Guild Wars 2

This is an idea that I thought of and think that it could add a different element to thief and give it some group potential. First off, the weapon that I would choose to give thief would be focus. Reason being is that I feel it fits in thematically with the idea in mind. Now the theme that I had in mind comes from the GW1 skill Shadow Form. So translating it over to GW2 would result in something similar to Death Shroud or Celestial Avatar. With that that being said, here is what I came up with (any numbers/durations/etc are totally up for discussion. I just liked the idea of a Shadow Form and focus thief):

Focus:
Shadow’s Shelter (Skill 4) 5 initiative – Create a shadow barrier in front of you that lasts for X seconds that will destroy projectiles and blind foes for X seconds that hit you. When this skill ends, spread blindness to nearby enemies and grant protection to nearby allies. Smoke combo field.
The barrier part of this skill would function similar to Guardian F3 or Revenant hammer 4.

*One With Shadows (Skill 5) 6 * -Shadow step to your targeted enemy by sending forth your shadow (900 distance), dealing damage and causing cripple to them. If your shadow passes through and ally, grant them X seconds of swiftness and quickness (this skill does not apply boons to caster).

Dual skills:;
Shadow’s Riposte (Dagger Skill 3) 5 initiative – Assume a defensive stance for X seconds to block the next attack against you. Upon successful block, damage your enemy gain stealth and swiftness for X seconds. (Damage only applies in melee range).

Shadow’s Favor (Pistol Skill 3) 5 initiative – Damage and transfer 2 conditions to your enemy and gain super speed for X seconds.

Shadow’s Feint (Sword Skill 3) 5 initiative – Evade while using your shadow to deal damage. Cause vulnerability for X seconds with each strike. (The evade would act similar to Flanking Strike).

Shadow Form (replaces F2 stolen skill slot) – Gained upon successful steal.
This is where the Shadow Form skill from GW1 comes into play. While in Shadow Form, you deal 50% less damage but receive 50% less damage (conditions and physical). This form would only last for 10 seconds and could be manually exited. Shadow Form would also act as a tether, similar to Druid elite glyph. Going outside the tether range (2000) will force you out of Shadow Form. Skills 6-10 are disabled while in Shadow Form.

Shadow’s Spite (Skill 1 auto attack) – Use shadows to stab up to 3 enemies. Causes damage and X seconds of cripple. Melee range.

Shadow’s Mercy (Skill 2) 3 second cooldown – Spread your shadow to allies around you granting them regen, vigor, and resistance for X seconds.

Shadow’s Touch (Skill 3) 5 second cool down – Damage up to 3 enemies and cause blindness and weakness to struck enemies. Also removes 1 boon from each effected enemy.

Shadow’s Gift (Skill 4) 20 second cooldown- For X seconds, any conditions or damage you receive are copied over to the enemy your are tethered to. Any allies around you lose 1 condition and are healed for X whenever you are struck (2 second ICD). (Think of Druid elite glyph for physical damage to enemy. Conditions would be applied to enemy at a flat duration of 4 seconds).

Shadow’s Beckon (Skill 5) 30 second cooldown – Pull your enemy to your location. When they reach your location, damage and chill them for X seconds.

Utility Skills:
For a utility skill set, I think that manipulations would work very well thematically. These would in essence “manipulate” shadows, be it your allies or enemies. These would help to give thief some more group support. Feel free to come up with some.

Traits:
I’m unsure what the traits would look like. You could very easily add traits that will interact with Shadow Form that can buff allies upon entering or exiting. There could be traits to effect focus or manipulation skills. These are pretty open to creativity.

That’s all I have for now. Thanks for reading and go easy on me. I tried my best to make these skills interesting without making them ridiculous, but again, all specifics would be up for discussion.

Edit: Formatting

Very cool! I’d hope it would introduce some new functionality, like blind that affects more than one attack. Somewhat like Daze but doesn’t prevent skill use. Or Deep Wound like from GW1. A minor trait could make any stealth to the Shade be shared with nearby allies just like Inspiring Distortion.

I like your idea, very original.

This actually very close to something I was working on. Like scary close. I went shadow priest with a stronger magic theme. With virtues and “dark” arcane utilites.

I had shadow form as the defensive active virtue(f3), I went for a 25% outgoing, 40%incoming reduction as there is already a lot of damage reduction running rampant.

A lot of your skill duel ideas were similar. One major differences was applying a mark on dual skills, that was part of another virtue. Marks were detonated after having 5 attacks hit on them before they expire rewarding the thief and the person that landed the final blow with added damage + traited effects.

Sword + focus was a block, with a counter attack that applied a mark.
Skill 5 being a channeled group movement skill.

I went for “dark” arcane skills.

Eval.2371:

I like your idea, very original.

This actually very close to something I was working on. Like scary close. I went shadow priest with a stronger magic theme. With virtues and “dark” arcane utilites.

Sounds a lot more like something for guardian or necro

Here are some utilities and traits that I came up with. All of the numbers could be changed.

Utility Skills (Manipulations):
Reap the Rewards (Heal): Heal yourself for X amount. If you are tethered to an enemy, heal for an extra X amount and remove 2 conditions from yourself and nearby allies. 25 second CD.

Unseen Fury: Damage and inflict torment and cripple on your target. Allies around your target gain fury for X seconds. 20 second CD.

Impaling Darkness: Damage and immobilize your target. Allies around your target gain 3 stacks of might for X seconds. 30 second CD.

Cleanse With Darkness: Cleanse yourself of 3 conditions and gain regen. Heal allies around your for X amount per condition removed. 35 second CD.

Empowering Exchange: Your target’s shadow becomes joined to yours. Whenever you strike your target, they are inflicted with vulnerability for X seconds and you gain might for X seconds. 35 second CD.

Ambushing Shadows (Elite): Teleport to your target. Inflict your target with slow for X seconds and gain quickness for X seconds. Enemies around your target are inflicted with fear for X seconds (does not apply to target).

Traits:
Adept
Minor: You gain access to Shadow Form and focus
Major: Gain 7% damage against your tethered target.
Major: Causing cripple also causes 1 stack of bleeding.
Major: Cast Shadow’s Shelter upon entering Shadow Form.

Master
Minor: Allies crossing your tether gain swiftness for X seconds (10 second ICD.
Major: Successfully stealing reduces cooldowns by 5 seconds (does not apply to steal).
Major: Boons you apply to allies is increased by 20%. Whenever you give a boon to an ally, gain swiftness for X seconds (5 second ICD).
Major: Reduce Manipulation cooldowns by 20%. Allies near you when casting a Manipulation gain Fury for X seconds

Grandmaster
Minor: Enemies crossing your tether are inflicted with cripple for X seconds (10 second ICD).
Major: While in Shadow form, whenever you are struck, grant protection to allies for X seconds and you gain aegis for X seconds. Upon exiting Shadow Form, grant resistance to allies for X seconds and grant 33% damage reduction to allies for X seconds (damage reduction does not apply to caster).
Major: While in Shadow Form, whenever you are struck, allies around you gain X amount of health and you gain regen for X seconds (1 second ICD). Upon exiting Shadow Form, grant stealth to yourself and allies for X seconds.
Major: While in Shadow Form, whenever you strike an enemy, gain 1 stack of might for X seconds. When you exit Shadow Form, copy your stacks of might to allies around you.

Edit: Formatting again because I suck at it.

Funny, lately I’ve been thinking about a Shadowmancer spec like this too.

My only problem(it may be a big problem) with this suggestion is that it’s a bit all over the place. It tries to fill the niches for support, DPS and defense all at the same time. It’s alright to push a few defensive skills into a DPS package for example but I can’t see a clear direction in this one.