Showing Posts For EdwinLi.1284:

What makes Engi fun for you?

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

Before HoT arrived I played Engineer because of the variety of ways you can play Engineer. It was also a Profession that focus on being the Gun Class/Job for GW2 and I really love Gun Class/Jobs during that time.

Now with Elite Specs that can provide new weapons and gameplay styles, it is really more of sticking with it in hopes of a future Elite Spec that catch my interests. Engineer has potential to create some interesting Elite Specs if the developers are not afraid to go a extra mile with design.

In HoT, they played things safe with Scrapper by having not changed much from Core Engineer.

PoF Elite Spec, the Holosmith, is more to move into that extra mile range by changing up Engineer’s gameplay style.

Engineer theme also provide some unique opportunity to take up different weapons and gameplay styles as well such as a Technomancer Elite Spec as the Staff weapon spec mastering Technology that allows the Engineer to manipulate Magive to provide support/Utility to allies and offensive attacks or a more Creator Elite Spec that use Mace to craft defensive modification that apply to allies and the Engineers.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

So what Holo builds y'all running?

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Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

Was experimenting on Holosmith with Rifle and it is actually very good with Rifle.

Went….
Explosions – 2 – 2 – 2
Firearms – 3 – 2 – 3
Holosmith – 1 – 1- 3

Forge Mode covers the Melee aspect of combat to deal with enemies.

Rifle then deals with the range combat aspect with the auto skill then using the 2 or 5 skills to close in on the target then go Forge Mode.

Still hoping a future Elite Spec is a Technomancer theme Spec that use Staff as the weapon of choice.

Corgi mount RIP

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EdwinLi.1284

We can pray they bring Corgi mount as a Jackel Mount skin which they may do because that will certainly sell like hot cakes on the Gem Store.

Engineer Elite Speculation: The Technomancer

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Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

While Mace is a highly demand weapon for a Engineer Elite Spec, I do not believe Technomancer may get it as their weapon becuase “Mancer” is often used for a Mage type class.

A Technomancer would most likely be fit for a Engineer Elite Spec that use a Staff and focus on developing and using Technology that allows the Technomancer to use Magic
since Mancy is a practice of discovering hidden knowldge by occult or supernatural means called diviniation. Thus creating a fighting style that focus on using Technology to access Magical Abilities that normally would require a person to have skills in using Magic to access.

Mace would be more suited for somethig named after creating something that would be more technology based over magic based such as the name Creator to represent the Engineer’s Elite Spec theme of creating things and the Mace as the tool used to create them.

No way to self defense when using forge

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Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

What worries me is that this is exactly the principal behind Reaper. Look what happened to that elite. High damage always gets nerfed. Always. Well, for any class other than ele.

That is not true by design of Forge Mode being that Forge is more High DPS but High Risk that can endanger the Engineer if they are not cautious while Reaper was High DPS with High HP with essentially no risk to harm the Necro.

Forge Mode compensates with its high DPS with the risk of damaging the Engineer if they don’t take Photonic Blasting Module. It also does not add a extra lay of HP on the Engineer so they are at risk of dying compared to Reaper who has that extra layer of HP to protect themselves from any risk of being killed when entering Reaper Form.

If players want to utilize Forge Mode properly the Engineer player will have to also keep track of their own HP or else they may enter Forge during a low HP only to die before they can use any Forge skills.

Holosmith Weapon Opinions

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Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

So after the testing of holosmith what do you think about it working with the main weapon options?

For me…

Sword/Pistol is a good choice for hybrid power/condition damage build. Very good if focus on pure DPS.

Sword/Shield, as I found it, is a good pure power combo since most of the time the skills being used will mostly be the sword and Forge Mode skills with Shield only used once in a while for stuns and breaking. Very useful in PvP when people try to get up close only to find themselves stunned because of Shield 5 skill then burst damaged down by Forge mode.

Rifle is actually very good with Forge if you go with Photonic Blast Module triat. Using Rifle’s range auto attack from the distance then close in with Rifle 5 or Forge skill Holo leap then burst down the enemy with Forge Mode skills then after causing the massive explosion at 100% heat you burst a but more with Rifle skills then either finish them off as they run away with Rifle auto attack ( throw in a blade burst) or move a bit back with Rifle 5 for some distance to finish the enemy.

Pistol/Pistol is a bit difficult but can be done due to the condition build option for Holosmith trait tree for massive burn condition building. Kits still maybe required.

Elite spec bonus wise, the other weapons should have Holosmith Heat Bonus as well but provided different bonus.

Shield can have reduce recharge time based on their Heat Level.

Rifle can apply increase damage base on Heat level.

Pistol can apply additional condition based on Heat level.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Holosmith OFF-HAND?

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EdwinLi.1284

Certainly going for Shield when I play Holosmith.

Pistol is more ideal for the Power/Condition Hybrid builds.

My feelings towards Holosmith after the demo

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Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

Holosmith Damage is fine. Its high rish and high reward. Everyone saying “the damage is too high” has no idea what they’re talking about.

I feel it is because they are not use to Selfish DPS Job/Class. The High risk but High reward nature is what makes a Selfish DPS Job/Class stands out.

Selfish DPS Job/Class is well known in RPGs and MMOs for very high DPS to compensate for the lack of Utility and Support provided which is what Holosmith is designed to be as we see in Holosmith’s Trait tree and Skills.

The High DPS itself can be considered a Utility itself because it can kill enemies faster than any other Job/Class thus reducing the amount of time a Support/Utility based Class/Job needs to keep up their utility/support.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

[holosmith] inconsistencies/ fine tuning

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EdwinLi.1284

I’m pretty worried about the selfishness of the holosmith.

If the situation remain as it is we have good damage but 0 survival and 0 group support, and that mean that if our damage got nerfed for some reason or holosmith will not be a top dps we will simply left out of groups.

This is why I doubt Holosmith may get a nerf. Selfish DPS Job/Class is a Class/Job that lacks in Survival and group suppot but to compensate they provide the Highest or near Highest DPS in any RPG and MMO.

It is a common High Risk but High Reward type of Job/Class that focus complete on itself over others. The High DPS itself can be consider Utility itself to aid in killing enemies much faster than any other class/Job since that will reduce the time required to maintain Utility/Support skills to stay alive due less active time for enemies to remain alive.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

It just does damage...

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EdwinLi.1284

you already have so many utilities…like what are you even talking about…i used to main war, i so wished to simply swap a utility and cover everyone from boss projectiles and carry the win since pugs cant dodge back in the 2013 fractal days
like you already have a tons of team support utility options…

all you have to do is a simple swap of utilities you still maintain the high damage upgrade holo forge skills…

I am talking about what it adds into what we have already, not the entirety of the Elite Spec build combination with Core Enigneer Trait and Skills.

Design wise the focus of Holosmith is a lot on the “Selfish DPS” design for this elite spec. Players can use Core Engineer traits and skills to apply Utility into the Holosmith but if we look at the design of Holosmith Skills and Trait tree we can see it is focused on the Holosmith itself over providing any Utility and Support to a party or other players.

However, this is intentional as this is a Elite Spec tree that focus on DPS and Self Survival over Party Utility and Support.

It fits into the Job role Trinity being Tank (Scrapper), DPS (Holosmith), and Healer/Support.

If this is what Anet is going for design wise for the release of Engineer Elite Spec we may see a more Healer/Support focus Elite Spec as the 3rd Engineer Elite Spec that may be designed with a trait tree and skills focusing a lot more on providing Barrier or Buffs or whatever Anet deem fit for a Support theme Elite Spec.

It just does damage...

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

well folks if you haven’t figured it out you can easely drop the holosweapon after you are done gaining 50% heat when you use the 2nd grandmastertrait. Afterwards you can not loose the heat other than by overheating so it stays 50% and all youre skills are effected by the better version of it. So in total the engineer gains good controlskills, some nice damageskills and a few good traits that also push his conditiondamage alongside the skills. The support role of him is not so strong but he gains good damage in exchange and even better controlskills which is allways good.

That is why i call Holosmith a “Selfish” DPS Elite Spec.

It is a Elite Spec that focus on causing High Damage by itself but in return it lacks greatly in Party Utility and Support. Not a very popular choice of Class/Job design but RPG and MMOs do have these type of Class/Job as part of player choices to play as since these Job/class are known to be very high in DPS output to compensate for their lack of Utility and Support.

Selfish DPS class/Job often work very well in Party content because the group can cause more damage with a DPS with some Support/Buffer in the party buffing the Selfish DPS class/Job more than a party that has a full party of DPS with some Utility due to the limit on how much Buff can be stacked.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

PoF predictions...

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Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

I predict Aurene will appear at the end and absorb all the Magic being released by Balthazar and Kralkatorrik but something goes horribly wrong and Aurene runs off some where.

Season 4 then follows up on us trying to locate Aurene but learns we have to deal with Joko if we wish to reach the location where Aurene is in the Southern part of Elona. Once in the Southern areas of Elona we face a new Elder Dragon minion that is appearing from the Ocean/Sea being DSD’s Minions.

Then at the end of Season 4 we see Aurene again but she has grown. Commander and his allies failed to get Aurene back and Aurene then fly off to the South but the Commander learns the reason why Aurene been acting strangely through a vision from Aurene showing events that are happening in Cantha with Nightmarish creatures appearing from within the vision as people scream in fear and the Throne of the Emperor of Cantha becomes engulfed in shadow.

After that the Commander tells his allies that he or she knows Aurene is going to Cantha and they need to prepare a ship to reach Cantha. Thus the poF story finally ends in Season 4 with a big cliffhanger of 3rd Expansion being Cantha.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Soulbeast is useless. RIP Rangers

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EdwinLi.1284

Oh I wouldn’t say every profession hates their elite spec, holosmiths seem really happy. Mainly because their damage is absolute bonkers right now.

Soulbeast isn’t bad conceptually, its just lacking pet swap in beast mode and has some really under tuned skills. Its also really NOT a condi spec. There are some nice dps pets and combinations in there though. (I’m looking at you stone gazelle and sic ’em).

Ya Holosmith is getting plenty of love for its Pure DPS theme.

The UNLIMITED POWER is great for the short time players are in Photon Forge Mode.

It is a Elite Spec that truely offers power….. UNLIMITED POWER!!!

first impressions: holosmith

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EdwinLi.1284

I have been testing out some combos and I think for Master Trait Crystal Configuration: Storm is ideal for players if they want to make their Holo Form auto attack do more damage since the range wave attack is a extra hit if you’re at melee range.

Eclipse is best for defensive use and Zephyr is best for when players love to spam their leap attack.

The explosion is not that bad to deal with if players manage their Holo Form. It is always ideal to explode with Photonic Blasting Module GrandMaster trait since the Holoform will automatically turn off after it explodes to keep the player from killing him or herself from burning. It works well with Prasmatic Converter because everytime you explode you also clense yourself and turn the conditions into Boons since you will automatically exit Holo Form after exploding.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

So what weapons would work with holosmith?

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EdwinLi.1284

I am certainly going to try out Sword/Shield combo.

As much as I would see the hybrid choice for Sword/Pistol, there is something about S/S combo that may work out better for Holosmith if they go pure Berserker Gear over the new Grieving Gear.

So these Kiwi Monsters

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EdwinLi.1284

These Choyas are so cute and ugly at the same time. I just wanna hug them and then punch em in the face.

Anet put plenty of effort for certain with the Choya.

If they are moving down a hill, they will be rolling down the hill as their movement animations but only if they are going down a hill. Everything else they move normally.

Someone kill the "Commander"!

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EdwinLi.1284

I thought our characters left the Pact some time ago. Hence, we are referred to as ‘Boss’ (of our Guild), rather than ‘Commander’.

Perhaps, I am mistaken. /shrug

NPCs still call the player character Commander because by military standards the Rank the person retire with will always stick with them the rest of their life. However, it is based on which NPC since most people know the player character as the ’Commander of the Pact" it has become standard for others to call him or her Commander.

Boss is only used if the NPC view the player character as a their leader if they are part of Dragon’s Watch.

Outlander will be the name used by Elonians in PoF because they see the Player character as a person from Outside of their lands.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

The Hollow traits of the Holosmith

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EdwinLi.1284

Holosmith’s killing power seems a bit over the line TBH… Been theorycrafting for a while now, both power and condi capabilities are very high. You can choose 3 defensive utility skills and still be a murder machine by the power of Photon Forge.

That is kind of the point of Holosmith design. It is a High DPS but sacrifice Utility type of Elite Spec.

While it does lack utility for group buffs and benefits, it intensionally sacrifice it for having very high DPS.

Not a very popular choice of design for a class/job/elite spec in games since it is most often called a “Selfish Class/Job” but it returns with High DPS that can surpass other Jobs that normally would require buffs to reach the DPS Numbers for the other class/job/elite spec.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Holosmith origins [SPOILERS]

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EdwinLi.1284

I am curious what the Holosmith could have been in the developers eye since the new video revealed it was one of the three Elite Specs that went through multiple revamps on Mechanic and Skills before it ended up as it is now.

Holosmith origins [SPOILERS]

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EdwinLi.1284

A few dialogue and interactions with NPCs does explain the region of Crystal Desert being not in control of Joko despite being part of his territory.

The Crystal Desert has become basically the Lion Arch Region of Elona that consist of mostly outcast, refugees, and Former Corsairs.

Elonian Engineers seem to be exclusive to the Crystal Desert Region since we known the only place in Joko’s territory that made contact with the other parts of Tyria was the Crystal Desert region and it was not until after the failed attempt to kill Kralk when contact with the Crystal Desert was cut off by Queen Jennah’s orders.

Elonian Refugees appeared to be very common before events of the Edge of Destiny books from what NPC said and they either settled within the Crystal Desert, Ebon hawk, or Divinity Reach.

However, I am curious how Priory teams been getting access into the Crystal Desert after events of Edge of Destiny

DEMO: non-human first contact reactions?

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EdwinLi.1284

It has been established since GW2 began, that Priory teams have been going into the Crystal Desert to study the ruins for years even before GW2 Zhaitan Arc began. The Priory teams would include all playable races in the game so this is not the first contact with the other races.

Holosmith origins [SPOILERS]

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EdwinLi.1284

I have serious doubts about Elonian engineers ending up surpassing asura in holotechnology. Learning from others is one thing. So is convergent evolution of technology. But surpassing something that is one of a race’s foremost specialties is Scarlet-level MarySue-ness.

It is not more advance than Asura technology considering it is said to be very commonly prone to explode due to the Holosmith tech being unable to handle the large amount of heat.

If I have to compare Holosmith Tech to Asura Holo Tech, the Holosmith tech is most likely what Asura Holo tech was like in the beginning of their development being very prone to explode a lot in a matter of a short amount of time due to lack of heat management technology to handle maintaining a solid Holographic construct.

In today timeframe, Asura Holo tech are less likely to explode, still chance to explode but very rarely or unless some tampered with it, and from we seen from Ancient Asura labs, which have full working holographic golems from 200 years ago, the Asura Holo Tech is still hundred of years ahead of Holosmith’s Tech.

However, the way the Elonians chosen to handle the Technology diverged from the Asruan Holo Technology as well from what we seen. For Asura, their Holo Tech focused on creating working tools that function on their own to help with work and battle mostly being Golems and holographic computers. The Asuran Holo tech also does not need to be directly connected to the source of their power to function which is part of their tech showing how far more advance than Holosmith tech. Elonians took a different route and focus on creating physical constructs that the Holosmith use themselves for fighting instead.

Well, I don’t think their technology is the same as asuran technology.

As they say, they use a base (the magic sand) which inherently has that power.
I believe if you got the right starting parts, it’s easier to get to a certain point.

It is rather interesting when comparing Asura Holo tech with Holosmith tech.

Both have a type of crystal as their core to power their holographic projections but are made differently and use different sources of power.

Asuran Holo tech crystal is synthetic and has computer programming into the system to determine how the system works thus acting a the main processor for their Holo Tech. Their power is just a normal magical energy of any kind to apply the elemental applicatons into the golem but the most commonly used energy is electricity.

Holosmith tech crystal is a Zephyrite Crystal since it is a common resource easily made in the Crystal Desert which is where the Zephyrite obtain and make their magical crystals. It completely avoids all the computer programming Asura Holo Tech Cores requires since it is just pure magic container. However, it is more volatile due to lack of computer programming controlling the processing of the magical energy which then leads to the overheating issues.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Holosmith origins [SPOILERS]

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EdwinLi.1284

He says that holosmithing originated in Amnoon… and since holosmiths are defined by that photon forge thingy, that’s true. We certainly haven’t seen any of those in Tyria.

Yep.

We known since GW2 release years ago Priory teams have been going into the Crystal Desert to study the region which would have brought with them plenty of people that are Engineers. This would have peaked interests with Elonians within the region of the Crystal Desert to take up the Engineer Profession since Amnoon is the only known open City within Joko’s territory that allowed contact and trading with the outside regions.

With Zephyrites always making contact with Amnoon, since it is a major trading Hub for the Crystal Desert region,their magic being noticed was common since it was unique by infusing Crystals with Wind, Lightning, or Sun energy. It would be common for Zephyrite to always stop by the area as it was common for them to stop within the Crystal Desert due to their origins and mission before the events of HoT destroyed their fleet.

From here we learn that Elonian that took up the Profession of Engineers that live within the Crystal Desert invented the Holosmith technology by learning how to apply Zephyrites Sun Crystals into their technology. It took time but eventually they learned how to make it work and from their began developing the foundation of the Holosmith.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Holosmith origins [SPOILERS]

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EdwinLi.1284

I hate it, actually. It’s nice that there’s some lore built up around it, but this is wrong to the point of being nonsensical. Engineer as a profession originated from the charr, and the other “techie” civilization is the asura, especially when it comes to holo-technology. With Joko and the desert being the way it is, the Elonians have had very little contact with the charr or the asura, and so creating a revolutionary Engineer technology out of Elona makes no sense. Having technological innovation come from other civilizations is okay, but there is no basis for it being done this way. Use of the Zephyrites crystals is one thing, and Elona does have a history of kinship with the Sun, but mixing that kind of magic with technology is not something that could believably come solely out of the desert and from humans, like NPCs seem to suggest. In fact, it’s the last of the elite specs that should have a desert origin. Perhaps, maybe, it would be acceptable if an asura and/or charr developed the proto-tech that allowed the Photon Forge to be possible, but otherwise it’s just glaringly bad. And bad lore is no better (and maybe worse) than none at all.

They actually covered the part of Technology within the Crystal Desert Region quite early in GW2 life time being that small teams of Priory members have been making contact with residence within the Crystal Desert bring along with them plenty of technology from the current known regions of Tyria in Core Tyria so they can study the Crystal Desert area. We even see Priory teams within the starting towns taking their breaks from their field studies in the City Taverns.

It is most likely because of this Technology from Core Tyria got into the hands of Elonians within the Crystal Desert Region.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Holosmith origins [SPOILERS]

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EdwinLi.1284

Ok this contains spoiler to the Origin of Holosmith in PoF. YOU HAVE BEEN SPOILER WARNED!


So holosmith is created by Elonians and you meet Baraz Sharifi who is a Holosmith you meet in PoF within the first map of the expansion near the Farmlands near the starting City to explain their origins

He explained that Elonians invented the Holosmith when they met the Zephyrites after seeing how they used Crystals for their magic.

The secret to Holosmith’s technology is to Harness the Power of the Sun to allow the Holosmith access to their Holo Form and holo type attacks.

The Sword is chosen as the weapon of choice because it is useful for Speed, Precision, and Power due to the sword designs.

Photon Forge Mode source of Power is the Sun which turns Sunlight into physical energy though the use of Crystals. However, this is also the source of the “exploding” issue caused by Photon Forge Mode as to generate Sunlight into a physical form also generates a very large amount of heat which then leads to the explosion of pure Sun Energy.

So what do you think about the Origins of Holosmith?

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

2nd Elite Spec Weapon Collection

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EdwinLi.1284

So WoodenPotatoes showing examples of the new 2nd Elite Spec Weapon Collection requirements for obtained the 2nd Elite Spec Signature Weapon.

What do you think about the 2nd Elite Spec Weapon Collection?

What we really need instead of Holosmith

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

Honestly, I was hoping that the Sword would be a Mainhand Range weapon for Engineer.

It could have created light wave slash as their range attack thanks to the Holosmith’s ability to manipulate Holo projections into physically harming enemies.

Holosmith did get this ability as a Master Trait that turns the Holo Form auto skill (Skill 1) into a Range Attack but I was hoping it would have been on the Main Hand Sword instead.

Though at least Engineer finally got a Main hand Power weapon and it may go well with Shield using Shield to block projectiles when closing in on enemies and then going crit crazy on them.

I will most likely take that Master trait that turn Holo Form auto attack into a Range attack to synergize with the fact I will be using Sword/shield for melee.

Add Your POF Mount Ideas Here! [Merged]

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EdwinLi.1284

I want that Balthazar Forge Wolf as a Mount Skin for the Jackel Mount!

Even adjust the special effect to be all fiery effect to represent it being a Fire Wolf!

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Glint just spoke to me?!

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EdwinLi.1284

The new update now has the Revenant talking to their spirits now.

It is random and some dialogues are based on where you are in the story and the place you are as well.

Chef Mastery minigame

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EdwinLi.1284

This is a mastery people found during their testing.

Remember to make certain your food is not F***** RAW!

WoodenPotatoes Interview (Elite Spec)

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EdwinLi.1284

So WoodenPotatoes interviewed the developer team that create Elite Specs and make the Profession Balance for all Professions about the new Elite Spec they developed for PoF.

Holosmith: The Problem

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EdwinLi.1284

What activity in the game Engie CAN do decently at the moment?
What thing Engie is REALLY BAD at right now?

Answer these questions and you’ll see engie is not really a Jack of all Trades at this time.

It is considered a “Jack of All Trades but Master of None” because it literally covers everything but Master none of it because the effictiveness is just reduced to a point that the other Professions can do better at that certain areas due to being more focused in Mastering those areas.

Engi can be a buffer, clenser, tank, or etc but it can never master any of those roles due to how subpar the skills have been reduced. As I said before I believe Anet is just afriad of making Core Engineer into a “Jack of All Trades and Master of All” thus they keep up this “Jack of All Trades and Master of None” design to prevent their fear from happening when it has proven to be the down fall of Engineer’s design due to the introduction of Elite Specs focusing on specific roles.

Honestly, while I like the Elite specs and what they attempt to do for Engineer, it feels more like they are trying to cover a Scar with a Bandage by focusing on letting the Elite Specs cover Engineer’s ability to Master a certain role while leaving Core Engineer in a “Master of None” state instead of adjust Core Engineer into something that can be a Master of -Something-

A lot of backlash to Holosmith’s reveal and design is more often the result of it not being a Elite Spec that can make Engineer Specialize in Utility/Support buffing because the Core Engineer does not Master that in any way. If Core Engineer had a decent mastery of utility/support buff for groups this backlash would not be a issue to certain people but it is and the source is the Core Engineer’s design to be a Master of None.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Who else is disappointed in holosmith reveal?

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EdwinLi.1284

Steampunk maybe for when Engineer get a Human race themed Elite Spec.

IMO the base profession is fairly steampunk. As is scrapper.

Holosmith’s departure from that offers at least a little bit of variety. Though I’m not a huge fan of its visuals either. I’d have preferred something more Asura like, rather than super adventure box.

Holosmith is more Asuran than people believe considering it originates from Asura race.

Going around Rata Sum you can see a lot of Holographic technology but a lot of people seem to ignore this part of Asura Technology and focus a bit too much on their Golem technology instead.

Asura tech had a lot of Holo Tech usually started as Holographic Golems, holographic computers, and other types of holographic projections.

In Battle on the Breachmaker we see the Holographic Asuran technology utilized by Scarlet. The Elite Skill for Holosmith is even Scarlet’s Holo Gun Laser attack. Think about it the entire time we fight Scarlet on the Breachmaker she was in her Holo Form the entire fight so guess we can say Scarlet was the first encounter with a Holosmith.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

So DSD is totally safe?

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EdwinLi.1284

While killing it is out if question simply letting it be would be pretty stupid. It did drive the karka and krait inland after all, there’s no telling what else could be lurking in those waters that’s yet to be driven out by Steve, and since this is Tyria it could be even worse than the Karka and Krait combined.

I have this really strange feeling at the end of PoF we may get a glimps of DSD as our cliffhanger part of our ending to foreshadow the next set of events since with Kalky dealt with it and Jormag and Primordus now in deep sleep, DSD is the only active Elder Dragon left to deal with.

Though if it is a cliffhanger I hope it is a “distant” scene that shows DSD while also being so far enough that the Commander and his or her allies will not know about it thus leaving the player to be the only ones who know about the coming danger.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Holosmith: The Problem

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EdwinLi.1284

Sounds like every issue you have is with the core class and should be solved with a balance patch, not a new elite spec. We’ll get a balance patch on the 8th, hopefully it will solve some of this problems.

In my opinion, it is the Core Profession in general that is the issue and not the Elite Specs. The design of Core Profession is “Jack of All Trades but Master of None” but that does not work so well when put with Elite Specs that Focus on a Specific role such as Scrapper being a Crowd Control/Tank Elite Spec and Holosmith being a Pure DPS Elite Spec.

With other Professions their Core specialize in a specific area and adding Elite Specs adds a additional Specialization to go with what their Core already Specialize in or improve on what they already Specialize in. However, Engineers “Jack of All Trades but Master of None” nature at the Core Profession means they do not truely Specialize in any area but cover all areas at a subpar level for being able to cover all areas. Due to this Engineer is always a bit “shorter” when Elite Spec is added on to it compared to other Core Profession when a Elite is added on to them.

Think of it like this, Core Engineer being a Jack of all trades is a build that is equally designed in appearance always having room that covers all the needs of a Business and all average and skilled workers can interact with each other. They are all in equal access to each other and working together but no section of the business can be properly specialized due to no actual focus in their skilled workers use of abilites only for focusing only on advance part of the business.

The other Core Profession are Buildings that have a part of itself taller than one side or longer than one side. The Taller side or Longer side is used for where the more skilled workers go while the smaller/shorter side is where the average workers are. They’re not equal but one side of their business can focus on specializing in a area while the average workers focus on dealing with smaller tasks to make up for where the Business lacks.

Now you add Elite Specs as expansion to these buildings so more Specialized skilled workers can join the team for this Business but these new additions can only focus in one area. The Other Pofessions can now focus on specializing into two areas or improve on a area they already have with this expansion but for Core Engineer this will be the first time they can Specialize in a specific area but the rest of the areas will always not specialize in something.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

So these Kiwi Monsters

in Lore

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

Sadly, they are called choya.

Makes you wonder how they will explain that Choya Invasion event that will happen in one of the towns as we seen in the trailer.

Wait until Holosmith is out before hating.

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

Most of the hate originates from the lack of Utility provided to the new Elite Spec.

There is a very high demand for Engineer to be given a decent or high Utility focus Elite Spec so it can compete against other Jobs that provide far more utility/support while also dealing the same amount of damage at the same time.

I am just going to reroll Thief, thanks!

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

@EdwinLi :

You are right , but there is a lot of traits on the basic thief lines , that are gonna make the damge of rifle a real pain.

Of course ,if one pretend to duel using a rifle only , it will be a self death sentence.

I doubt it will be used in some meaning PvP scenario , but in WvW ? It will be a lot of fun sniping around the zerg.

And with traits , you can take the line without equip the rifle , and try to find a way to make it work . Immagine a basic thief , marking an enemy …. and then backstabbing him twice in few seconds using their new elite that allows them to remove the “revealed” debuff and immidiatly go stealth again..on 5 sec cd if i well remember(but pretty sure it will be increased) .

But it’s useless to discuss this now that things have to come out yet , and get nerfed over and over.
You can have a decent point of view only after 5-6 month after the expansion release , when you can see nerf after nerf how Anet wants you to play your class and , what build you are allowed to use.

The only thing i see , it’s a lot of cool stuff with this expansion , i main the engineer from 5 years…heck..i also have 3 of them , with 8k hours on engineer only , but i’m done with it.
It just became boring as the other classes .The same tanky build from 2 years…and now , more melee stuff….super cool melee stuff with this expansion , but…it’s always melee .
I want to use my legendary , it took me months to make the only one that i liked…“the predator” , so if i will ever buy the expansion after 5-6 month from the release , pretty sure i would check twice the Thief sniper thing….even if it can’t duel….but i can use my rifle in WvW , may be i will get stomped sometime , but when i will respawn on the back of my character there will be “the predator”….better than have it endlessly parked in my inventory.

Honestly I never found predator to be a weapon for Warrior nor Engineer,

The very design itself is a sniper rifle and it even has that two small metal V shape Legs often used by snipers when they enter a sniping position to reduce the recoil of their shots.

Predator is just made to be a Deadeye weapon vanity look.

On that note:
Speaking of Vanity looks for Elite Specs…

I wish Anet would have added a Exosuit Holoweapon Black Lion weapon set to the game. It would have been a must have for me because I love the Asuran High tech weapon looks and it would have gone lovely with Holosmith escpecially there is currently a lack of Shields to go with a Holosmith theme. (though plasma shield is decent atleast)

Not to mention the special effects that may have been used for the Exosuit Holoweapon BL set may have been great using special Holographic projections when players wielded the weapons to form the weapons themselves.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Why did ArenaNet abandon Elder Dragon bosses

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

The logo of GW2 is a dragon. The logo of HOT is a dragon. And the logo of POF is a dragon….. so I hope I’m wrong.

The logo for PoF is both dragon and a tornado. It represents the “sand” storm the Elder Dragon is in the middle of being a 4 wat war between the Dragon’s Watch, Kralk, Joko, and Balth.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

So these Kiwi Monsters

in Lore

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

New monsters in 2nd expansion area which are big Kiwi Monsters that explode when they die revealing to be actually just living kiwi fruits.

So any guesses currently how these thing came to be?

All I can think up is that some Magic user got really really drunk one day or gotten so dehydrated in the desert that he used magic to create these things just to have some kind of fruit to eat for its fruit juice.

No Dervish in Path of Fire? Whaaa?

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

It is most likely going to be explained in a the expansion zone the disappearance of Dervish.

For example, the Spellbreakers are the evoled Paragon’s that once made up the Sunspears now broken down to a shadow of their former self due to Joko’s crusade to eliminate the Sunspears thus the reason why they use Daggers to represent their broken Order as it represents their Broken Spears.

Holosmith as main?

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

Holosmith seem to be designed more for PvE in mind.

There were complaints that Scrapper was too PvP oriented and did not perform well in PvE.

I am just going to reroll Thief, thanks!

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284


There are also generally concerns for Deadeye by Thief players as well.

The general theme of Deadeye is a single target focused long range Elite spec and to use their best skills they must sacrifice their mobility to enter a turret stance. There is a roll skill to move around but there is going to require a lot of stance dancing to meet mobility requirements for certain fights.

There is also the resource build up requirement to meet the maximum damage from deadeye’s mechanic and the time it takes to actually build up.

Barrier Status and Engineer

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

So a new Status called Barrier is being added into the game and Core Professions will have some of their skills and traits adjust to provide Barrier.

How do you think this may affect Engineer and how can Engineer benefit from this if the right skills are provided with Barrier?

Who else is disappointed in holosmith reveal?

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

Yeah.

Thematically this was one of the most interesting new elite specs when revealed. But looking at the details…

It’s still a technological profession / spec which isn’t steampunk. That’s something.

Steampunk maybe for when Engineer get a Human race themed Elite Spec.

As lore stated, Engineer theme on their technology design advanced differently for each Race.

Charr is more war machine theme with Scrapper focus on the turning Junk into something useful and Asura had the more advance technology theme with Holosmith tapping into the Asuran Holographic technology.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Spending 4000 gems

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

Perm gathering tools will be the best choice for long run saving of coins.

After that it is up to you what you value the most.

Ready for more Canach Sass?

in Guild Wars 2 Discussion

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

Eh.

Canach, eh. Could take him back, but he wants to be his own tree right now, let him go spread his pollen a bit and realize how hard the world is on an ex-con with a snotty attitude.
Not that I resent Canach. He’s probably the most sensible of the “I’m not in Dragon’s Watch” NPCs. But as someone told me before I turned around “I like you, but you’re too negative.”

Well considering the state of Dragon’s Watch right now, Canach joining is probably a later beginning mission part of the storyline event anyways from what we see in the Story trailer.

From what we see in the story trailer we are basically getting Rytlock, Kasmeer, and Canach as our companions for PoF Storyline this time while Tiami is on the communicator most of the time.

This is rather much shorter on allies it seem during PoF story because the Commander is in unknown territory with no Pact nor connections to support him or her with allies. Along with this battle being a four way war between Dragon Watch (which only consist of Commander, Rytlock, Kasmeer, and later Canach), Joko, Kralkatorrik, and Balthazar.

It is just a small group this time that has to find allies and build up a actual resistance army from the ground up. Taimi is most likely just going to act as our information about what is going on back in our home territory while we are gone as the story progress.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Who else is disappointed in holosmith reveal?

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

In short, what you saw on the live streams was just first iteration of Holosmith.

You do realize the expansion is dropping next month with a preview weekend next week, right?

What you saw is pretty much what we’re getting.

It is actually Story and PvE Map Demo first next weekened then following after that testing is the Elite Spec Demo weekend.

We’re not testing the new Elite Spec during the 1st testing sadly.

Who else is disappointed in holosmith reveal?

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284

I think more questions should be asked to Anet developers during their Q&A if players want to get any real results for pushing to a proper Utility/Support provided to Engineer or atleast get some real answers why Engineer has been going down this path of development.

I will be sure to ask. When is this Q&A happening?

They usually have Q&A during Guild Chats streams so you’ll have to be part of their livestream during those times.

Sadly they often limit their questions to ones they want to answer due to time limit of their Guild Chat streams so I doubt anyone can get to any reason why Engineer is being developed this way.

Now back to adjusting Holosmith to more utility….

Trait wise I think they maybe able to adjust the middle traits to be the Utility path in the tree. Prismatic converter, Crystal Configuration, and Enhanced Capacity Storage Unit traits could be adjusted to also affect allies around the Holosmith as well.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)

Who else is disappointed in holosmith reveal?

in Engineer

Posted by: EdwinLi.1284

EdwinLi.1284


I don’t think we will ever agree on how Holosmith should be judged considering our different beliefs on how to handle data (with you prefer hard math data and I prefer actual field tested data)

On that note:
As I said when I edited my last post. (Blasted forums edit updating are always so slow.)

I think people should just calm down until the 2nd Beta test when players can actually test the Elite spec for a decent amount of time.

Edwin, please understand that elite specializations are supposed to fill gaps in professions. The one thing engineer does not suffer from is lack of damage. What it suffers from is a lack of utility that makes it worth bringing to fractals, PvP, and WvW beyond serving one’s self-interest … and so they give us this? An elite specialization that literally offers zero teamplay?

I mean, even Dragonhunter traps at least shared their boons. I don’t need to playtest Holosmith to know we got shafted here.

As much as I’m going to have fun playing an actually viable Power build for once in our life that isn’t Static Discharge based, yeah.

We got shafted.

We got shafted even more hardcore than a Lexington Steele flick.

Honestly, I believe as of currently the Anet team does not quite know how to develop Engineer into something that provide decent amount of utility due to its “Jack of All Trade but Master of None” nature from its Core Profession

Holosmith has potential for providing utility if Anet developers put effort into adjusting things such as allow Spectrum Shield to provide a lesser version (25% reduction to all damage) of itself to all allies near the Holosmith,Coolant Blast could have a spread effect on the Frost Aura to apply on to nearby allies, and the Hard Light Arena provideds the buffs to all allies in the Arena. However, I believe it is fear holding them back to what Engineer can become if given a Support/Utility focus Elite Spec combined with the Core Skills and traits.

I think more questions should be asked to Anet developers during their Q&A if players want to get any real results for pushing to a proper Utility/Support provided to Engineer or atleast get some real answers why Engineer has been going down this path of development.

(edited by EdwinLi.1284)