• Fortifying Bond Any boon you get is shared with your pet.
• Lingering Magic Boons applied by you and your pets last longer.

~so I’m pretty sure we’re not getting Aspects (stow pet for bonus) as they were being discussed in the CDI …

If you slot two of the same family, Glyphs lose the mid-combat-state-swapping characteristic that more or less defines them as a skill category. For a game that’s been otherwise pretty good about idiot-proofing things, it feels a bit short sighted to let you cut your gameplay off at the kneecaps like that.

Not that I’m trying to be too critical; tying Glyphs to Pets was my first instinct too. But anytime I really mull over it the “how” of it, one thing or another always ends up bothering me.

If it’s any consolation, I’d take your Utility #1 over Sharpening Stone any day of the week.

RevanCorana.8942:

We could use more condi removal

Anyone else feels like druid is gonna be their attempt at making a support ranger build while dismissing spirits?
They said they wanted to give each class a new role with the spec, but we already have support y know..
I’d rather have daredevil and give druid to thieves lol

There is always the possibility the druid will be designed in such a way that they could capitalize on our spirit utilities too, should we build for it with Nature Magic and Druidism.

Maybe the staff auto attack is really fast like the shortbow so we can proc the spirit effects quickly while creating a circle of thorns that bleed and knock down enemies that try to cross it, along with other control effects to keep people off our spirits.

I am kind of hoping for a vine grab and pull move personally. Something to drag my enemy closer to me so he’d land in my traps or near my spirits when their active effect goes off. Rangers have a few utilities that need the enemy in a specific spot to work. Getting a grab would be such a huge benefit.

Nike.2631:

Substance E.4852:

The one leaked trait specifically uses the word “Aspect” to describe the new class mechanic feature.

Well ‘aspect’ had a very specific meaning in the Ranger CDI — a bonus for not having a pet out. We’ll have to see. Whatever it does, it has to work with~

http://i.imgur.com/IcGtSWn.png

Whatever they do, it’s a swap mechanic.

Is it like Elementalist attunements? Possibly, as the glyphs would make it lean that way.

It may also be based on what pet type is out. Hopefully this is not the case due to the long pet swap timer and the fact that some pet types are just plain bad in most modes (bears, devourers, pigs). It’s also somewhat unlikely as they would need several different effects which is difficult to keep good but balanced. A smaller pool, say 3 like the leaked art featuring a bird, wolf, and bear, would be much better.

Basically, this isn’t replacing our pet swap. No other class lost it’s mechanic completely. They either got additional functionality added to it (berserker, tempest) or got it changed to a different combat type that worked the same way (dragon hunter, reaper).

The most likely option is that we will have to stick with one pet but will instead get to swap around in aspects for the different effects while keeping access to pet swap trait effects.

Imagine the pet menu redone so you slot only one pet but then slot 2 aspects that you toggle with the new F4 key.

I just can’t see them giving us 3-4 new F skills.

Nike.2631:

Nemesis.6938:

where is my shapeshift?
rework please

Um, Tyrian druids don’t play D&D…?

druids can shape shift in pretty much any lore i can think of – blizzard, dnd, lord of the rings…sure anet doesnt need to follow that tradition, but if druid is based around shapeshifting and nature magic, i see really nice synergy options with the existing beast mastery and nature trait lines and with your pet…. so i think it would make a lot of sense cause
- you want synergies with existing trait lines
- you want more support/heal/tankiness as the ranger doesnt have that
- you want cool
you get all that

of course, shapeshifing into a honey badger could be another option – cause honey badger doesnt take kitten from anyone

There weren’t druids in Lord of the Rings. If you mean Radagast he was a wizard who specialized in talking to animals and was offhandedly mention to be able to change his shape and color, but that was very vague.

Druids don’t shapeshift in Guild Wars. They shed their bodies to become spirits of nature.

Druids don’t shapeshift in the Warlords Battlecry series. Nor in Magicka. Pretty sure the druids in Witcher don’t shapeshift either. If I had access to Google I could come up with more examples but this was off the top of my head.

Just because DnD and Blizzard have druids do something in a specific way doesn’t mean it’s universal.

Edit: Ah! I almost forgot the Might and Magic franchise. Strange since Heroes of Might and Magic 3 was the first game I ever played that had druids in it.

Nike.2631:

Holland.9351:

Not very likely.

• All staff weapons have 1200 range autoattack.
• where is the skill from the video?

Uh, Guardian staff is 600. Revenant and Thief staff autoattacks are 130. You’re thinking of staff in the hands of light armor… which the Druid is not.

• Guardian staff is a very useful 600 range AoE and is also a different armor class. You’d be happy to get this.
• Thief staff is a melee weapon, which doesn’t seem to be the case for Druid judging by the video.
• All other classes with a staff have a 1200 range auto-attack and Druid is closer to a caster theme like those.
• Druid is an elite spec
• So, 900 range auto attack for Druid makes no sense.

Ehecatl.9172:

There weren’t druids in Lord of the Rings. If you mean Radagast he was a wizard who specialized in talking to animals and was offhandedly mention to be able to change his shape and color, but that was very vague.

Druids don’t shapeshift in Guild Wars. They shed their bodies to become spirits of nature.

Druids don’t shapeshift in the Warlords Battlecry series. Nor in Magicka. Pretty sure the druids in Witcher don’t shapeshift either. If I had access to Google I could come up with more examples but this was off the top of my head.

Just because DnD and Blizzard have druids do something in a specific way doesn’t mean it’s universal.

Edit: Ah! I almost forgot the Might and Magic franchise. Strange since Heroes of Might and Magic 3 was the first game I ever played that had druids in it.

Technically if you ever read real legends on druids they are able to do many many things like shapeshifting, teleportation, speaking with animals, and other strange magics like weather.

Substance E.4852:

Whatever they do, it’s a swap mechanic.

Is it like Elementalist attunements? Possibly, as the glyphs would make it lean that way.

It may also be based on what pet type is out. Hopefully this is not the case due to the long pet swap timer and the fact that some pet types are just plain bad in most modes (bears, devourers, pigs). It’s also somewhat unlikely as they would need several different effects which is difficult to keep good but balanced. A smaller pool, say 3 like the leaked art featuring a bird, wolf, and bear, would be much better.

Basically, this isn’t replacing our pet swap. No other class lost it’s mechanic completely. They either got additional functionality added to it (berserker, tempest) or got it changed to a different combat type that worked the same way (dragon hunter, reaper).

No other profession has BEGGED to be able to dump their class mechanic . Aspects were the codename for that during the CDI and I don’t think it’s an accident they’ve used that word in relation to the Druid class mechanic.

Looking at that trait and factoring in the art – I would guess f1, f2, and f3 become fixed attunements (Chirp!, Fido, & Cuddles) and our single pet becomes a lot more autonomous (insert “Druids living in harmony with animals and not commanding them blah blah blah”). Swapping attunements then triggers pet-swap procs. f4 might stick around as the way to activate f2 skills so those proc, but the druid pet might just auto-cast it when it’s on cooldown.

Either way, I hope people’s heal kills are off cooldown, because there’s going to be a detonation this week and the shrapnel is gonna be salty.

I’m pretty sure that rangers that want the druid to have a petless mechanism will be disappointed. There are way to many traits and utilities that depend on the pet and their pet skill [F2]. The odds are likely that the pet will stay at your side whatever you want (beside during this CDI, I seem to recall that Anet was against any mean to remove the pet). So, if :

- shapeshifting : it will be a F5 (which would be a very very poor implementation with no direct synergy with traits)

- attunment : again probably a F5 because let’s be honest, 9 attunments on land and some more underwater would be a huge headache.

Oh… Just to annoy everyone here, If we look at how they handle the Engineer mechanism… I mean, they can totally add a bunch of new pet (exclusive to the druid) on top of our pet list and aspect swap may be the F2 ability of these pets.

I am almost sure we wont see shapeshifting for a few reasons:

It will open up a whole new can of worms in regards to glitches and playability that both anet and players don’t want to deal with.

ANET has proven to be a company that likes to “break-the-mold,” meaning they are unlikely to continue the gaming tradition of druids being shapeshifters. They are more likely to look further back to the “real” druids and create their own interpretation.

As pointed out to me from another member here, Druids in GW1 shed their bodies to become “one with nature” and became giant Oakheart-like Spirits. Its more likely our druid will share similarieites in that regard, supporting more the data-mined aspect swapping mechanic.

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Druid

I’d be fine with aspects based on pet families:

• aspect 1: moa, bear (damage reduction/healing/boons)
• aspect 2: cat, bird (burst/crits/stealth)
• aspect 3: porcine, canine (CC: knockdown, immobilize, cripple)
• aspect 4: spider, devourer, drake: (condition damage, chill)

Best guess?

• Pet stays as is, because screw Rangers, thats why.
• Aspect swap goes on F5. Aspects determine what kind of effect each of our glyphs does, exactly like ele. Why? Because it is the absolute least amount of work.
• Aspects provide an unkillable Aura that applies to us, our pets and nearby allies, just like spirits always f’n should have.
• Traits and glyphs make us the best providers of Resistance boon in the game.
• Staff is a 1200 range weapon. 1- bouncing auto attack like chain lightning, applies some sort of non damaging condi. 2- Spammable aoe, works like a symbol (pulsing dmg to enemies, buffs to allies). 3- directional whirl, evades attacks and immobilizes enemies struck. 4- charge up a devastating attack that fires a heat-seeking vine from you to your target, does damage and a cc based on targets life. 5- large long duration aoe, ala meteor shower, but less damage, causes lots of random knockdowns.
• 1 glyph will be an aspect based transform, another will be an aspect based summon, another will be an aspect based attack proc (just like glyph of elemental power), another will be a aspect based aoe buff (like: stealth or resistance or quickness).

Make it so!

Raven.9603:

Best guess?

• Pet stays as is, because screw Rangers, thats why.
• Aspect swap goes on F5. Aspects determine what kind of effect each of our glyphs does, exactly like ele. Why? Because it is the absolute least amount of work.
• Aspects provide an unkillable Aura that applies to us, our pets and nearby allies, just like spirits always f’n should have.
• Traits and glyphs make us the best providers of Resistance boon in the game.
• Staff is a 1200 range weapon. 1- bouncing auto attack like chain lightning, applies some sort of non damaging condi. 2- Spammable aoe, works like a symbol (pulsing dmg to enemies, buffs to allies). 3- directional whirl, evades attacks and immobilizes enemies struck. 4- charge up a devastating attack that fires a heat-seeking vine from you to your target, does damage and a cc based on targets life. 5- large long duration aoe, ala meteor shower, but less damage, causes lots of random knockdowns.
• 1 glyph will be an aspect based transform, another will be an aspect based summon, another will be an aspect based attack proc (just like glyph of elemental power), another will be a aspect based aoe buff (like: stealth or resistance or quickness).

Make it so!

despite your dissonant timbre, you have put some though into this.

Raven.9603:

Best guess?

• Pet stays as is, because screw Rangers, thats why.
• Aspect swap goes on F5. Aspects determine what kind of effect each of our glyphs does, exactly like ele. Why? Because it is the absolute least amount of work.
• Aspects provide an unkillable Aura that applies to us, our pets and nearby allies, just like spirits always f’n should have.
• Traits and glyphs make us the best providers of Resistance boon in the game.
• Staff is a 1200 range weapon. 1- bouncing auto attack like chain lightning, applies some sort of non damaging condi. 2- Spammable aoe, works like a symbol (pulsing dmg to enemies, buffs to allies). 3- directional whirl, evades attacks and immobilizes enemies struck. 4- charge up a devastating attack that fires a heat-seeking vine from you to your target, does damage and a cc based on targets life. 5- large long duration aoe, ala meteor shower, but less damage, causes lots of random knockdowns.
• 1 glyph will be an aspect based transform, another will be an aspect based summon, another will be an aspect based attack proc (just like glyph of elemental power), another will be a aspect based aoe buff (like: stealth or resistance or quickness).

Make it so!

That’s a good prophecy. A single function key to manage aspect makes my junk itch, but it could be set up that way.

I have my doubts about resistance because resistance and taunt feel like they were set up in a box by the folks working Revenant and not actually made available to the other designers until far too late for them to factor it into their designs.

We’re going to have the narrowest possible window after BWE3 to polish the Druid… I hope we can reach some consensus before we all shout pleas to the Devs. The fixes are going to have to be quick and decisive.

The only thing I don’t like about having a single button to swap through Aspects is that is makes the cycle linear. For instance, one could not hypothetically go from Aspect A→C, but rather would have to go From A→B→C. This is a problem considering that swapping appears to have a cast time and likely a cool down as well.

Ryou.2398:

Technically if you ever read real legends on druids they are able to do many many things like shapeshifting, teleportation, speaking with animals, and other strange magics like weather.

Technically in mythological tales from our world druids were indistinguishable from wizards. They used a lot of illusionary spells too but that isn’t considered a part of the modern druid we think of in roleplay games.

Most commonly their powers revolved around prophecy however, not shapeshifting or anything to do with animals. Druids were soothsayers, herbal healers, and prophets primarily, not nature mages as they are depicted commonly in popular culture.

But that’s not the point. The point is a druid doesn’t HAVE to shapeshift. It’s not even a true staple of the class concept. It is only popular because DnD and Blizzard Entertainment popularized the idea of druids as shapeshifters, but that is far from the only interpretation.

Don’t get me wrong, I love shapeshifting druids too. I love all druidic concepts. I always play the nature mage class any game has to offer. But there are other druid concepts that are equally valid to what you see in Warcraft and DnD.

Honestly, despite loving shapeshifting, I hope that druids in this game stick more to this game’s pre-defined lore for what a druid is. Shapeshifting can always come again in the form of a dedicated shapeshifter elite spec. Shapeshifter, Shifter, Skinwalker are all perfectly acceptable elite spec names. I don’t particularly want Anet to try to fit too much in this elite spec and end up with it having a very mish-mash feeling instead of a more pure design focus.

I’d edit this for clarity but I doubt I’d be able to do any better right now…

Nemesis.6938:

where is my shapeshift?
rework please

Pretty much this.

I had this idea of an F5 – Spiritual Bond, connecting with your pet. Each family has 5 new skills (weapon 1-5), and each species has it’s new F2 as well. F1 becomes a gap closer with small cooldown, and F3 an evade skill on a longer cooldown.

I’m not sure if they went with it in mind, considering the supportive kind of gameplay they have mentioned. But I sincerely hope for some kind of beast transformation based on our selected pets. Maybe that’s the reason it took them so long to reveal this elite spec.

Rashagar.8349:

Honestly, despite loving shapeshifting, I hope that druids in this game stick more to this game’s pre-defined lore for what a druid is. Shapeshifting can always come again in the form of a dedicated shapeshifter elite spec. Shapeshifter, Shifter, Skinwalker are all perfectly acceptable elite spec names. I don’t particularly want Anet to try to fit too much in this elite spec and end up with it having a very mish-mash feeling instead of a more pure design focus.

I’d edit this for clarity but I doubt I’d be able to do any better right now…

I completely agree.

As for the current Druid, I’d -really- like a DD/caster niche. I think it’s an unpopular opinion as most people keep throwing around support ideas, but I’d like a straight to the point nature mage. Power or condi doesn’t really matter, though I think I’d prefer condi from a conceptual standpoint; Extremely high poison/bleeds. Also, if my preferred route was done AND Druid had decent condi removal, it’d give us a reason to go poison master.

We can probably become a spirit…immobile and provide buffs to our team.

I personnaly hope that there won’t be anything close to shapeshifting. Transformation skills in this game are horrible…

Transform as elite glyph I can imagine, but I don’t see it in any other slot in the Druid’s kit.

Shapeshift like an attunement / weaponkit would be so fun but isn’t going to happen that would mean too many new skills to make.

Actually, you may be on to something. Assuming Anet wasn’t lying and they reveal stuff as it becomes ready enough to show, and with Druid having 5 new weapon skills and 6 glyph that each need 3-4 sub-effects both scripted and then tested, it’s quite likely the Druid is simply THE most complicated of all the Especs from a coding standpoint.

Druid might not get glyphs at all. It was part of some datamining, which is often correct, but not always correct.

Shapeshifting for druid isn’t a WoW thing either. Everquest had it too to a lesser extend, which was a few years older. This game has transformations as well, so it’s possible.

However, in this game transformations are terrible, so I hope it won’t be transformations.

Again, transformations would be awesome, just not in guild wars 2.

Im guessing one of three things:

a)Just more pets or slightly more control of the pet

b)Ability to “consume” or “bond” with the pet. This would either shapeshift the druid, or just add various effects.

c)Ability to give pets special affects; either universal for all pets, or dependent on type of pet.

Lastly, I think its possible there may be something very “special” for Druids since they could play into the lore of HoT. But I dont see how this would be balanced and fair.

After whatever it was didn’t work and had to be scraped, I expect a big wow with some flashy looking pets and some snare skills from the video.

Ehecatl.9172:

There weren’t druids in Lord of the Rings. If you mean Radagast he was a wizard who specialized in talking to animals and was offhandedly mention to be able to change his shape and color, but that was very vague.

Druids don’t shapeshift in Guild Wars. They shed their bodies to become spirits of nature.

Druids don’t shapeshift in the Warlords Battlecry series. Nor in Magicka. Pretty sure the druids in Witcher don’t shapeshift either. If I had access to Google I could come up with more examples but this was off the top of my head.

Just because DnD and Blizzard have druids do something in a specific way doesn’t mean it’s universal.

Edit: Ah! I almost forgot the Might and Magic franchise. Strange since Heroes of Might and Magic 3 was the first game I ever played that had druids in it.

There are also Druids in Gothic franchise, although named only in Gothic 3. Guess one group of similar magic could be gathered from all three games – Brotherhood of the Sleeper, Water Mages and Druids. Aside from some shapeshifting (which wasn’t exclusive to Druids), it was mostly utility-based stuff.

Staff:

• 1200 range single target, 3s cripple on hit.
• 1200 range targetable teleport (10s cooldown)
• 1200 range shoot-a-vine, 2 bounces, 2s immobilize, 5s cripple, 1 stack of 10s bleed. (15s cooldown)
• 1200 range pet shadow step to target, it gains 3s quickness, 3 stacks of 3s stability, 3s resistance, target revealed for 3 seconds (20s cooldown)
• Thorn shield. 10000 health shield for 6 seconds, shield takes 50% damage, 6s retaliation (30s cooldown)

Traits
Adept:

• whenever you cripple, you also cause 3s weakness
• resistance you apply lasts 33% longer

Master:

• +50% cripple duration, +25% movement speed
• whenever you gain resistance, you also give it to your allies

GM:

• Your pets and spirits take 50% less damage from all sources.
• You gain 3s resistance whenever you gain a condition (15s cooldown)

Holland.9351:

GM:

• Your pets and spirits take 50% less damage from all sources.

Band aids.. please, no.

A druid have a deeper bond with his pet. While a ranger affect his pet, the druid is also affected by it’s pet.

New mechanism :

The druid obtain a passive attunment named aspect that maybe influenced by certain pet.
Base attunment is the Flesh aspect and is granted if the druid use one of the base pet of the ranger.

New exclusive pets :

Rock dog : The rock dog have the basic skill of all canine’s pet. Their command [F2] is the aspect of earth passively granting 180 toughnes to the pet as well as attuning the druid in earth aspect. (Active effect is the same as elementalist SoE)

Ice Imp : The Ice imp is a range caster pet firing Ice bolt on it’s target. Their command [F2] is the aspect of water passively removing condition to the pet as well as attuning the druid in water aspect. (active skill have the same effect as elementalist’s SoW)

Oakheart : The oakheart is a treant pet which skills mainly focus on controling foes around him. Their command [F2] is the thorn aspect granting condition damage to the pet as well as attuning the druid in the Plant aspect. (active do damage and poison you foe)

aspect :

The aspects will mainly affect side effect of the Druid’s glyph.
- Flesh aspect add direct damage bonus (might/vulnerability) component to the glyph effect.
- Earth aspect add damage mitigation (protection/weakness) component to the glyph effect.
- Water aspect add soft mobility component (swiftness/chill) to the glyph skill effect.
- Plant aspect add health management component (regeneration/poison) to the glyph skill effect.

Interesting idea. Let’s go 1 step further:

What if Druid gets access to only 4 pets, but they’re all new and more powerful.

• pet with power damage laser beam 1200 range instant hit.
• pet with 50.000 health, passive health regeneration to up to 50 allies around it and reduces condition damage taken.
• pet with aoe condition damage around it
• pet with power damage melee and shadowsteps

• utility glyphs based on which pet you have out.

Well, the thing is that the HoT video lead us to think that they at least keep their base pet. That’s mostly why I restrain myself to 3 new pet each tainting the flesh attunment in something else due to their [F2] skill passive effect.

I’ve also kept myself into the boundary of existing content.

I would like to see a pet dog poo. Except you have to move it around like revs do with ventari’s tablet. It could be an additional wolf skill, where the wolf has a poo and that poo then replaces the wolf with different passive conditions on enemies, most likely “taunt” and “poison”. The passive boon of the poo to allies would probably be called “Love your own brand” and it would give the druid and allies regen and protection.
Oh yeah, and the activated poo skill would be where the Druid picks up the poo and throws it at enemies as a projectile, where it hits them in the face and knocks them back whilst poisoning them. While throwing the poo the Druid would shout “let me in dungeon!!”.