Guild Wars 2

Just a QoL improvement. Holding the Shift key down while activating a weapon’s chain-skill could force the first part of a chain to take effect (reset) instead of progressing the chain.

Just a few things that this could accomplish…

1. Flanking Strike: You can repeatedly evade even if you have a target selected or hit an opponent.

2. Infiltrator’s Strike: You can continually shadowstep to chase an opponent (can already be done with a properly timed jump).

3. Cluster Bomb: You can actually send a barrage of Cluster Bombs from longer distances in a timely manner instead of one every few seconds.

Everything is still based on initiative, so it shouldn’t be too overpowering. These are only for weapon skills (initiative-based/no set cooldowns). So nothing to do with utilities (Shadow Step, Shadow Trap, etc.).

Devs will nerf every thief skill even more if this would happen, for the sake of balance.

I like the idea, but this is a lot more than a QoL improvement. I would consider this a buff to Thief, and definitely not an insignificant one at that. Whether or not it is overpowered is up in the air though.

As a personal note, I would like the shift key to be bindable to something else because I actually used shift to dodge

blarghhrrkblah.3412:

I like the idea, but this is a lot more than a QoL improvement. I would consider this a buff to Thief, and definitely not an insignificant one at that. Whether or not it is overpowered is up in the air though.

Perhaps. But you can already basically do the above to a degree…

You can already string together Flanking Strikes for evasion by deselecting a target. Unless you get unlucky and hit someone, you’ll constantly evade. And getting hit by multiple Flanking Strikes is preferable to getting hit with Larcenous Strike.

You can already jump when you cast Infiltrator’s Strike, returning in place when you use Infiltrator’s Return. The difference is you would not be out half a second and 2 initiative for the Return. Whether or not that’s too big, that’s a judgement call.

The only thing not available is a steady volley of Cluster Bombs. Shooting them at 900 range, you have to sit there for 2-3 seconds between shots to avoid detonating them. By that time, you’ve already gained all of your initiative back. The change would allow more Cluster Bombs at range, though limited by initiative. They would still be as slow as can be, and just as easily avoided as they are now.

Basically, we can spam Cluster Bombs at our feet, but not at range. It seems silly. The Shortbow is a ranged weapon, not a melee weapon.

blarghhrrkblah.3412:

As a personal note, I would like the shift key to be bindable to something else because I actually used shift to dodge

That is also preferable! I have my Shift key bound to “use/interact” instead of the “F” key.

I have my shift as 4th weapon skill so…

It a bad idea, whole reason chain skills exists is that ppl wont be spaming any part of that chain endlessly

You can still permaevade with flanking if you dont hit anyone…
Infiltrator strike/return is not CHASE ability, its a Engage/Disengage.
On sword you have cripple on chain to make sure u wont need to “chase” enemy.
Clusters were nerfed with speed and upped split cost so they cant be SPAMMED. and i agree that it is healthy. (Clusters still bursts enemy if used well)

Mefiq.7039:

You can still permaevade with flanking if you dont hit anyone…
Infiltrator strike/return is not CHASE ability, its a Engage/Disengage.
On sword you have cripple on chain to make sure u wont need to “chase” enemy.
Clusters were nerfed with speed and upped split cost so they cant be SPAMMED. and i agree that it is healthy. (Clusters still bursts enemy if used well)

That’s just it. We can already do that stuff. Just make it a feature instead of an unintended result in programming.

As for the Cluster Bomb, we can spam it already, but it’s a matter of range. We can spam at our feet, but not at distance. It’s forcing a ranged weapon into melee range to be most effective. Basically, we are the opposite of Rangers. They get increased damage the further away their target is. For Thieves, we have to get as close as possible to maximize the DPS.