Guild Wars 2

This is a PVE focused post for starters.

My War can do everything my thief can do and do it better. He hits harder, has a FAR better self heal, better damage mitigation and can take on large groups without having to run around like a chicken because one or two hits will wipe him out. So, what advantages does the Thief posess? Initiative is a cool idea but regens WAY too slowly; maybe that is because if it came back faster then it would be OP in PVP, but for PVE I am ALWAYS initiative starved. I guess that’s because I have to kill really really fast to avoid dying. I would much rather have a CD based system like the other classes. Stealing is a cool idea, but I would like to be able to set what the second burst skill is so that I don’t have to go in not knowing what random effect is going to pop this time.

I guess the thing is I am just not feeling it. Like my Elementalist my thief does not have the damage output to mitigate the squishyness the class suffers from. I hear it does get better after level 40, but that is WAY to long to have to struggle with getting killed because you had a bad pull. The is too little room for error with the Thief. If things go perfect, it’s huge fun, but if you get a respawn or body-pull an add, it can become a real chore.

I might have to return with an answer later…

My GF got a warriour, and we both fully agree. She also crit more…

These things you’re saying tell me that Thief is not the right class with you. Thief playstyle does not match your playstyle, and I don’t think you’re ever going to enjoy it.

Just like I do far better with my Thief than with my Warrior, you (seem to) do better with your Warrior than your Thief. So I’m not saying “L2P”, I’m just pointing out that this may not be the right class for you.

I dunno if thief has anything that other classes can’t do…

is this yet another post from a low-level thief who still hasn’t figured out how to solo PvE?

yes, its slightly more complicated than playing a warrior or guardian. if you prefer those more straightforward playstyles, then by all means go and play that class instead.

its strange to assume that there is some inherent deficiency with the Thief class though just because you haven’t figured out how to play it properly yet. trust me when i say it though: there is no deficiency.

i’m able to kill single opponents in PvE without taking a single point of damage. i’m able to kill 5 level 80 regular mobs at the same time while only taking minimal damage. i’m able to solo 3 veterans at the same time. i’m able to solo champions certain champions (if there won’t be any adds later in the fight, which is kinda rare actually, so usually can’t do this). and i don’t doubt that other players can do similar things. and i don’t doubt that other players on other classes can also do similar things. i don’t think there’s anything special about what i’m doing or the class i’m playing. i think that any player that has learned how to play their class can get results like this.

so either keep practicing until you learn what you’re doing, or just quit and play a class you like better instead. there’s nothing wrong with that.

but its weird to ask “what advantage?”. what’s really behind that question? there’s no “advantage” to any class. they all just do what they do. if you learn how to play a class you’ll find all kinds of advantages, tactics, build strategies, and effective techniques. so go and play and learn them. its not like you click an “advantage” button. you just keep playing until you know the answer to that question.

metaphorm.6904:

is this yet another post from a low-level thief who still hasn’t figured out how to solo PvE?

yes, its slightly more complicated than playing a warrior or guardian. if you prefer those more straightforward playstyles, then by all means go and play that class instead.

its strange to assume that there is some inherent deficiency with the Thief class though just because you haven’t figured out how to play it properly yet. trust me when i say it though: there is no deficiency.

“slightly more complicated”?

I show you how extremly complicated you do solo stuff in PvE as a thief:

1 Search a monster and target it
2 Infiltraitor strike
3 Pistol whip
4 go to step 1

metaphorm.6904:

is this yet another post from a low-level thief who still hasn’t figured out how to solo PvE?

yes, its slightly more complicated than playing a warrior or guardian. if you prefer those more straightforward playstyles, then by all means go and play that class instead.

its strange to assume that there is some inherent deficiency with the Thief class though just because you haven’t figured out how to play it properly yet. trust me when i say it though: there is no deficiency.

i’m able to kill single opponents in PvE without taking a single point of damage. i’m able to kill 5 level 80 regular mobs at the same time while only taking minimal damage. i’m able to solo 3 veterans at the same time. i’m able to solo champions certain champions (if there won’t be any adds later in the fight, which is kinda rare actually, so usually can’t do this). and i don’t doubt that other players can do similar things. and i don’t doubt that other players on other classes can also do similar things. i don’t think there’s anything special about what i’m doing or the class i’m playing. i think that any player that has learned how to play their class can get results like this.

so either keep practicing until you learn what you’re doing, or just quit and play a class you like better instead. there’s nothing wrong with that.

but its weird to ask “what advantage?”. what’s really behind that question? there’s no “advantage” to any class. they all just do what they do. if you learn how to play a class you’ll find all kinds of advantages, tactics, build strategies, and effective techniques. so go and play and learn them. its not like you click an “advantage” button. you just keep playing until you know the answer to that question.

TL;DR: “I’m better than you, learn to play”

To have fun. I know this sounds like a strange thing to do in a game.
Apples and Oranges .

The Thief has good mobility and frequent stealth, thats pretty much it.

While that is very important for PvP, which makes the Thief very good there, it isn’t all that important in PvE (more like a nice to have, but not necessary).

So yes, upfront, the Thief is way weaker than the most other classes in PvE, but (and that is a big but right here) if you can utilize your mobility and stealth (with backstabbing and frequent dodging for example) you are very much on par with other classes in viabilty, meaning you may still not be able to do things a warrior can do easily, but you can do other few things way better than most other classes can.

But it should already be obvious when you pick your class, what you get when picking a Thief.
The class is balanced around PvP (like all classes), where stealth, mobility and burst are powerful tools against other players, while not being all that important in tough PvE fights, so a champion wont care all that much about a short burst window, and just oneshot you when you try it, while the average player will be cought in surprise, and be downed before they know what is happening.
Also stealth isn’t that powerful here, since you hardly will surprise a champ when popping out of stealth again.

And to keep the balance for PvP, the Thief can’t also be as tough as a warrior for example, combined with his other powerful tools, which means over all, he will be slightly weaker in PvE where that tools are less important.

Thief > Warrior all day! if you don’t see it yet your doing it wrong something you are doing is wrong.

Blinding and absolutely incredible potential damage against lone targets.

They can also do a few area effect attacks with the short bow, but it’s not as impressive as the ranger’s bow skills.

And if you’re in a group of friendlies, just two words: Venomous Aura.

Well fleeing like a chicken Oo
The brave dies an honest death, the cunning lives to tell the story.
Is it not hack’n’slash and soack up dmg:)
You have to be on the move:) avoid getting hit, kite and position yourself:D
It is a very dynamic prof, but yeah sometimes I feel I missing out on something:/ but the again seen a lvl 80 thieves take out a bounch of us.. A warr tried the same, but he was easy to. Escap from.

thieves can stealth, warriors can’t.
so when you will be in an istance and 3 mobs will wipe you all, the thief can stealth, lose aggro, save a repair and ress his team mates.

I have a Warrior and played one all through Beta. I didn’t even touch Thief until a last minute impulse at launch.

I found the warrior really boring and slow in comparison. I actually feel my Thief can do everything my Warrior and Elementalist can, but better. I’m not saying any class is balanced wrong or slamming them; years of MMOs and RPGs (even pen and paper) have taught me that it all comes down to personal taste.

Never really had trouble surviving as a Thief in PvE. I used S/D and SB mostly and use a lot of stealth skills. Playing this way is great if you want to lose unwanted aggro. I personally use stealth for scoring Dazes followed by 3 free back hits. SB is generally good for surviving and handling groups of enemies, good for keeping distance between you and them and being able hit lots of them at once.
In my experience, most Thief weapons reward you for being able to read enemy tells for the most part, employing a variety of evades, escapes and interrupts.

Want a fun trick? Aggro a bunch of mobs and run to a warrior that is AFK and stealth.

Seriously though .. the Thief is a play style. You cannot compare the Warrior to the Thief. It’s two different approaches to the same game.

Good luck to you!

If you’re just lookin for damage output? Probably nothing … but I’ll tell ya, when I play my fighter I get so bored! The Thief is a class built around mobility, weapon swapping, speed and knowing your weaknesses … a good Pistol/Dagger build is also really hard to kill if played right in PvE.

I love Steal – not only for the auto gap closing teleport, the free stealth, the bonuses it gives me and my companions when I have it traited – but also the random “card up your sleeve” ability it gives you in a fight. Once you get decent at knowing what abilities look like, you’ll find it easier … until then you can just grab and use em immediately if you want. Steal, when used well, can be a game changer.

I also love traps … traps are loads of fun, they’re useful in line holding missions, they’re great in solo missions, and they can just be a whole bunch of satisfying to see your enemies stumbling into.

I can also switch out from ranged to melee pretty fast and be as good in both – so I can shoot the burnin’ hell outa those melee monsters as they come up to get me, then Steal my way close to the ranged mobs and melee their faces off. (I’m very fond of Sword/Dagger for melee)

Not to mention you’ve got buffs, area effect Blinds and Stealths, bonus damage from rear and flank attacks …

Thief is a fun all around class to play … but in PvE your fighter will beat stuff up faster.

Sounds like Thief is just not the class for you. That is why we have many different classes. Not every class will appeal to everyone.

i think that metaphorm dude needs a nap

Mayama.1854:

metaphorm.6904:

is this yet another post from a low-level thief who still hasn’t figured out how to solo PvE?

yes, its slightly more complicated than playing a warrior or guardian. if you prefer those more straightforward playstyles, then by all means go and play that class instead.

its strange to assume that there is some inherent deficiency with the Thief class though just because you haven’t figured out how to play it properly yet. trust me when i say it though: there is no deficiency.

“slightly more complicated”?

I show you how extremly complicated you do solo stuff in PvE as a thief:

1 Search a monster and target it
2 Infiltraitor strike
3 Pistol whip
4 go to step 1

As an engineer i laugh at people saying that other classes are more complicated HA!

As far as the class goes, yes it is weak in pve because we still haven’t figured out i guess how to separate the behaviors of attacks between pvp and pve. Every nerf we’ve suffered in the engineers side of things has been because the very very few options we have for builds that weren’t bugged to death were actually doing decent damage to other players in wvw. And now the pve’ers are suffering for it as well.

So until they separate the two we’re going to see this nonsense all because the code isn’t a separate thing in the programming side.

I have to play my engineer as a piano piece to get out of it what other classes have easily. I’m pretty sure that ele’s have to do that as well however ele’s and thieves don’t suffer the horrendous problems engis do all in the name of us being the “queen of versatility” so it’s hilarious hearing people say that about a straightforward style class.

I do admit tho that there are a ton of things missing from the thief class that would add to the fun, things we all know to be true for combat situations in dice board RPG’s in days of old that even other lesser titles have added successfully like sap, disguise, noncombat permastealth (where you have to toggle the button to bring yourself out of it and/or it lasts only 1 minute and it takes 2-3 seconds before you can attack so it won’t be abused.

weird that they just left those things out entirely.

I agree I hate stealing the way it is now i have not knowing what I’m going to get , i hate not stealing bags from mobs for loot, I hate not having the basics I’ve found in other games.