Guild Wars 2

Speculation on new Skill Type for Elite Spec.

What you believe it will be?

Stances it would fit a rifle/sniper style assuming we get rifle ofc :P

Warhorn/Shouts sounds more fun. Bard play

Weapon: Rifle
Skill type: Shout, AoE reveal, offensive group buffs
Elite specialization: Scout, or something along those lines

Still hoping for off-hand sword though. They want to build on the existing features, and there is only going to be 1 sword trait in the normal specializations.

Weapon: Off-hand Sword
Skill type: Stance or Gadget
Elite specialization: Assassin (well why not?)

Given available themes for a rogue profession I’d lean towards one of the following types:

• Stance
• Survival
• Symbol
• Physical
• Marks

Less likely but still potential candidates if they go a bit out of character like with the Dragon Hunter:

• Meditation
• Mantra
• Manipulation
• Glyph

i’m under the impression that they take something from one of the other professions so what do we have left? guardians got theirs from rangers and mesmers necros right?

anything cool from the remaining ones? i’m still new so dont know that much bout the other professions yet.

I’m going with Stances or Physical. Stances being more likely if we consider all the callbacks to Assassin that are already present. However, if we get Rifle then probably something else. I can’t imagine Flashing Blades on a Rifle-orientated spec.

probably some AI crap because we don’t really have it yet… turrets inc

Cynz.9437:

probably some AI crap because we don’t really have it yet… turrets inc

Plot twist, the medium armour class we saw previewed with a hammer is actually a thief, and we’re getting mini mobility turrets. It would also fit us, because they’ll be arriving pre-launch nerfed!

Shockwave.1230:

Given available themes for a rogue profession I’d lean towards one of the following types:

• Stance
• Survival
• Symbol
• Physical
• Marks

Less likely but still potential candidates if they go a bit out of character like with the Dragon Hunter:

• Meditation
• Mantra
• Manipulation
• Glyph

Survival and manipulation unlikely because they’d likely function too similar to deception. The same could be said of gadget. Cantrips are also survival-like but not through mobility or manipulating the environment, so they could be possible with an assassin-like specialization, but only if cantrips are intended as survival skills rather than spells; if they are specifically intended as spells, thief won’t get them.

Meditation will go to ele or ranger (druid).
Mantra I don’t think will go to any class.
Glyph will go to necro if anything.
Marks and symbols aren’t utility skill types, and judging from mesmer having wells and guardian having traps, they may only be using current utility types.
Physical maybe, but tricks are kind of our version of that.
Nothing else really fits except stance and shout.

Stance and cantrip could fit for a more offensive specialization like assassin.
Shouts could fit as a support option for thieves, with the specialization being scout-like.

I think it shouts. I think one of the shouts will be a taunt . Thieves , in the context of the game as played , are a natural for the new taunt.

I have my fingers crossed for scepter & symbols with a shadow magic theme. (Even though it wouldn’t work for either of my thieves.)

But who knows? Maybe it’ll be something crazy like turrets o_O

Please not scepter. They’re all so ugly e.e

Physical would go nicely with thief for a little more ninja-y, martial arts feel.

Narcarsis.5739:

Warhorn/Shouts sounds more fun. Bard play

I think you are right, thief is the most lacking party buffer so they would probably need to fill that role.
Other guess are less likely as Assassin is already what teef is and anything more scout is just ranger.

New class mechanic might be ‘gift’ (opposite of steal) : teleport to a friend and give them some boons or something.
Sounds boring but it is a likely idea.

Ok new guess: Ninja
With off hand sword and physical skills (like shurikens and jumps)

Eiland.1405:

Narcarsis.5739:

Warhorn/Shouts sounds more fun. Bard play

I think you are right, thief is the most lacking party buffer so they would probably need to fill that role.
Other guess are less likely as Assassin is already what teef is and anything more scout is just ranger.

New class mechanic might be ‘gift’ (opposite of steal) : teleport to a friend and give them some boons or something.
Sounds boring but it is a likely idea.

Really…what about venoms and group stealth? Necro is the most lacking party buffer imo.

Seems I’m not the only one with the martial artist idea. With physical skills being changed to be more powerful the more endurance you have, it actually plays interestingly in that you have to balance using your dodges and relying to much on your weapons skills for evasion. Perhaps the thief variant will be based on the amount of initiative and not endurance? Anyway, with that in mind, what weapon works best?

Assuming staff, longbow, greatsword, hammer, sword and shield are off the table, because they’re going to other professions, that leaves scepter, focus, mace, axe, torch, warhorn and rifle. I wager it’d be more interesting for the thief to wield a one handed weapon since it’d play with the dual skills better. If we’re guessing it’s a martial arts thing, then none of the weapons are particularly notable or resonant to the theme. If we take it in the mystical martial arts direction, things get a bit more interesting with scepter or focus.

Possibly an elite where you meditate briefly and enter a heightened state? Shiro Tagachi’s Meditation of the Reaper maybe?

Impact.2780:

Cynz.9437:

probably some AI crap because we don’t really have it yet… turrets inc

Plot twist, the medium armour class we saw previewed with a hammer is actually a thief, and we’re getting mini mobility turrets. It would also fit us, because they’ll be arriving pre-launch nerfed!

that would be some big time trolling on Anet’s part….

Lets not forget how the Anet Art team has already trolled us with the Spear on Land crap….

Well either the thief or the engie is going to get shouts… they did mention that some class will get access to shouts… and it’s not the warrior since each class get’s access to another classes “unique” skill types (guard got traps, mesmer got wells)…

I just hope it’s not the torch…

Stances are the most likely in my head. There’s a lot they could bring back from the GW1 thief if they did that:
Flashing Blades
Unseen Fury
Way of the Assassin

Physical skills could be cool if they were feats that affected foes (the opposite of tricks which affect the thief):
Shattering Assault
Temple Strike
Iron Palm

Marks if they were more like hexes from GW1 might be possible too:
Augury of Death
Mark of Insecurity
Shadow Prison

Shouts was a joke in another thread

Yeah I know it was a joke.
But I clearly remember them saying the some class will get access to shouts… Might or might not be thieves. It wouldn’t make much sense having someone/something stealthy “shout”… Then again, it is a game, and it is ANet. We will just have to see. I’m just preparing for/thinking of what’s the least desirable for me – that is torch with shouts. “HEY GUYS! I’m HERE!!!!! <waving the glowing torch>”.

An axe thief will be super cool but I don’t see it…
But the torch does make a lot of sense, an off hand torch for some condi and smoke, it fits perfectly. spec could be called ‘firestarter’

Hammer or rifle and gadgets (turrets, grenades etc), basically borrow skills from Engineers . We will be Artificers, similar to a rogue specialization in Dragon Age. We already have traps and gadgets like caltrops, wire etc it only makes sense to take it to the next level.

Zero Day.2594:

Yeah I know it was a joke.
But I clearly remember them saying the some class will get access to shouts… Might or might not be thieves. It wouldn’t make much sense having someone/something stealthy “shout”… Then again, it is a game, and it is ANet. We will just have to see. I’m just preparing for/thinking of what’s the least desirable for me – that is torch with shouts. “HEY GUYS! I’m HERE!!!!! <waving the glowing torch>”.

Bandit specialization….. we’ll be stand ins for the queensdale NPCs!

I think necro might get shouts.

As for thieves, if rifle is going to be the next weapon we get there are a few utilities that’ll make sense.

Physical will make up for it’s supposedly lackluster close range abilities.

More traps because that’d make sense. Could be called “pitfalls” or “snares”.

Contacts makes sense thematically.

Marks not in the sense of necromancer marks but as in marking a target. This could actually have some awesome applications. I might just post the idea on here.

Gadgets unlike engi’s gadgets but more like sensors that detect movement and pings it on your map or a decoy which is essentially a stationary turret that doesn’t deal that much damage but has enough hp and toughness to keep enemies still to line up your shot.

Flying turrets would be nice, would generate so much QQ’s…. though we saw those turrets flying beside some (medium) class with a hammer….

Marks would make sense for a “sniper”…. I just don’t see them creating anything new for the utils, as in they will recycle something from another class…. Unless those marks already exist, then yeah very possible.

I like the idea of scorpion wire combined with physical skills that down or push people. I like the idea of creating physical distance with a push/knockdown after an attack. Stealth, knockdown, stab stab stab, dodge, pull into trap with scorpion wire, push, stealth. Yeah baby. Mmmmm.

Maugetarr.6823:

Flashing Blades

Give me this one and make it 100% for 3sec please.

http://dota2.gamepedia.com/Black_King_Bar

Shouts, thief is the only prof that makes sense to get the 6 new shouts they mentioned.

Could work well if the rifle turns out to be good at mid range and not some cheesy sniper variant. They might be trying to make the new elite spec a less stealth based build and more of a brawler type. Maybe it will be more compatible with P/P as well.

a ranged dominant option would i guess make sense tho i dont really personally enjoy the idea

what is a thief right now…mostly assassin. stealth, burst, mobility

what does thief lack

tankiness, group support.

i could see at least one if not both of those pretty easily. but in what form?

if they keep in general theme of a thief (and i imagine they will) they are not super magic inclined, more about shadow arts and martial prowess. so i expect maybe sigils/marks/shouts type of thing.

as for a new weapon? we have sword/dagger for melee and pistol/shortbow for ranged…i can see them making a rifle option in a attempt to rival shortbow that will either fail and be pointless or create a pure ranged thief that uses rifle/shortbow.

for a melee option? im honestly not sure what they could give that would really give good flavor/mechanics. shield? for tanky option /shrug

I’d rather get a 1h weapon or offhand than a rifle, just for the many possibilities of dual skill it’ll mean.

Maugetarr.6823:

Stances are the most likely in my head. There’s a lot they could bring back from the GW1 thief if they did that:
Flashing Blades
Unseen Fury
Way of the Assassin

Physical skills could be cool if they were feats that affected foes (the opposite of tricks which affect the thief):
Shattering Assault
Temple Strike
Iron Palm

Marks if they were more like hexes from GW1 might be possible too:
Augury of Death
Mark of Insecurity
Shadow Prison

Shouts was a joke in another thread

Man, I miss those skills. <3 GW1 Assassin <3

“Thief honors their ancestors, and learn The Way of the Assassin”

Would be super fun

Dragon Sniper:
1. Trick Snipe, Surprise Snipe
2. Rifle Bomb
3. Disable Snipe
4. Choking Gas
5. Infiltrator’s Snipe

My bet is on Survival skills. But just to be safe, I’ll say that Physical skills and Stances are possible.

i think i read something that all classes would be receiving group play stuff for the elite specializations.

no love for off hand swords?

i kinda want that, with with stances

BobbyT.7192:

no love for off hand swords?

i kinda want that, with with stances

Impossible. Elementalists are getting swords.

Has anyone thought of a staff? Fighting style wise fighting with a staff could be simular to that of a spear / polearm… I would really be exited about that imo

http://tinyurl.com/odynog9
(Pls ignore how this ended :p)

Lorewise a staff fingthing light armored person is more a monk class, and that is quite a bit different than a thief, but still im hoping for it!

Profanity.6829:

Has anyone thought of a staff? Fighting style wise fighting with a staff could be simular to that of a spear / polearm… I would really be exited about that imo

http://tinyurl.com/odynog9
(Pls ignore how this ended :p)

Lorewise a staff fingthing light armored person is more a monk class, and that is quite a bit different than a thief, but still im hoping for it!

That would require new animations. Otherwise it would be a wooden hammer and that’ll look stupid.

yolo swaggins.2570:

Profanity.6829:

Has anyone thought of a staff? Fighting style wise fighting with a staff could be simular to that of a spear / polearm… I would really be exited about that imo

http://tinyurl.com/odynog9
(Pls ignore how this ended :p)

Lorewise a staff fingthing light armored person is more a monk class, and that is quite a bit different than a thief, but still im hoping for it!

That would require new animations. Otherwise it would be a wooden hammer and that’ll look stupid.

True, but since this is an expension we will pay for you should be able to expect them to put a little effort in instead of leaving stuff as it is, because it’s the easy way to go… :P

Profanity.6829:

Has anyone thought of a staff? Fighting style wise fighting with a staff could be simular to that of a spear / polearm… I would really be exited about that imo

http://tinyurl.com/odynog9
(Pls ignore how this ended :p)

Lorewise a staff fingthing light armored person is more a monk class, and that is quite a bit different than a thief, but still im hoping for it!

rangers are getting the staff weapon already…inb4 focus is our new offhand

nah, will be rifle or torch mostlikely and some lame crap that will never replace refuge/shs

Trick.

Evade all attacks for 6s.

just give me traps >_>

Ok, so assuming they don’t double up on giving out new utilities, the following are out:
Shouts (Necro)
Wells (Mes)
Traps (although we already had them)(Guard)

Since we’re supposed to get new utilities (hopefully) the following are out:
Signets
Traps(repeat, I know)
Venoms
Deceptions
Tricks

Types of skills left:

AI stuff

Consecrations
Meditations

Physical
Banners
Stances

Kits
Gadgets
Turrets
Elixers

Survival
Spirits

Arcane
Cantrips
Conjures
Glyphs

Mantras
Glamours
Manipulations

Spectral
Corruptions

Stuff that could fit thematically with a thief specialization (imo):
Meditations (more like a fighting monk at that point)
Physical (explained earlier)
Stances (explained earlier)
Gadgets (we could have a hidden deadly gadget up our sleeve)
Survival (too close to tricks imo)
Conjures (-.- our new support specs while we sit at range, we make our own shadow themed bundles)
Glyphs (similar to old GW1 Assassins’ Signet of toxic shock and the like)
Mantras (similar to the monk fighting idea)
Manipulations (thematically, we could manipulate our opponents through subterfuge, more of a debuff version of deceptions. See my ideas for marks)
Marks (explained earlier)

Likely for other classes imo:
Warrior: Survival, consecrations, meditations (Wa/Mo style)
Engineer: Arcane (imbuing their devices with arcane energies), glyphs, signets, physical (implants/enhancements)
Ele(tempest): Mantras, manipulations (of elements), spectral, stances (if sword is given)
Ranger(druid): Manipulations (of nature), glyphs, arcane

Likely thief skills in order of likelihood (imo):
1) Stances (competing with tempest)
2) Manipulations (competing with ele, druid)
3) Physical (competing with engi)
4) Glyphs (competing with engi, druid)
5) Marks (not currently a utility actually)

Reaper got necro/war (it can’t be necro/guard), so no to thieves getting shouts or stances,also guardian got mixed with ranger so let’s eliminate utilities already used by other specializations and prof used as mixed already war,ranger,necro.

Next most likely choice is probably thief/engi not with kits but gadgets.

Sagat.3285:

Reaper got necro/war (it can’t be necro/guard), so no to thieves getting shouts or stances,also guardian got mixed with ranger so let’s eliminate utilities already used by other specializations and prof used as mixed already war,ranger,necro.

Next most likely choice is probably thief/engi not with kits but gadgets.

Yeah that’s what I’ve noticed too, they’re recycling other class’ stuff into elite specs themed as the targeted class. It’s not really surprising, it is a lot less work to do and still yields a decent result.

So yeah:
Gadgets or something (nades?) – from engies
Shadow clones – from mesmers
“Stolen” (conjured) weapons – from ele
Stances/Trances/Meditations – from warrior (still up for grabs?)
And,
??? – from revenant

I’m guessing some other class will get something from the thief… shadowsteps? on a warrior? (lol…) maybe ele? (comes out of the ground, strikes down with the lighting, a flame bursts out of thin air, or a tornado’s in out of nowhere).

My guesses are:
Brawler = Mace + Stances/Physical
Monk = Focus + Meditations
Scout/Sniper = Rifle + Survival/Gadgets

Zero Day.2594:

Sagat.3285:

Reaper got necro/war (it can’t be necro/guard), so no to thieves getting shouts or stances,also guardian got mixed with ranger so let’s eliminate utilities already used by other specializations and prof used as mixed already war,ranger,necro.

Next most likely choice is probably thief/engi not with kits but gadgets.

Yeah that’s what I’ve noticed too, they’re recycling other class’ stuff into elite specs themed as the targeted class. It’s not really surprising, it is a lot less work to do and still yields a decent result.

So yeah:
Gadgets or something (nades?) – from engies
Shadow clones – from mesmers
“Stolen” (conjured) weapons – from ele
Stances/Trances/Meditations – from warrior (still up for grabs?)
And,
??? – from revenant

I’m guessing some other class will get something from the thief… shadowsteps? on a warrior? (lol…) maybe ele? (comes out of the ground, strikes down with the lighting, a flame bursts out of thin air, or a tornado’s in out of nowhere).

Well they said they were going to use already available skill types so that runes and stuff saw wider usage with some cool builds. I don’t really mind that they’re recycling utilities the same way they didn’t make any new weapons.