Guild Wars 2

Thematically it just makes so much sense. To me each weapon combo has a theme to it.

Sword/Pistol: Buccaneer
Sword/Dagger: Duelist
Dagger/Dagger: Assassin
Dagger/Pistol: Bandit
Staff: Acrobat
Pistol/Pistol: Highway robber

Sure we have the shortbow but its no more than an escape tool. Makes me think of someone that runs from roof to roof stealing things out of windows.

IMO A specialization which gives Thief access to a Longbow can make hell of a difference. I want the weapon to play more as a melee/ranged hybrid. Most weapon skills will have a second/third usage which cost additional initiative.

Equipping the Specialization would give thieves access to Whisper skills which work like Shouts but at a very short range and only affects 2 allies/enemies.

Weapon Skills:

1. Bow Smash: Swipe the bow in a wide arc to do damage to enemies directly in front of you.
->Heel kick: Kick target to jump back a short distance
—> Hobbling arrow: Shoot an arrow at the target’s heel crippling it for 1s

1. Stealth- Snipe: Shoot a high damage arrow from 1500 Range. Doesn’t break stealth but becomes unusable till Stealth is refreshed.

2. Exploding arrow: Equip an arrow with an explosive head. It’s usage depends on the next attack.
->Explosive stab: If used a second time at melee range, stab target for a lot of damage. It suffer’s bleeding and burning.
->If a ranged attack(Snipe/Grappling Arrow/Headshot) is used instead the arrow causes additional damage in an AoE and causes burning.

3. Grappling shot: A long range shot that attaches itself to the target and pulls you towards it. (Leap finisher)
-> Blindside: Roll around the target and strike at it’s head with the long bow, dazing it.

4. Sniper’s Mark: Mark your target for 5s. Each hit on the target (From sniper and allies) during the 5s causes the counter on it to increase by 1 and add’s one stack vulnerability. (The skill doesn’t break stealth)
-> Headshot: High damage shot which knock’s down target.

5. Sniper’s Stance: Slow self, but gain stability and invisibility. All attacks have 1800 range and lose their melee counterparts.
1 becomes Hobbling Shot only
2 loses Explosive stab
3 Grappling shot becomes Loaded Arrow: The target is knocked back.
Skill is cancelled when dodging or on pressing 5 again.

Heal skill:
“I’m here for you.”: The sniper heal’s self and grant’s Regeneration to allies in range.

Utility Skills:

“Hurry!”: Grant quickness and superspeed to allies and self.
“Brace yourselves!”: Gain initiative. Cure 2 conditions and grant stability to allies. Breaks stun.
“Where you looking?”: Shadowstep to location and gain Stealth. Grant Swiftness and Vigor to allies.
“A little help?”: Gain 3 initiative and grant protection and regeneration.

Elite:
“Shh!”: Grant Invisibility, swiftness, vigor for 5s. Grant Stun

Tell me what you guys think? I believe this would give the thief a new exciting set and give it a good team presence.

I think rifle is the only thing that really makes sense for elite spec for thieves.

Either that or a bard class which could be pretty cool.

Although mesmers could easily be a bard class as well.

Longbow’s a valid concept – bow rogue has been around since D&D in the 70’s and was the weapon of choice in the game Rogue. Rifles are extremely loud and very clunky weapons to actually weird, which really does not fit the while mobile-stealth-mojo the thief goes by.

Just anything involving ranged burst without outright denying stealth when applying it is a strictly poor idea.

I still stand by the notion that if the thief were to get a ranged kit, what I proposed initially for the Deadeye before the stealth attack ICD would be its best-possible implementation on the conceptual level.

@jp

Grappling shot is frankly the only skill on the kit I can agree with :\ Melee auto on longbow would not be very useful, and stealth-based sniping has no counterplay in the game and is just un-fun for the most part.

While it’s implicit, I’d also make sure you mention that Sniper’s Stance only applies to longbow attacks.