Guild Wars 2

Before I actually get to the reasons, I just want to say its a little annoying when people keep suggesting that thief is going to get some weapon that has never really been good on other professions (like mace) and saying that it fits the thief profession like a glove (like pillager or w/e) when in reality they just want thief to suck. And before you accuse me of making BS assumptions, I read through everyone’s post history when I detect an agenda. So I know your habits and posting tactics. Git rekt.

REASONS

1.) Elite specializations, talked about here, state that each weapon “should really open up some new playstyles for each profession”. This means that the way you play the elite specialization is going to differ from how you play vanilla. As such:

• Mace is out because we already have decent access to weakness (SB poison blasting) and interrupts (s/p #3 and 4)
• Torch is out because all it will do is add burning or more blinds. Thief has the best bleed and blind application in the game and adding another condition will not do a thing. Torch has nothing to really open up a playstyle with.
• Horn is out because thieves have their own brand of support, one that is way more active than most classes. Secondly thieves are one of the fastest professions so any swiftness applied by horns would be pointless. Like torch, it wouldn’t open up much and probably play as bad as this sounds.
• Focus is a maybe because foci are used to channel magicks. Thief is a magical class but it’s application and interaction within combat is more physical. However, the difference in playstyle between a more magical role and a physical role is small. Focus could be designed as a way to manipulate smoke (and maybe fire) to offer more defenses. So it is possible.
• Scepter and staff are in the same boat as focus. Trident not so much.

2.) The design was already done a year ago. (sauce) If anything it’ll be based around it, perhaps copied and tweaked, because it is easier than completely designing skills from scratch.

3.) Added weapon sets will most likely not be copied between elite specs if the current trend continues. For example, Chronomancer got a shield and so everything else will not get a shield this time around. That means hammer, greatsword, shield and longbow are out.

4.) Compared to the other weapons, rifle provides long range capabilities which thief lacks the most and it is probably going to be named “Sniper” due to OP’s post in reason #2. This “Sniper” is going to most likely be power-based since it fits the theme of the sniper because they use high caliber firearms to hit targets accurately up to a mile. Besides, thief’s long range conditions suck. Just look at pistol auto.

5.) Anet learned 1.5 years ago that touching the profession requires caution and scrutiny. Nerfing too much or showing general inconsideration for the profession tells the players that the profession is there for looks. Players will just drop the profession and break arenanet’s statistics when it becomes obvious. Things like torch and mace might seem good in your head but putting your ideas down in a post works better. Do what the OP did in #2 and design each skill and trait, showing damage and tooltips in a well written and organized fashion.

There ya go.

Although i agree with you that rifle is the most probable weapon for thieves, you say "The design was already done a year ago. " but your link is from a player post not a dev so they had no design whatsoever, they obviously done it all as they did to every other profession.

More, i bet non of the actual abilities will match the ones on list you linked! ;P

Most likely which is why I say “based off of”. And even though it isn’t an actual dev’s post, it is definitely something that was well-planned and somewhat popular.

Riel’s a Thief isn’t she?

yolo swaggins.2570:

it is probably going to be named “Sniper” due to OP’s post in reason #2. This “Sniper” is going to most likely be power-based since it fits the theme of the .

I agree that rifle is a plausible choice. However, for the name, I’ll put my money on “marksman”, which is a little bit more lore friendly. Who wants to bet? I’m on EU.

edit: “sharpshooter” is possible, but less cool.

Well now, with those two threads alone there will be a major part of the forum community that will be disappointed for sure.

Sorel.4870:

yolo swaggins.2570:

it is probably going to be named “Sniper” due to OP’s post in reason #2. This “Sniper” is going to most likely be power-based since it fits the theme of the .

I agree that rifle is a plausible choice. However, for the name, I’ll put my money on “marksman”, which is a little bit more lore friendly. Who wants to bet? I’m on EU.

edit: “sharpshooter” is possible, but less cool.

It will be assassin.

you have to remember that we are not just getting a weapon and “marksman or sharpshooter” are not very fantasy related

it will be Assassin, especially since gw1 had an assassin profession

MrForz.1953:

Well now, with those two threads alone there will be a major part of the forum community that will be disappointed for sure.

When is it ever fully happy?

Sagat.3285:

When is it ever fully happy?

I honestly don’t know. I just didn’t expect people to apply this much pressure on that Rifle debate, and sometimes it goes borderline stupid.

It’s one thing to demand a rifle due to the gameplay needs, it’s true that the Thief could use the ranged punch and that some specializations will allow the insertion of that weapon quite nicely.

But on the other side, Anet might not interpret the Thief’s core concept and gameplay the same way as the general opinion, perhaps they’ll want the Thief to remain up close and personal, the rifle’s skill set is very likely to not allow everything the Thief is known for: Burst damage, stealth, mobility, because obtaining this at 1000+ range would be downright stupid no matter how strong or useless it will be, the Thief isn’t an upgraded Warrior either.

The reasoning for the Rifle and against the Rifle can both be valid but irrelevant since, at the very least, Anet’s point of view toward what Thieves could represent has not been shown, but well, it can be debated without the furious fervor of a nerf or buff request as long as it doesn’t go beyond the border of “IT’S INEVITABLE!”

Now, to base the oncoming weapons on what certain NPCs carried when showing off to a picture and make it a fact, that’s downright desperate. Especially since no other class has had that omen. (Except the Necromancer perhaps but Orr is sort of a kittenstorm)

MrForz.1953:

But on the other side, Anet might not interpret the Thief’s core concept

points at the Dragonhunter Kinda obvious ain’t_it? [can’t write "ain’t_it right cause the forum thinks it’s t_it, sheesh]

yolo swaggins.2570:

• Focus is a maybe because foci are used to channel magicks. Thief is a magical class but it’s application and interaction within combat is more physical. However, the difference in playstyle between a more magical role and a physical role is small. Focus could be designed as a way to manipulate smoke (and maybe fire) to offer more defenses. So it is possible.

Arcane Thief…steals magic, drains death shrouds, depletes adrenaline, and shatter’s clone without effects.

Focus
Skill #4 – Shadow Stitch – Target is immobilized for 5s. If immobilized is cleansed, target is knocked down for 2s.

Skill #5 – Shadow Clone – Create a Shadow Clone. All damage dealt to you while shadow clone is active is dealt to the clone and you receive 50% of the damage dealt instead.

D/F
Skill #3 – Steal Power – Infuse your dagger with shadow magic then stab your target. Steal target of energy that reset target’s current death shroud or adrenaline or clone count to zero. Damage increase based on the amount drained from target.

S/F
Skill #3 – Rend Shadow – Slash your foe and infuse shadow magic to the wound. Target receive 3 stacks of Torment and 3 stacks of Bleeding for 10s.

P/F
Skill #3 – Shadow Armor – Absorb the next 3 non-physical damage and shoot your target with a bullet infused of all damage absorbed.

in Beta there is Running Thiefs with rifle Around

Thief Rifle CONFIRMED !!!!

BFMV.3198:

Sorel.4870:

yolo swaggins.2570:

it is probably going to be named “Sniper” due to OP’s post in reason #2. This “Sniper” is going to most likely be power-based since it fits the theme of the .

I agree that rifle is a plausible choice. However, for the name, I’ll put my money on “marksman”, which is a little bit more lore friendly. Who wants to bet? I’m on EU.

edit: “sharpshooter” is possible, but less cool.

It will be assassin.

you have to remember that we are not just getting a weapon and “marksman or sharpshooter” are not very fantasy related

it will be Assassin, especially since gw1 had an assassin profession

and thats the best reason why it wont be assassin
while i personally dont care about gw1 anymore and i think assassin would sound cool it probably wont happen – look at paragon, lots of people guessed it but a load would have been really disappointed without the specialization feeling similar to the gw1 paragon (weaponwise)
when did any assassin in gw1 ever run around with a rifle? exactly
they weren’t even ranged characters so assassin wouldnt make any sense for the weapon choice

Thief specialization name: Dragonshooter. Gotta stick to the set precedent.

Kury.8210:

Thief specialization name: Dragonshooter. Gotta stick to the set precedent.

More like Dragonbait…

They confirmed it 4 years ago.
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Commando

err… I mean, DragonCommando™

TeamBattleAxe.3901:

They confirmed it 4 years ago.
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Commando

err… I mean, DragonCommando™

Wrong class. :P

Kury.8210:

Thief specialization name: Dragonshooter. Gotta stick to the set precedent.

My bet is new spec will be called
Poacher.
Fits rifles and thief current skills/ name

I’m actually REALLY looking forward to thief rifle. I like the concept of a sniper, and I will finally get to use my Predator for real! As opposed to it being a glorified “stat-stick” as it is on engineer.

And if thieves don’t get a rifle… what then?

Zero Day.2594:

And if thieves don’t get a rifle… what then?

Sadness.

Fade.5904:

Kury.8210:

Thief specialization name: Dragonshooter. Gotta stick to the set precedent.

My bet is new spec will be called
Poacher.
Fits rifles and thief current skills/ name

Yeah, I can see them naming it something like that…. Sniper or Marksman is a bit too cool.

Zero Day.2594:

Fade.5904:

Kury.8210:

Thief specialization name: Dragonshooter. Gotta stick to the set precedent.

My bet is new spec will be called
Poacher.
Fits rifles and thief current skills/ name

Yeah, I can see them naming it something like that…. Sniper or Marksman is a bit too cool.

Sniper OP. Name too kitten.

Zero Day.2594:

Fade.5904:

Kury.8210:

Thief specialization name: Dragonshooter. Gotta stick to the set precedent.

My bet is new spec will be called
Poacher.
Fits rifles and thief current skills/ name

Yeah, I can see them naming it something like that…. Sniper or Marksman is a bit too cool.

Reaper’s also pretty kitten cool lets not loose hope for sniper

Gern.2978:

Zero Day.2594:

And if thieves don’t get a rifle… what then?

Sadness.

^This.

Torch is not as unlikely as you may think.
Yes. More blinds.

However:
Confusion, burning, condi clear, …
There is a lot of things, torch can be used for.

For me, it has always been a tossup between torch and rifle. It could be either, but there is no way to know until it’s revealed.

naphack.9346:

Torch is not as unlikely as you may think.
Yes. More blinds.

However:
Confusion, burning, condi clear, …
There is a lot of things, torch can be used for.

For me, it has always been a tossup between torch and rifle. It could be either, but there is no way to know until it’s revealed.

And the how do you explain stealthing while holding a big glowing torch? Lol

Dahkeus.8243:

naphack.9346:

Torch is not as unlikely as you may think.
Yes. More blinds.

However:
Confusion, burning, condi clear, …
There is a lot of things, torch can be used for.

For me, it has always been a tossup between torch and rifle. It could be either, but there is no way to know until it’s revealed.

And the how do you explain stealthing while holding a big glowing torch? Lol

The same way Mesmer does?

If you’re looking for a more “real” answer, the thief could use momentary blinding light to disappear from vision, play with shadows, use smoke….I mean we are talking about a class that can disappear from sight right in front of you just by hitting you with its dagger, so yeah.

Although I agree that rifle is more likely, I’d be much more pleased with sword offhand. Hell, even Torch or Warhorn offhand sound more exciting than a rifle. Theyy also said something along the lines that some professions may rather get an additional offhand / the ability to duel wield an excisting weaponset instead of a whole new weapon, but let’s wait and see what they’ll come up with. I just hope it won’t be a generic sniper-esk weapondesign.

A torch could focus on using the revealed mechanic to stack bonuses while not in stealth, such as using extended-duration Revealed Training.

I don’t think thief is getting rifle for a couple reasons.

Number 1: In the live stream for the reaper they said they wanted to keep professions like mesmer and thief mobile.

This is the reason I don’t think the thief will become a sniper. Being a sniper implies that you are very immobile, you would have a lot of abilities that would make you stand in the same position.

Number 2: Let’s say thief get a rifle, but are not snipers. The issue with this is that the thief is supposed to rely on stealth. Rifles are generally very loud, the point of the thief is to be silent and hidden, the rifle would go against this very idea. I guess you could argue that the thief already can use pistols which could be loud as well.

In the end it’s up to arenanet what they think the thief should be about. This is more of a list of the reasons why I think they will not get a rifle. However I think it is very likely that they will.

Focus.
If not, then staff.

My prediction anyway

1. Mace doesn’t have to inflict Weakness or CC. It can be literally anything, even a bloody ranged weapon as we see with the Revenant.
2. Adding Burning will make condi Thieves a lot more powerful.
3. Venom share is active support? I think it’s very possible Thieves are getting a Bard elite spec, in which case they’re certainly getting a Warhorn with buffs. Maybe there will be some kind of a unique mechanic attached to those skills and they won’t be just mild AoE buffs.
4. Yeah, I think Focus is possible too. Shadow… mancer. Or something.
5. ^

I don’t think A-net gets any kitten about some random dude on the forums making up some abilities.

I agree. I think it’s either Rifle or Warhorn for Thief.

I think they want only Rangers to be a dedicated max range DPS class. They’re scared of giving Thief a good ranged damage option.

MrForz.1953:

TeamBattleAxe.3901:

They confirmed it 4 years ago.
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Commando

err… I mean, DragonCommando™

Wrong class. :P

grandmaster power trait : full commando.
Unequip your pants to triple your damage.

Draeyon.4392:

Focus.
If not, then staff.

My prediction anyway

I really hope they get staff. A lot of people are saying that they can’t get a staff because druid gets one. Anet never said that specializations will not get the same weapon types. It seriously limits their options to keep it 1 unique weapon for each profession. Especially since warriors can use so many weapons.

I’m thinking rifle is near definite. One thing I’ve noticed so far is that each elite specialization currently released has some mechanic previously only usable by one or two professions. Ex) Reaper: Shouts, only for guardian. Dragonhunter: Traps, for ranger and thief. Chronomancer: Wells, only for necromancer. Therefor it needs a mechanic for a utility skill. Following the assumption a weapon/mechanic can only be used for one elite specialization, that narrows down the possibilities quite a bit. If you combine that with possible weapons, you come to my conclusion, a Crime Boss or similar that summons minions. Please post flaws or if you think I have it right.

lalamonsta.4237:

Draeyon.4392:

Focus.
If not, then staff.

My prediction anyway

I really hope they get staff. A lot of people are saying that they can’t get a staff because druid gets one. Anet never said that specializations will not get the same weapon types. It seriously limits their options to keep it 1 unique weapon for each profession. Especially since warriors can use so many weapons.

Druid will likely get it and Revenant will get it in melee, there’s 0 reasons to give it to Thief too. It’s likely to be the rifle and the spec have something to do with assassination.

What about axe? Either offhand or mainhand…

yolo swaggins.2570:

3.) Added weapon sets will most likely not be copied between elite specs if the current trend continues. For example, Chronomancer got a shield and so everything else will not get a shield this time around. That means hammer, greatsword, shield and longbow are out.

Also would mean staff is out since Druid has been confirmed, even if they haven’t released any further information on it.

;_; but rifle will be so useless……only place i can see it ever being used is wuvs in order to snipe people, so basically teef will be as annoying as rangers

Id rather get an actually interesting weapon like scepter or focus, then i could be like my old assassin/ mesmer/ w/e back in gw1. Even axe would be better than rifle

There were a significant amount of thief-like dressed NPCs wielding a rifle in beta. :/

Nyx.7342:

;_; but rifle will be so useless……only place i can see it ever being used is wuvs in order to snipe people

long range thief is a good thing, even IF it does no good outside wvw

Sniper type is hard to implement in this game since you lock a target by clicking.
Sniper gameplay sounds like it should revolve around aiming. But how do you aim when you already target lock someone.
Then it either becomes warrior killshot or ranger pewpew? Both are stupid and boring. Don’t want a third spec like that anymore

I would guess or would like to see a scepter being the range option instead. More magic orientated assassin type, exactly what I like most.

Sir Vincent III.1286:

yolo swaggins.2570:

• Focus is a maybe because foci are used to channel magicks. Thief is a magical class but it’s application and interaction within combat is more physical. However, the difference in playstyle between a more magical role and a physical role is small. Focus could be designed as a way to manipulate smoke (and maybe fire) to offer more defenses. So it is possible.

Arcane Thief…steals magic, drains death shrouds, depletes adrenaline, and shatter’s clone without effects.

Focus
Skill #4 – Shadow Stitch – Target is immobilized for 5s. If immobilized is cleansed, target is knocked down for 2s.

Skill #5 – Shadow Clone – Create a Shadow Clone. All damage dealt to you while shadow clone is active is dealt to the clone and you receive 50% of the damage dealt instead.

D/F
Skill #3 – Steal Power – Infuse your dagger with shadow magic then stab your target. Steal target of energy that reset target’s current death shroud or adrenaline or clone count to zero. Damage increase based on the amount drained from target.

S/F
Skill #3 – Rend Shadow – Slash your foe and infuse shadow magic to the wound. Target receive 3 stacks of Torment and 3 stacks of Bleeding for 10s.

P/F
Skill #3 – Shadow Armor – Absorb the next 3 non-physical damage and shoot your target with a bullet infused of all damage absorbed.

Wow this actually looks very cool! (Aside that some might be a little too OP considering we use initiative) I hope they will make something that you can use to mark an enemy, and deal some extra damage or so. I secretly hope we won’t get rifle though. I think you could only make boring skills up with it. But maybe I am wrong about it. I’d rather have something more creative like some Axe / Torch variant or something.:P

didn’t devs said that they want to give some different experience for each class?

So rifle? Sniper? get over 900 range? Sounds fun… but does thief even need it : / …
is it going to be really a new experience?….. Most likely it will end up into fast burst… only from distance .. what really dont brings that much of new experience.

DeT M.4319:

didn’t devs said that they want to give some different experience for each class?

So rifle? Sniper? get over 900 range? Sounds fun… but does thief even need it : / …
is it going to be really a new experience?….. Most likely it will end up into fast burst… only from distance .. what really dont brings that much of new experience.

Mesmer got shield, Guardian got longbow and Necro got greatsword. Is it a new experience?

I’m thinking it will be a rifle. One thing everyone is missing is that every class so far gets a new kind of utility skill for specialization. (Ex: Necromancer got shouts, Guardian got traps, Mesmer got wells) Therefor we should think about what utility skill thieves will get and work backwards. If it’s rifle I’m putting my money on Gang Leader, Boss, someone who would have minions. If it’s ax i’m thinking, well I don’t know. Utilities not used ye for any specialization:
-Banners
-Minions
-Shadowstep
Feel free to add on to list if I missed something.

Mesmer got an offhand (not that they needed another), but
Guard lacked ranged options→ Longbow
and
Necro lacked melee choices (only dagger AA) → Greatsword

Thief has decent close combat choices (they’re adding condi traits too), decent midranged condi, and decent long(ish) range AoE utility (SB). The hole we have is true long range damage. I would hope it’s more of a good sustained damage with utilities rather than an initiative dump like P/P. A flat 0.85 modifier on the auto (like staff ele fire auto) with a good projectile speed would be nice. Maybe only 1 second time shot to shot. The other skills I would like to see have decent effects at 1200 range, but get stronger as you got closer to encourage you to close the gap while still being useful at max range.

Example:

Headshot 2.0
4 initiative
0-600: knockback 150
600-900: knockback 50
900-1200: 0.5 second daze

Sigh it will/should be like a rifle spear, a bayonet not a freaking sniper.