Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

The eighth Elite Specialization I’d like to introduce in what they should do for a Canthan expansion is the Phase Shifter:

Elite Specialization: The Phase Shifter

Phase Shifters are Canthan elementalists who have learned to use and manipulate the powers of the last remaining essence of Shiro Tagachi’s Jade Wind. The Phase Shifter Elite Specialization gives the Elementalist a Hammer, Wells, and Phase Shifting. Hammers allow Elementalists to interrupt foes and deal heavy elemental AoE damage. Phase Shifters can also use their wells to cause AoE pulses of elemental damage before emitting a final pulse that gives enemies some sort of movement impairing condition along with boons for allies. An example is the Well of Jade, which pulses cold damage, and at the end turns foes to Jade and gives them the chill effect, along with giving allies protection. Finally, Phase Shifters also get a new mechanic: Phase-Shifting. As they fight, they gain Jade Wind Essence, and when they build up enough, they can Phase-Shift the element they are attuned to for a short time. For example, when they built up enough Jade Wind Essence, and they were attuned to Earth, they could phase shift it to Nature for a short time to give their weapon Nature specific powers. If they were attuned to Water they could phase shift it to Jade, Fire to Ash, and Air to Wind.

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

The seventh Elite Specialization I’d like to introduce in what they should do for a Canthan expansion is the Bounty Hunter:

Elite Specialization: The Bounty Hunter

Bounty Hunters are rangers who wonder the ruined lands of Cantha, hunting criminals in exchange for the Empire of the Dragon’s wealth. The Bounty Hunter Elite Specialization gives the Ranger duel Pistols, and Tricks. Duel Pistols allow Rangers to deal fast ranged damage and inflict conditions like cripple and bleeding. Tricks allow them to more easily hunt and capture their foes, and do anything from immobilizing and blinding them, to crippling them and inflicting poisons.

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

The sixth Elite Specialization I’d like to introduce in what they should do for a Canthan expansion is the Zealot:

Elite Specialization: The Zealot

Zealots are the descendants of the Ministry of Purity who have dedicated themselves to cleansing the corrupted lands of Cantha. The Zealot Elite Specialization gives the Guardian an off-hand Sword, Wells, and Purifications to replace Virtues. Off-hand Swords allow Guardians to duel-wield Swords and deal increased damage to enemies. Wells placed by the Zealot create AoE pulses of burning, along with other boons, conditions, and effects. The Zealot’s Purifications allow them to place symbols that periodically make an effect (for example, Purification of Justice will place a symbol that periodically burns foes.

I’d love to attend the VIP party! Sending PM soon.

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

A Final Word On The New Race Idea

Before I continue introducing the elite specs, I’d like to review the new race idea I posted earlier: the Tengu. The Tengu have always been an important race, even if they so far have chosen to keep hidden their city. They are perfect candidates for a race, and meet all the qualifications. It almost seems as if ANet is waiting. Waiting for the right time to make them into the next playable race. I’ve never thought ANet should make a new class or race for each expansion, the races would seem boring, and the classes wouldn’t be unique. I think the Tengu should be added for the same reason they added the Revenant in Heart of Thorns: it’s the missing part. Revenants were the class that was missing, and needed to be put in to balance the classes: three for each type. Tengu are the race that’s missing, with a Capital City and a big story to tell as well.

Tengu: The Tengu are a race of avian humanoids who make their home in the Dominion of Winds, along the Tarnished Coast. They are highly protective of their culture, and have only recently opened their city to the other races of Tyria in hopes of making an alliance to go back to the exotic lands of Cantha.

Starting Zone: Shing Jea Island (Instanced)

Racial Capital: The Dominion of Winds

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

The fifth Elite Specialization I’d like to introduce in what they should do for a Canthan expansion is the Shadow Knight:

Elite Specialization: The Shadow Knight

Shadow Knights are Canthan thieves who have stepped out of the dark to battle as frontline fighters, bringing their highly trained skills in the shadow arts to trick their enemies while applying heavy damage to them. The Shadow Knight Elite Specialization gives the Thief a Great Sword, access to Phantasms, and the special skill “Mark of Shadows”. Great Swords give the Shadow Knight the ability to deal large amounts of damage. Their Phantasms range from ones that heal allies when they attack, to a Phantasm that inflicts slow and other conditions on enemies. The Shadow Knight’s “Mark of Shadow” special skill allows them to mark an enemy. Later, they can activate the mark, making them and all of their Phantasms shadow step to that enemy, the Phantasms shattering and dealing AOE damage upon arrival.

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

The fourth Elite Specialization I’d like to introduce in what they should do for a Canthan expansion is the Peacekeeper:

Elite Specialization: The Peacekeeper

Once, the warriors of Cantha sought glory, readily charging into battle to bring honor to themselves and their family lines. Now, they have defected from the Empire of the Dragon, and live in solitude, perfecting their arts so they can devote themselves to protecting others, and restoring order to a broken land. The Peacekeeper elite specialization allows Warriors to wield a Staff and utilize Mantras. Their burst skill is Silent Meditation, where for a time, determined by the amount of adrenaline they have, they become invulnerable and apply boons and minor healing to themselves and allies. During this time they cannot complete any actions. They rejoin the battle when Silent Meditation ends.

TrevZach.3807:

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

The third Elite Specialization I’d like to introduce in what they should do for a Canthan expansion is the Plague Keeper:

Elite Specialization: The Plague Keeper

Since Shiro’s second death, mysterious necromancers have secretly kept his plague-like Affliction alive, waiting for the right time to use it. Now that Cantha is once again in danger, necromancers are using the plague for good, unleashing their devastating powers on the enemies of the land. The Plague Keeper elite specialization allows Necromancers to duel wield Axes, and gain access to a new Utility-Skill Type: Afflictions. Afflictions are similar to a Thief’s Poisons, as they inflict conditions and an effect of some sort. What makes them different is that they also inflict the target with a dormant condition that cannot be removed, and affects them so that when they die, an Afflicted minion rises from their corpse.

When I was thinking about what to do with the Necromancer, I remembered the Afflicted from Guild Wars: Factions. They’re disgusting, but isn’t that what Necromancers are all about? Being able to duel wield Axes and tear foes to shreds with an kitten nal of plague creatures at your back just sounds really cool.

Oh haha. I was saying the word it corrected to “kitten al” as in like a collection or army of plague creatures or something but I guess it thought the first part was a curse word.

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

The third Elite Specialization I’d like to introduce in what they should do for a Canthan expansion is the Plague Keeper:

Elite Specialization: The Plague Keeper

Since Shiro’s second death, mysterious necromancers have secretly kept his plague-like Affliction alive, waiting for the right time to use it. Now that Cantha is once again in danger, necromancers are using the plague for good, unleashing their devastating powers on the enemies of the land. The Plague Keeper elite specialization allows Necromancers to duel wield Axes, and gain access to a new Utility-Skill Type: Afflictions. Afflictions are similar to a Thief’s Poisons, as they inflict conditions and an effect of some sort. What makes them different is that they also inflict the target with a dormant condition that cannot be removed, and affects them so that when they die, an Afflicted minion rises from their corpse.

When I was thinking about what to do with the Necromancer, I remembered the Afflicted from Guild Wars: Factions. They’re disgusting, but isn’t that what Necromancers are all about? Being able to duel wield Axes and tear foes to shreds with an kitten nal of plague creatures at your back just sounds really cool.

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

The second Elite Specialization I’d like to introduce in what they should do for a Canthan expansion is the Oracle:

Elite Specialization: The Oracle

For hundreds of years in Cantha, fortune tellers have supposedly been able to tell the future, and tell people their fortunes. Wether their tellings are true or not, Mesmers coming to Cantha seem to have found a way to see the future, to a degree. What might surprise most people though is that they have also found out how to control it. These Mesmers have quickly become known as Oracles. Oracles can use War-Horns to use new off-hand spells, and gain access to a new Utility-Skill type: Fortunes. Fortunes are placed on friend or foe with an initial effect, and also place a dormant Fortune on them, that the Oracle can activate when ever they wish (as long as the target is still alive). An example is one that deals a small amount of damage at first, and when activated deals a larger amount of damage along with a poison condition.

I felt like this would be perfect for the Mesmer, as Mesmers aesthetically are similar to fortune tellers, and deal with time related magic. Also, the elite specialization is very Canthan inspired. The new Fortune skill sounded like a fun new thing for Mesmers to be able to use, and since the Revenant got a new Utility-Skill Type, it only seemed fair to give some of the other professions new ones to.

Keep checking this forum, I’ll be posting about the Necromancer Elite Spec next.

The Greyhawk.9107:

TrevZach.3807:

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

This post is describing the first Elite Specialization in my idea for what they should do for a Canthan expansion. This is probably the most obvious one that first came to me: the Ritualist. Here is the first Elite Specialization for Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South:

Elite Specialization: The Ritualist

Revenants coming to the lands of Cantha will find themselves embracing the legendary spirit of Master Togo, becoming Ritualists. Ritualists can use a Scepter to access new spells, and use a new Utility Skill Type: Urns. Urns contain the ashes of the great heroes of Canthan histroy, and allow Ritualists to have a certain boon when carrying them. When dropped, Urns create an effect, wether it be healing everyone around them or blinding foes near it.

The purpose of Elite Specializations is, as many designers have said, to make the profession almost feel like a different one. The Revenant is a very good opportunity to bring back the old Ritualist profession from Guild Wars 1. This seemed like the perfect Elite Spec for the Revenant, being both blind and having a strong connection with the Mists.

Why do people keep thinking Rits and Revs are blind? They wear the blindfold to block out distractions so they can better focus on the Mists (ok thats an over simplification, but thats the jist of it).

Oh right, haha. Forgot about that. :P

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

This post is describing the first Elite Specialization in my idea for what they should do for a Canthan expansion. This is probably the most obvious one that first came to me: the Ritualist. Here is the first Elite Specialization for Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South:

Elite Specialization: The Ritualist

Revenants coming to the lands of Cantha will find themselves embracing the legendary spirit of Master Togo, becoming Ritualists. Ritualists can use a Scepter to access new spells, and use a new Utility Skill Type: Urns. Urns contain the ashes of the great heroes of Canthan histroy, and allow Ritualists to have a certain boon when carrying them. When dropped, Urns create an effect, wether it be healing everyone around them or blinding foes near it.

The purpose of Elite Specializations is, as many designers have said, to make the profession almost feel like a different one. The Revenant is a very good opportunity to bring back the old Ritualist profession from Guild Wars 1. This seemed like the perfect Elite Spec for the Revenant, being both blind and having a strong connection with the Mists.

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

New Race: Tengu

The Tengu have always been that race that everyone wanted, but never really made it. This expansion would be the perfect place to introduce them as a playable one.

Starting Area: Shing Jea Island (Instanced)

As a Tengu, you’re story would begin before the rise of the Death Dragon, in the western part of Shing Jea Island. The tutorial, along with the first personal story chapter, would take place here. Once you finished the first chapter, and came of level, you could go to present day Tyria (via a ship to the old Lion’s Arch in the story). However, you cannot go back, and none of the other races can go either, as that area is in the past. It acts similarly to Pre-Searing Ascalon in Guild Wars 1.

Capital: Dominion of Winds

This is obvious, as it is just the right size for a capital city, and is the haven of all Tengu. You would be transported here after choosing to leave the starting area, and be able to go to any nearby area you wish to start exploring and such. The city would be open to all races at this point (like the other capital cities).

Personal Story

Like I said earlier, Chapter 1 would take place in the isntanced starting area. Chapter 2 and 3 would take place in present day Tyria, but be Tengu specific. The rest would be like any other race (joining an order, fighting the Death Dragon etc). Of course you would get choices in character creation regarding the Tengu race like any other race.

After Elona, I think Cantha is definitely an option for the next expansion. Cantha would actually be a perfect battle ground for the us to fight the Water Dragon, and the Empire of the Dragon, which is likely very corrupt and evil by now. Which is why I’m going to, for the next few weeks or so, tell what I think it should be all about, because it would really work:

Guild Wars 2: Dragon of the South

Many years ago, a dragon of death rose from the seas, and a huge wave spread in all directions. It traveled to the north, destroying Lion’s Arch and much of coastal civilization. But it also went south, far south, until it smashed into Cantha’s great capital, Kaineng City, and sent it crashing to the bottom of the Ocean. The Empire of the Dragon abandoned the rest of the city, along with the desperate, broken people, and moved to a new capital. It also, for the most part, left it’s Kurzick and Luxon servants, abandoning the mainland of Cantha. The Kurzicks and Luxons did not fight, for they did not remember such things. They had been forced into the Empire for hundreds of years, until now. Instead, they plotted silently, with the people of ruined Kaineng, to one day overthrow the Empire. Unknown to them, you have been tracking the Water Dragon, which poses a huge threat to Tyria and your new Elonian allies. It is heading to the south, and with the undead fleet mostly destroyed and the path clear, it looks like you’re following it to Cantha.

New Features:

New Race

New Elite Specializations

New Mastery

New Zones

That’s a really good point. I suppose I feel so strong about Cantha and Elona coming back because I am a longtime guild wars 1 fan. But you make a great point. And yes, I partly do just want to leave Tyria. Guild Wars 1 was so fast pased on getting new content I never got board, but Guild Wara 2 definitely has that “long slog of a story between the elder dragons”.

I would love to see new areas never seen before. That would be lots of fun. Do keep in mind though, the fact that Cantha and Elona are so nasty brings a good reason to go there and fix those problems.

I do want the dragons to end though. The Guild Wars villains were so attractive because they were smart, complicated characters, not mindless dragons. You can already see that when they released Eye of the North they were aiming toward simple, strait, evil villains.

Cantha! Goodness, I loved that campaign. It was so fun, and it was gorgeous. I wish everyday that they would make it, and I’m really surprised they haven’t answered to the cries of their community. I long to see what they could do now with their gorgeous art and powerful game engine.

And, if they would be willing to put in the extra work, they could make a tutorial area in Shing Jea and introduce the Tengu somehow. This could work by leveling them up in the island, then once they’re ready, crossing them to the mainland to participate in the expansion content. Also, they could do what WoW did with Death Knights, were if you have a max level character on your account, you can make a max Tengu that starts in Cantha and instantly participate in the expansion content.

And I love your ideas guys. Having Bubbles be trapped under the Jade Sea is a perfect excuse to get Cantha involved in the GW2 story. Plus, not much lore has been made for Bubbles, so it wouldn’t defy any existing lore ANet has developed.

Please make a Cantha expansion! ANet, I will instantly pre-order, I’ll buy top deluxe or collectors edition, and I’ll be as involved in it as I possibly can. Please bring back Cantha!