Guild Wars 2

PURPOSE
To give player feedback on the functionality of thief traits, leading to the balancing of underperforming thief traits and greater differentiation of builds.

REASONING
Trait choices in each traitline can be disappointingly clear cut as there are often traits that are either extremely niche or underpowered that contrast with those traits thieves feel that they simply must take to survive. With the recent consolidation and merging of traits to create (arguably) fewer choices than ever, bogus traits have never been in more dire need of a tune-up.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. Copy/paste my list of traits into a reply
2. Replace my rankings with your own, 1 being the trait you would take first and 3 being the trait you would take last. Obviously some traits are tailored towards certain builds and game modes so please try to do this objectively regardless of your specific build
3. Asterisk (*) any trait that you wouldn’t consider taking in ANY build.

NOTE
I wanted to score traits in this 1st-3rd fashion because imo it gives more context, after all we’re comparing traits with the existing options. However if you feel that a certain tier has three extremely underwhelming traits, feel free to give them all 3’s. Similarly if there is more than one trait in the same tier that you wouldn’t ever consider taking, just give both traits a 3*

Please remember that no one should be flamed for what is merely their opinion. Let’s keep the focus on the traits. I’ll try to update.

Deadly Arts Adept
Dagger Training – 2
Mug – 1
Trappers Respite – 3*

Deadly Arts Master
Deadly Trapper – 3*
Panic Strike – 1
Revealed Training – 2

Deadly Arts Grandmaster
Executioner – 2
Improvisation – 1
Potent Poison – 3
_____________________

Critical Strikes Adept
Flawless Strike – 3*
Side Strike – 1
Signets of Power – 2

Critical Strikes Master
Ankle Shots – 2
Practiced Tolerance – 1
Sundering Strikes – 3*

Critical Strikes Grandmaster
Hidden Killer - 2
Invigorating Precision – 3*
No Quarter – 1
_____________________

Shadow Arts Adept
Concealed Defeat – 3*
Last Refuge – 3*
Shadow’s Embrace – 1

Shadow Arts Master
Hidden Thief – 1
Leeching Venoms – 2
Shadow Protector – 3

Shadow Arts Grandmaster
Cloaked in Shadow – 2
Shadow’s Rejuvenation – 3
Venomous Aura – 1
_____________________

Acrobatics Adept
Fleet Shadow – 3
Pain Response – 1
Vigorous Recovery – 2

Acrobatics Master
Guarded Initiation – 3*
Hard to Catch – 1
Swindler’s Equilibrium – 2

Acrobatics Grandmaster
Assassin’s Reward – 3*
Don’t Stop – 1
Upper Hand – 2
_____________________

Trickery Adept
Flanking Strikes – 2
Thrill of the Crime – 1
Uncatchable – 3

Trickery Master
Bountiful Theft – 1
Pressure Striking – 3
Trickster – 2

Trickery Grandmaster
Bewildering Ambush – 3
Quick Pockets – 2
Sleight of Hand – 1
_____________________

Daredevil Adept
Brawler’s Tenacity – 2
Evasive Empowerment – 3
Weakening Strikes – 1

Daredevil Master
Escapist’s Absolution – 1
Impacting Disruption – 2
Staff Master – 3

Daredevil Grandmaster (Hopefully these will become core DD, but as things stand…)
Bounding Dodger – 2
Lotus Training – 3
Unhindered Combatant – 1

Go with a 10 scale. 1-3 are horrendous, 4-6 are average, 7-9 are good, 10 is pivotal and build defining. The reason why this independently rated system is better is because it doesn’t create a sense of false inferiority. In any tier there are going to be traits you’ll take 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are bad. Also this doesn’t provide a means of cross scaling: one tier of traits might be really good and another tier meh, but without an absolute system to go by you wouldn’t be able to make this very important distinction.

Likewise, how “certain” a trait is depends on the mode. For example, in sPVP and WvW Improvisation is the best. In PVE, Executioner is the best. So responses should indicate what mode they are talking about, because otherwise you’ll get confounding responses that are more of a measure of how many players play which type of game mode, rather than any statement on the quality of thief traits.

Basically the way this survey is designed is bad.

No offense, but we did that before June patch, we did it multiple times after the patch – I don’t think anyone at anet is interested in our opinion.

Blood Red Arachnid.2493:

Go with a 10 scale. 1-3 are horrendous, 4-6 are average, 7-9 are good, 10 is pivotal and build defining. The reason why this independently rated system is better is because it doesn’t create a sense of false inferiority. In any tier there are going to be traits you’ll take 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are bad. Also this doesn’t provide a means of cross scaling: one tier of traits might be really good and another tier meh, but without an absolute system to go by you wouldn’t be able to make this very important distinction.

I didn’t wish to use this thread to argue off topic, but with your suggested method there is hardly any difference between 9 “good” and 10 “pivotal and build defining”. A 1-3 scale won’t show much differentiation at first, agreed, the differentiation will show through once multiple people’s opinions on traits begin to align. In other words you’re correct in saying ‘3rd’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘bad’ – ‘bad’ will be defined by patterns emerging in the numbers.

Blood Red Arachnid.2493:

Likewise, how “certain” a trait is depends on the mode. For example, in sPVP and WvW Improvisation is the best. In PVE, Executioner is the best. So responses should indicate what mode they are talking about, because otherwise you’ll get confounding responses that are more of a measure of how many players play which type of game mode, rather than any statement on the quality of thief traits.

Even within each individual game mode certain traits are more/less valuable in certain situations and with certain builds. If people score traits objectively as I suggested in the OP, the mode won’t matter as much. It’s imperfect, sure, but a popular trait is a popular trait.

Jana.6831:

No offense, but we did that before June patch, we did it multiple times after the patch – I don’t think anyone at anet is interested in our opinion.

None intended, I was afk then :/

Core thief is hurting and I’m just having trouble sitting idly by. I’ve got my whinge off my chest, as I’m sure many of us have, but feel we’ve got to strike now while the iron is hot.

I know, I’m sorry, I’m just really disappointed right now – I should really stay away from the forums

Just saying; we really tried but were left unheard – so good luck this time around =)