Guild Wars 2

So in all other MMO’s i’ve played (and I know this one is different), when you initiate a fight with a stealth class, you typically open with the big stealth opener (backstab, or whatever).

However, unless I’m missing something, you need to already be in melee range to use C&D to gain stealth, unless you want to blow your heal skill to start out that way?

Granted my thief is only level 4 and i’m still learning, but that seemed odd to me.

Am I missing something that will allow me to approach my target (even if the approach is only 3 seconds) and open with the big stealth burst?

thanks.

Steal.
Shadowsteps are the real key to unleashing big unexpected burst on people. Assassins in GW1 didn’t even have stealth; it was all about shadowstepping.

what most thieves do is pre cast C&D, then steal. Steal has no cast time therefore won’t interrupt C&D, allowing you to hit when you step to him, and prefect range for the BS

As opposed to most other MMOs, long-term stealth is basically non-existent. Thieves tend to use stealth many times mid-combat in short bursts via many methods (C&D, heal skill, combo fields, utilities) to their means be it escape, repositioning, or hitting with a burst.

Limey.2769:

Granted my thief is only level 4 and i’m still learning

Welcome to the class!

its all about getting into range and working stuff into your attacks, stealth in this game isn’t about the “big opener” as much as it is in other games, in fact compared to many peoples attacks backstab is middle of the road damage wise for a “big” attack (still the thieves highest single hit mind)

Backstab gets used as much as an opener as it does in the middle and end of fights. Stealth is more or less a setup mechanic to access stealth skills while fighting an opponent.

You can walk up to a mob unstealth and hit them with CnD. Even if they noticed you, they will stare at the location where they’ve last seen you. So yes, that’s one way.

Even if you use Steal, you still need to use CnD to go in stealth.

In PvP, shadowstep is a must.

To avoid that feeling of helplessness that players of MMO’s tend to feel when perma-stealth classes can jump on them at any time, Thieves lack the ability to enter a fight already stealthed (Aside from Shadow Refuge, though that’s normally saved to be able to leave the fight if necessary)

To compensate, Thieves instead get the ability to stealth repeatedly in a fight (Every 4 seconds) whereas perma-stealth from other games has to make do with 1 maybe 2 long cooldown abilities. Also the stealth trait line focuses less on boosting up “From stealth” damage (Via increased critical chance, armour penetration etc) and more on giving defensive and utility boosts upon entering/while in stealth.

This gives a much more active and dynamic way of playing a stealth class that leaves people to be able to counter it in various ways (Dodging/Blocking Cloak and Dagger to prevent stealth is one way) making it more interesting way to utilise a stealth class for both sides.

The only possible way of achieving perma-stealth and one way of
opening up a fight from stealth without blowing utility skills
is by using Dagger/Pistol, and stacking stealth by blackpowder and heartseeker x3
in the smoke combo field. To actually be able to stay in stealth for as long as you want
you need 1 second prolonged stealth and faster initiative regen from traits.

of course you’ll generally not have any initiative left come actual fight time :P

@limey well i normally use Steal which is your F1 Skill by default to shadow step or (teleport) to my enemy before using cloak and dagger then backstab