We’d love to get your thoughts on our three brand-new elite specializations! Were they fun to play? Did they change the way you play your profession in a meaningful way?: I will break this down by all the classes
Mesmer: Mesmer is always fun, but the new well skills aren’t. And I hate the shield. It has NOT changed how I play the profession (and I Mesmer main). I love some of the traits we get with chrono, but the skills and weapon I don’t love so much. I am still just swiping with sword 1 while waiting for the good skills to come off CD. (Daggers, please? Its more necro-like, both MH and OH) The shield is not a game changing new addition to the Mesmer armory
Guardian: This actually made guard fun, which is to say it was boring before. The bow and traps make this kittening easy… almost like being a ranger! (I mained Ranger for the first year) It certainly can really change up how guard is played, especially with the longbow (yes, its a game changer if people choose to actually play it).
Necro: WAY fun, and TOTALLY changes how it is played, sort of… they were awesome before, and they are still awesome! If I quit Mes because of that stupid shield I might just go necro. The shouts are just delightful, really, especially the minion one. The GS as a weapon for necro is a game changer.
Ele: This was actually really fun, though I can’t say it has changed how I play ele, as I really don’t play it at all. I guess I could say that this new spec makes me think I could play it more often, like it, and even do well with it! I don’t think the addition of the WH as a weapon is a game changer. (oh, what the heck was up with all the dark claws??)
Warrior: Fun in the same way that warrior was fun before (button mash face roll). I don’t think it has really changed the way warrior is played, though I did giggle a bit at the 4k burn ticks. I was excited to get a new legendary torch right as I logged in! The torch isn’t a game changing new weapon for the warrior but of all the OH weapons added with specializations it might actually get used. I also don’t like the placement of the F5 skill, makes it hard to hit (yes, I am a button masher)
Thief: I didn’t play this much past the demo storyline because of the skill lag on the dodge roll GM trait. I was having fun…. then I tried to dodge but didn’t and died. Again, and again. This has some really good potential but the way the GM trait skill activates has got to be changed. The staff skills are great, really good damage, and might just be a game changer in that there is no shadow stepping. Only complaint I heard was that none of the weapon skills have stealth. (que the QQ)
Revenant: Rev is fun till it isn’t… the Herald spec makes energy management that much harder, and I found that I had to stand back and let others do the killing if I was to maintain the passive bonuses for the group. Maybe the utility skills can give back a small amount of energy when they are put on CD? (dependant upon being active for X# of secs, and triggers on either active skill or dropping off due to lack of energy to maintain) That being said, a shield is a good specialization weapon for them because you might find yourself not having the energy to attack, just defend. Has a problem with F5 placement (cannot see the carrot to change the F1 skill)
During daytime, we’re showing two new outposts and a big pile of events that go along with them. Are they fun? Do they tell a compelling narrative that helps bring you into the world? Do the events feel meaningful, challenging, and interesting?:
I absolutely loved the story line with Faren, going all Tarzan in his underoos. The dialogue here was priceless. These events seem better put together than the ones from the first beta, and even the demo personal story had better flow. I appreciated the little speech bubbles the allies had indicating they would give you their opinion on the current situation.
Does the Mastery system feel like a system that works to provide meaningful progression? Does it make you care about experience and Mastery points? Does it provide a framework that you think we could regularly add more to in live updates? Knowing your progress won’t get wiped, does it make you want to learn as many Masteries as possible so you can use them to overcome additional challenges later?:
These questions seem to be asking for answers both for as to how it works in beta, and how we think it will work after release. I think having the masteries and all toons created being carried over from beta to beta really helps us out. People want the beta progress to be carried over after release, too, but its not feasable and they will just have to be disappointed. You can navigate the new maps without all of the specific cultural skills, but your life will better with them. I would like to have had some Tyrian points to use too, since I have trained there but have no points to activate the mastery.
Gaining XP now has a meaning, again… keep adding mastery tracs and points and you will have a happy player base. In fact, do this in WvW, with masteries specifically for it, and we will love it. Also, what about the orders we joined? There should be mastery tracks for that too, they should mean something again! (OK, other than just a nice set of armor and weapon skins)
Overall thoughts: I bought the expansion as soon as it was for sale, so you know I am already in it to win it… I think these new maps will provide a cool new vertical environment, and lots of group content here (you die alone, really). But overall the specializations and masteries should reinvigorate the core game too! Not to mention new skins, for those of us who like to dress up our virtual dollies. Still waiting to see the new guild halls and raids.
