Guild Wars 2

I really enjoy playing my defense and tactics warrior. As such, I rely heavily on banner skills to increase my survivability as well as granting buffs and regeneration to my fellow allies. I love running this build; even while doing general PvE as I can grab several mobs, drop a banner… maybe two, and go to town with some nifty aoe buffs.

More recently, however, in the higher level areas I’ve experienced banner-thieving more frequently while going about my business. I will be merrily smashing several undead faces while having a banner placed nearby for the benefit. Suddenly, out of nowhere, someone will snatch up the banner, use ‘Inspire’ to grant themselves +33% movement speed and run off with my flag of awesome. I am unable to give chase, as I am in combat… and move slower in the face of imminent danger. Effectively, someone has stolen my skill for the 90ish second duration.

I propose a rather simple solution. Allow banners to be picked up, solely by those in the party with said warrior. Hopefully doing that will keep these blasted skill thieves at bay — as well as banners not being picked up by random players just trying to loot a heaping murder-pile… because that gets annoying even to me when merely trying to loot.