I’ve been thinking a lot about the rumors about necromancer getting shouts, and personally I feel that it would be a terrible idea depending on how they incorporate it. (I will be outlining all specs too)
Necromancer
The elite spec will be getting GS. If Marjory is used as an example (She imbues her dead sister Belinda into her sword(this could be a reference to ritualist, considering that they were able to amplify their weapons abilities (this created a offensive or defensive support role in the ritualist’s mechanics.)) I think Necromancer will gain the ability to imbue power/souls into their ally’s weapon or their own weapon (shouts could possibly help with that but I doubt it). This should give Necromancers some love in PvE and WvW and maybe PvP for skirmished fights and overall ability to create an advantageous situation for themselves and allies. Now for the utilities, if the soul reaping/ soul imbuing situation takes place then the shout utilities will be quite strange unless the Necromancer is calling on spirits to give him power (Like Goku’s spirit Bomb) which is very possible. I think I would be more excited if they were given Manipulations or Meditations then they would be able to full up on the idea of spirits. Essentially this would allow them to manipulate the world around them to give them access to defensive spirit abilities (such as calling on a spirit to block the next attack or calling on a spirit to empower your weapons and allies weapon). This idea of spirit samuris (GS for necro and Belinda’s GS is a Katana (Coincidence? I THINK NOT!)) has been around in the fantasy business for some time like examples of this are in games like Final Fantasy (tactics is good example there) or Mortal Kombat (Kenshi) or even in the Anime Bleach. The reason why this is relevant because they are trying to expand on the profession and bring in new themes and play styles like the “Chronomancer” or “Dragonhunter”. I have no idea how the profession mechanic will change, but I think it will have something to do with a spirit form or power fighting along side you like Yamato (Nero’s Awakening of the Sword) in Devil May Cry 4 (personally that would bring me back to maining my Necro). I know this seems like revenant stuff, but then my question is then why give Marjory a spirit theme? Is she a Revenant? I THINK NOT!
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Elementalist
Firstly, there has been datamined info that they’re going to get the sword. This too me will give them a more frontline role which in turn could result in them getting shouts. My reasoning for this is that their Elite Spec is called “Tempest”. Tempest: A violent windy storm(Weather). Windy Storm? that could very easily be pointing at air magic, but I think its pointing at “Weather Control” and now the question is how will they control the weather? I think they will get shouts to do this. I means they will be given a frontline role and their support won’t be solely on traits and weapons skills. I think shouts will give them the opportunity to support their allies with utility based support skills. This could be completely wrong, but I think it will sort of give them some possiblities instead of focusing on cantrips and using their weapons as support, instead this may give them the opportunity to survive without cantrips. These ideas set again can be supported by final fantasy (tactics is yet again a nice reference) and other Animes or Films, like Storm from X-men or Sinbad from Magi The Labyrinth of Magic. Also a major idea I had were skills from GW1, Thunderclap or Invoke Lightning.
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Thief
Not sure what to write, everyone has already jumped on the thief sniper spec (so have I actually :p). So just read the thief forum for its speculations.
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reserved for Warrior
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reserved for Ranger
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reserved for Engineer
I would very much like to hear your thoughts on the subject, and whether or not my ideas are plausible or completely of track, or generally absurd.
Thank you for reading