Guild Wars 2

I think the cry “OP!” was more of a reflex if anything.

Rangers have been SO used to not having boon generation on the same level as other professions that when we finally get a genuinely great skill that should have been baseline all along, it feels OP. I’ve been fighting a few condi thief builds, necros, guardians and I genuinely get only a marginal benefit in my current condi bunker build.

Tragic Positive.9356:

The biggest issue is:

This ability holds mechanic that Rangers needed baseline (pet boon share).
Plus they added a nice trick to make it working both ways.

It’s not OP in terms of balance. It’s OP in terms of competition with other heals available.

Agree with this. I’ve been running around trying a few different builds. I admit we’ve not had much play time with the new WHaO but I’m not yet finding it particularly OP as such.

wolfyrik.2017:

Bryzy.2719:

NapTooN.6283:

I agree that it is not the End of all arguments, but at least this poll will hopefully reduce this always repeating circlejerk of “Most of the Rangers think that Druid sucks” “no no, the Ranger Community totally loves the Druid”.

I don’t know about you, but i am bored of all those “I know what the majority of the community in this Forum thinks, and you are totally wrong”-Posts.

Although I have a scientific background and know you shouldn’t accept evidence without stats, I agree that the whining from people on here is really annoying and I’m glad that we have at least something visual to shut that particular argument up.

I seriously question your claim to have “a scientific brackground” on two counts:
1. I’ve never in my entire professional or personal life encountered anyone who genuinely works in a scientific field to use that phrase, whearas I’ve seen plenty of con-artists use it. Several reasons, for one many scientificly minded people are aware of what fallacious reasoning is, and so are careful not to list their expertise as any kind of evidence in day to day conversations. I’m not saying that you’re a con-artist, just that it sets off alarms when I read it on the web.

2. If you think a poll gives “something visual” to shut up an argument then you’re not very skeptical and have an poor understanding of what constitues persuasive evidence. Polls are extremely unreliable for many reasons, several of which people have already described in this thread. Again, not saying you’re lying, but this gives me pause for concern.

An additional 3rd point, that you disagree with the people who dislike the Druid, does not make them “whining”. In fact, you’re complaints about their arguments are the most whiney thing I’ve read on the forum for days. Pot Kettle Black, mate.

As for your poll, one the most obvious points that you’ve missed is that people who are dissapointed are less likely to continue engaging and fill out random polls. Something that real scientists tend to think about and take into account, when engaging a study, even a simple one. Mood influences engagement and enthusiasm. This is basic psychology.

It’s funny but most of the science graduates I know, tend to have better reasoning skills than that. You must be an outlier in the community.

Wow, that was a bit of an unnecessary attack wasn’kitten Are you autistic? You obviously didn’t read my previous posts in this thread. I said it’s human nature to think that non-statistically-proven data that shows a strong trend towards a particular outcome can be used to back up their argument. The point I was making in that quote was that unfortunately despite my scientific background (BSc Hons in Biology from Lancaster University, though I don’t work in a science-based job) I recognise that I sometimes fall victim to human nature too and will tend to do the same in an argument in order to reinforce a point, even though I’m well aware it is not statistically significant. It’s a pretty thinly veiled attempt at attacking me because of the fact that I clearly disagree with the whiners with whom you share a view on the Druid. Also it’s not my poll, I didn’t make it. Learn to read.

I love Irenio

<3 xoxox <3

I don’t need to argue anymore. We have a spec that can be a healer, most of us have what we want: http://strawpoll.me/5609519/r , QQers will have to wait their turn for the next Espec.

NapTooN.6283:

I agree that it is not the End of all arguments, but at least this poll will hopefully reduce this always repeating circlejerk of “Most of the Rangers think that Druid sucks” “no no, the Ranger Community totally loves the Druid”.

I don’t know about you, but i am bored of all those “I know what the majority of the community in this Forum thinks, and you are totally wrong”-Posts.

Although I have a scientific background and know you shouldn’t accept evidence without stats, I agree that the whining from people on here is really annoying and I’m glad that we have at least something visual to shut that particular argument up.

Ashen.2907:

Bryzy.2719:

Ashen.2907:

A mandatory in game poll might. This will not.

You will never settle what all Rangers in game think. But Rangers on the forums are a population in their own right; a population that cares enough about the profession to post and read threads about it. Granted it probably won’t statistically settle anything, but this poll will provide valuable insight into the argument.

It definitely won’t statistically settle anything. Any value in terms of insight will be purely subjective and so completely incapable of serving the intended purpose, to settle the argument.

This poll has as much merit in terms of settling any argument here as would a contest to post the cutest puppy photos.

But puppy photos are fun so its not a total loss.

I think it’s human nature to view the outcome (which will inevitably be most people in favour of the Druid) as material to argue a point with. Obviously in the world of science and mathematics it’s entirely illogical to suggest something is evidence without statistical proof, but I doubt that will stop people on here from using the results of this poll to help “prove” their points.

Ashen.2907:

A mandatory in game poll might. This will not.

You will never settle what all Rangers in game think. But Rangers on the forums are a population in their own right; a population that cares enough about the profession to post and read threads about it. Granted it probably won’t statistically settle anything, but this poll will provide valuable insight into the argument.

Tip your fedoras harder, won’t change anything.

Enjoy Druid.

Solid Gold.9310:

Bryzy.2719:

Solid Gold.9310:

Bryzy.2719:

^ THEN DON’T TAKE THE DRUID TRAITLINE AND DON’T BE A BLOODY HEALER.

Jesus Christ what is so difficult to grasp?

Your argument amounts to “Druid didn’t take the direction I wanted it to boohoo”.

The rest of us are happy with it, you’ll just have to wait for the next Espec or – a wild idea – continue playing Ranger as you have been doing these last 3 years.

Like I said, Rangers are likely to be pressured into going healer.

And there’s really no need to be so aggressive, just saying how “I” feel about it.

And like I said, if you don’t want to play healer, don’t play it.

The only potential “pressure” from others would come from the Raid content: you’re forgetting the game modes that are far more significant than Raids: WvW, PvP and open world PvE, in all of which there is nobody to kick you for not being a healer.

Also, you’ve played Ranger for this long while we’ve always had kick-threats, what’s changed? We actually have an option now to be useful in a different way. And that’s all it is – an option. If you don’t want to be a healer then roll a zerker frost spotter Ranger.

You’re whining about how you feel about it. Constantly.

If you want it to change how about offering constructive feedback and suggestions as to what you want to see, instead of boo-hooing like a child who hasn’t got what he wanted.

Still aggressive I see.

By “aggressive” you mean I’m putting forward decent arguments that you can’t counter, so you instead to to discredit my credibility by calling me “aggressive” and offering no rebuke of your own.

Tapioca.9062:

Bryzy.2719:

Tapioca.9062:

Bryzy.2719:

Tapioca.9062:

snip

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I have no doubts that you’re willing to assert it. However you’ve also made it clear that you’re willing to 1. assert many things that aren’t correct. 2. If the majority of players in the community were happy with this we wouldn’t be seeing the kind dissatisfaction and friction that we are. You are not in a position to speak for the entire community, no matter how condescending you choose to be.

3. In addition to this, it is a farce to argue that Druid is a better thematic fit than Chronomancer which is a direct thematic follow-on to existing Mesmer themes. The same can be said of Berserker and Scrapper. They are much better fits than Druid will ever be. Both in function and theme.

4. To continue on with things you willingly and incorrectly assert as true, Druid is not a new profession. It is a new trait line. No matter how much it feels like an entirely new profession given its complete disconnect in theme and function from its profession. So no, you don’t stop being a Ranger when you trait into the Druid line. In Guild Wars 2 all Druids are Rangers even if all Rangers aren’t Druids. So you can’t just handwave away the inconvenient truth that nobody made a Ranger to play like this.

5. You can also claim that you don’t have to play the Druid as a healer, but when every single one of your minor traits is related to healing in some way if you’re not healing in some capacity you’re wasting traits. Which is the principle problem, given that this has nothing at all to do with Rangers or existing Ranger mechanics. None of the skills interact with the pet in any meaningful way and none of the pet mechanics are changed. It’s ridiculous. We don’t see Mesmers cobbling together robo-minions, or Elementalists leaping around like Spiderman on performance enhancing substances, or Necromancers channeling holy energy in new and interesting ways. Because those wouldn’t fit with their existing profession themes in the same way that turning into spacey healy man has absolutely nothing to do with Rangers.

1. How is it not correct? You’re arguing against my assertion with your own.

2. I speak on behalf of the majority voice of the Ranger forum community. As such, the majority voice as you will see from all Druid threads on here is in favour of the Druid. Therefore a statement that asserts most are in favour of the Druid is more reasonable than one that suggests they are not, with less evidence – i.e. less people are showing dissatisfaction at Druid than those showing appreciation – which is evident from ratio of posts on here.

3. Ironic, because you argued against a “farce” with your own farce. That matter is entirely subjective, and you just argued entirely from subjectivity. Also interesting to note that most of your response is directed towards the lesser, non-issues here.

4. Again, a non-issue you’re putting too much emphasis on to try and make your argument look more substantial

5. I don’t “claim” that we don’t have to play Druid as a healer, I state it as a matter of fact. I will repeat: specialising into being better at healing does not make you a healer. If you don’t like the fact that the Druid traitline has less interaction with the pet, how about discussing that in some constructive feedback rather than just whining like a child as you have been doing throughout the rest of the forum.

Solid Gold.9310:

Bryzy.2719:

^ THEN DON’T TAKE THE DRUID TRAITLINE AND DON’T BE A BLOODY HEALER.

Jesus Christ what is so difficult to grasp?

Your argument amounts to “Druid didn’t take the direction I wanted it to boohoo”.

The rest of us are happy with it, you’ll just have to wait for the next Espec or – a wild idea – continue playing Ranger as you have been doing these last 3 years.

Like I said, Rangers are likely to be pressured into going healer.

And there’s really no need to be so aggressive, just saying how “I” feel about it.

And like I said, if you don’t want to play healer, don’t play it.

The only potential “pressure” from others would come from the Raid content: you’re forgetting the game modes that are far more significant than Raids: WvW, PvP and open world PvE, in all of which there is nobody to kick you for not being a healer.

Also, you’ve played Ranger for this long while we’ve always had kick-threats, what’s changed? We actually have an option now to be useful in a different way. And that’s all it is – an option. If you don’t want to be a healer then roll a zerker frost spotter Ranger.

You’re whining about how you feel about it. Constantly.

If you want it to change how about offering constructive feedback and suggestions as to what you want to see, instead of boo-hooing like a child who hasn’t got what he wanted.

^ THEN DON’T TAKE THE DRUID TRAITLINE AND DON’T BE A BLOODY HEALER.

Jesus Christ what is so difficult to grasp?

Your argument amounts to “Druid didn’t take the direction I wanted it to boohoo”.

The rest of us are happy with it, you’ll just have to wait for the next Espec or – a wild idea – continue playing Ranger as you have been doing these last 3 years.

Tapioca.9062:

Bryzy.2719:

Tapioca.9062:

Apparently I just have to get used to my new role as a Monk. But at least we get to be a medium armour Monk now? Maybe our next elite spec will be Smiting. I liked playing a smiter.

The QQ is real.

Here’s an alternative for you: don’t take the Druid traitline.

There. Now you don’t have to be better at healing. I along with most others however will happily enjoy being healing Druids and adding diversity to the rest of our builds without you.

Rangers get their existing profession mechanic augmented by… Oh wait, no, it gets completely ignored in favour of having something completely unrelated to Rangers being strapped on out of nowhere.

It’s not just that I don’t want to play a healer. Sure, I don’t, but who made their Ranger before the announcement with the idea of playing a Ranger as a healer? What I don’t like is that even taken as the concept as an elite specialisation Druid is a poor fit thematically for Ranger as a profession. Druid would make a great elite specialisation for a Monk which is why it’s a shame that we don’t have a Monk profession that it could be given to instead of being jury-rigged onto us.

1. You’re not a Ranger anymore if you take the Elite specialisation, you’re a Druid.

2. “who made their Ranger before the announcement with the idea of playing a Ranger as a healer?”

This is a redundant argument. Firstly you’re not playing a Ranger as a healer, you’d be playing a Druid. That’s if you wanted to heal at all, and if you choose to specialise as a Druid. Look up the definition of ‘specialisation’. As I’ve said around a million times now, taking the Druid traitline does not automatically make you a healer. It makes you better at healing. Here, have 4 other builds that use the Druid traitline that aren’t healing focussed: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/ranger/Druid-Build-Brainstorming-Templates-for-BWE/first#post5540015

3. I’m willing to assert that most of the Ranger community disagrees with you when you claim that Druid is not a decent fit for the Ranger theme. It is arguably the best Espec in terms of follow-on theme. In virtually every other MMO that has a Druid, it derives from a Ranger or Hunter class. Ranger is nature themed. Druid is nature themed (you can’t get much more natural than celestial bodies, of which I’ll remind you the Earth and everything it contains is one).

CptnDrunk.8361:

I just hope they rework the party system to help healers receive rewards. A party kill tagging system would be nice so a heal gets credit for the groups accomplishments.

Yeah, I think this will be one of the biggest issues raised in group content given the current nature of the “get past dat damage threshold or no loot for you!” It certainly needs to take into account group aid effort like healing and rezzing IMO.

Tapioca.9062:

Apparently I just have to get used to my new role as a Monk. But at least we get to be a medium armour Monk now? Maybe our next elite spec will be Smiting. I liked playing a smiter.

The QQ is real.

Here’s an alternative for you: don’t take the Druid traitline.

There. Now you don’t have to be better at healing. I along with most others however will happily enjoy being healing Druids and adding diversity to the rest of our builds without you.

SkiTz.4590:

you are automatically better at healing…. at the expense of DPS/Group Support.
What aura or boons can druid give to a team? nothing (still same ole spotter/frost spirit)
I don’t see versatility – I see a lot of heals – way more than necessary , a couple condi cleanses – good and NO boon/aura share and group utilities (only one is stealth/superspeed lol….)

You can’t say its versatile when 80% of the spec is purely healing……the other 20% is some PbAOE CC, minor condis, glyphs

This is because it is one traitline. It is a specialisation. There are trade-offs.

You could moan just the same about Marksmanship not providing enough pet support, or skirmishing not providing enough CC.

You can’t have your cake and eat it.

Levetty.1279:

Tapioca.9062:

Druid feels like a new one weapon profession created with the single-minded purpose of having a healer for raids and then strapped onto the back of Rangers because where else can you jam it in? Even if I thought this was a good thing, and I don’t, what happens when Anet abandon raids like they abandoned dungeons and fractals? We’re the ones stuck with the gimmick spec designed for a specific purpose that’s become obsolete. As it stands Druid is way too over-centralised with its focus on healing. Seriously? It has like eight different heals and no real synergy or interaction with other trait lines or core Ranger mechanics. And at this point, can Druid even be adjusted in a meaningful way considering we’re under four weeks out from launch and we don’t even begin testing until next week? You could have given this spec to Thieves and it would have fit just as well.

I just want to second this.

Its a shame that Rangers once again get the shaft this time by having to be the class that carries the new ‘Hey WoW players come play our game’ spec.

It’s ironic because it’s actually the critics like yourselves who have the single-track mindset, not the Druid traitline.

You know that this game consists, and will consist of more than just Raids right?

Open world PvE, and in particular WvW and PvP are two bigger components of the game than Raids. That’s three additional game modes in which the druid traitline and its healing aspects alone will be useful.

That brings us onto your next QQ – healing. The Druid traitline is forcing nobody to be a dedicated healer. I’ve said this time and time again. I made a thread showing 4 other potential build focuses using the Druid traitline other than to just be an all-out healbot, and they’re just the beginning.

The Druid traitline has been created with a specific purpose and direction: to provide its user with more sustain (whether selfish or outward) and CC capabilities. This is why it’s called a ‘specialisation’. What if the Druid had specialised in pure physical damage? Pure condi damage? you’d be QQing just the same because the direction it had taken wasn’t the one you wanted.

Anet have picked a solid direction for the Druid, and that in itself is a positive thing for the Ranger – regardless of what that direction is – since we’ve been lacking clear direction from day one.

Kaiyanwan.8521:

While people might or might not like the new profession mechanics for the professions besides the druid, they all have three things in common:

- they have a damage component that can be adjusted
- the traits have synergy and offer support and damage
- they are all having a use in old world content

Druid on the other side:

- CA is all about healing, switching to it will ALWAYS be a loss damage wise unless they completely rework it, which makes it super situational
- the trait line is all about healing, so no use for it in PvE unless you want to heal
- CA has zero use in old-world content – running druid there actually hurts your group

The new druid mechanic and traits are just so incredibly narrow that all rangers who look any further than the release of HoT and has been playing GW2 before should ask themselves, how can this work.

Druid is useless in the old world. Druid might be useless in the new areas. The only place that druid might be usefull is raids and possibly only for a short amount of time.

I don’t want to “wait and see”, I want to bring up obvious concerns before the release.

I clearly prefer things fixed before they go live, or at least they can start working earlier on the stuff and it might not take 3 years + to make the specialization worth traiting.

Maybe everything will just work fine, but for now, feedback may save us a lot of trouble later on.

Good job the Druid traitline isn’t designed for old world content then

Dadnir.5038:

Bryzy.2719:

Hahahaha, isn’t this just typical, though?

Rangers FINALLY get something good and everyone else QQs.

Hope the Devs don’t bow to the pressure of the other professions’ whining this time.

Historically:

1. Ranger gets something nice (maybe once every 2 years?)

2. Other professions are so used to Rangers not presenting a threat, they hate Rangers stepping up to their level so they QQ like mad

3. Other professions continue QQ and pressuring Devs until Ranger gets nerfed again.

Bryzzy, I wonder if you get the fact that this thread was all about Irony. If you were getting it, does that mean you don’t defend your admant point of view about the Druid? I can’t understand people that defend this celestial form creepy choice when the dev could have done something in the same line, totally viable and involving the ranger core mechanism. (Because yes! Druid is not a new class, druid is only a specialization of the ranger!)

Whatever, the Druid is a better necromancer than the necromancer, he got a shroud and at least when druid is moa’ed it’s pet ain’t destroyed.

NB.: I wonder if you won’t beg for buff instead after the next beta week end. All in all the druid spec is far from being as impressive as you think. Remember it, you won’t be able to camp the celestial form (that’s the most important thing to keep in mind).

I know the thread is being ironic, and after reading your post I can tell you that’s it’s being ironic about people like you.

Chaos Archangel.5071:

Bryzy.2719:

Urgh another “Ranger finally got something nice so let’s QQ” thread.

Just back off and let us be viable for once.

Ironically, not a single person seriously QQ’d in this thread. And there are some compliments to the elite.

=D Reading helps.

The title of the thread alone is tantamount to QQ, or at least trying to instigate negativity. Though I do concede that the fact that OP used “obligatory” ironically suggests that QQ about Rangers getting nice stuff is always going to happen. I take it back.

Was waiting for your post :P

Just gonna copy/paste my 2 cents from the thread that got merged into the abyss with everything else:

Let’s put this into context:

Irenio – not only have you created a desirable role in a limited amount of time, but you’ve done so while creating an awesome new mechanic, attractive gameplay, useful (and incredibly cool) pets, arguably the best new traitline of all elite specs, detracted minimal value from other professions, created new build opportunities for non-staff/non-support Druids, single handedly (aside the raid designers of course) created a medium used to bypass the zerker cancer meta, and finally and most importantly listened and recognised base Ranger concerns.

Regardless of whether a healer/support role was what you were looking for, you can’t deny the positives that have come from this. Fantastic news for Rangers and Druids alike. We are the most deserving profession of a change like this. Huge pat on the back to this guy.

^ Celestial Form generation I feel will be picked up as a potential issue pretty quickly in the BWE, in particular the damage vs. healing contribution to its re-filling.

Urgh another “Ranger finally got something nice so let’s QQ” thread.
Just back off and let us be viable for once.

Urgh another “Ranger finally got something nice so let’s QQ” thread.

Just back off and let us be viable for once.

Hahahaha, isn’t this just typical, though?

Rangers FINALLY get something good and everyone else QQs.

Hope the Devs don’t bow to the pressure of the other professions’ whining this time.

Historically:

1. Ranger gets something nice (maybe once every 2 years?)

2. Other professions are so used to Rangers not presenting a threat, they hate Rangers stepping up to their level so they QQ like mad

3. Other professions continue QQ and pressuring Devs until Ranger gets nerfed again.

I agree, staff-holding animation needs to change to that of a spellcaster

(please )

mtpelion.4562:

Bryzy.2719:

mtpelion.4562:

The problem with healers is that in order to make them useful, you have to make them mandatory. If you make them mandatory, then you have just recreated the holy trinity. The LACK of a holy trinity was a main selling point (and the best part about) this game.

ArenaNet is going backwards by adding antique game content rather than developing new things and going forward. Raids, trinity, expansions, these are all the wrong direction for the game.

At this point it’s important to note that we can’t say for certain whether Anet has created a need for dedicated healers in PvE content until we play it.

I disagree completely that raids, trinity and expansions are the wrong direction for the game, but that’s just me.

There are plenty of games already out there that offer those things. We bought this game because it didn’t.

So yes, it is the wrong direction for this game.

The fact that you prefer it to go in the wrong direction, notwithstanding.

Excuse me, but my opinion is not less valid than yours. It is not for you to say what is or isn’t the wrong direction for the game. Also, please only speak for yourself. I did not buy this game because it didn’t have Raids, Trinity and Expansion prospects, I bought it because it’s fun to play. The fact that Trinity may be creeping into the game is something I like. Just because you don’t doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the “wrong” direction.

mtpelion.4562:

The problem with healers is that in order to make them useful, you have to make them mandatory. If you make them mandatory, then you have just recreated the holy trinity. The LACK of a holy trinity was a main selling point (and the best part about) this game.

ArenaNet is going backwards by adding antique game content rather than developing new things and going forward. Raids, trinity, expansions, these are all the wrong direction for the game.

At this point it’s important to note that we can’t say for certain whether Anet has created a need for dedicated healers in PvE content until we play it.

I disagree completely that raids, trinity and expansions are the wrong direction for the game, but that’s just me.

Another clickbait title.

You can’t assert that no Druids will be wanted in PvE content until we’ve seen it. You can instead ask the question “will Druids be wanted in PvE content?” and get some opinionated responses.

As for facts… well all we know so far is what we can take from the word of the Devs (specifically Irenio, Rubi and the Raid designers). Irenio and Rubi discussed briefly that the direction that HoT PvE is taking is more challenging and current zerker meta parties will not be able to survive with current tactics. More support-focussed builds will be needed to help the zerkers push through the content. This is what the Druid traitline is latching onto – perhaps this extent of physical heal support will be needed in the new content?

We can’t say for certain until we play it; we can’t say for certain that everyone else will just be able to build tankier with more self-sustain and get through the content that way, without the need for a dedicated healer.

What we can say for certain is that the healing power the Druid has been given reflects what Anet plan for the new wave of PvE content.

What frustrates me is all the people on here complaining that they “don’t want to have to be a healer”.

The Druid doesn’t force you into being just a healer.

See my build brainstorming thread for 3 other ideas other than just a healer: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/ranger/Druid-Build-Brainstorming-Templates-for-BWE/first#post5539131

Not to mention Nike’s Mad-Seed Druid build which doesn’t focus on outward healing at all.

The Druid traitline, as with all other traitlines, offers flexibility. If you are a Druid you are not automatically a healer; you are just automatically better at healing. Just like if you take the Beastmastery traitline (as I do on my condi bunker) you are not automatically a Beastmaster Ranger, you are just more effective with your pet.

Edit: just to clarify this wasn’t aimed at you OP, it was more of an add-to-the-topic post lol :P

Just a post really to summarise the nature of potential builds that could make use of the Druid traitline. Literally just the summaries here to make it easier to see the breadth of potential builds without the clog of all the detail which can come later. Obviously these may or may not be viable depending on what we observe during the BWE, but it gives an idea template for things for people to test using their own takes on armor/traits/weapons etc. I also hope this thread will show the Negative Nancys out there that you are not forced into being a healer if you take the Druid traitline.

1. Straight-up super group healbot (clerics etc.) maximised for healing power. e.g. Wilderness Survival/Nature Magic/Druid.

2. Longbow power selfish healer. Damage focus with the Druid traitline providing self-sustain/cc for the squisher builds. e.g. Marksmanship/Skirmishing/Druid

3. Druidic Beastmaster. Heavy pet-focus with the Druid acting as a secondary/support function to the pet. This may only have a use in solo PvE content – for example boss soloing. Axe+Warhorn/Staff set-up. Axe 1 provides might stacking while warhorn provides standard buffs , switch to staff for damage/cc/pet healing. Alternatively replace axe+warhorn with longbow. e.g. Marksmanship/Beastmastery/Druid (or switch out Marksmanship for another traitline giving less Druid damage support but more pet sustain focus).

4. Druidic condi bunker. Sacrifice the Beastmastery traitline for the Druid line (keeping Wilderness Survival and Nature Magic) – supplement existing condi bunker builds (Settlers etc.) with healing and/or CC. e.g. Wilderness survival/Nature magic/Druid.

5. Mcrocha: Druid Trapper. Primal Echoes + Ancient Seeds to bomb enemies in traps. Settlers/apothecary for mad sustain and Druid line for the condi removal usually lacking.

5.1. Ehecatl: Druid Trapper. http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQNAsfWjMqQ7K2tCmrAVLWYEM4m6Vtr2EB6cJNmCwlLAcyziGM-TZRFwAt3fAwTAIxJAIaZAEHCAA

Trapper Druid. Lots of bleeds, decent condi clear that leaves Poison Master open to take. Britlseback bumped up to 1,300 condi damage so it’s bleeds are actually stronger than the druid’s. Good sustain through heals and the potential for a couple different condi bursts. Resistant to slow effects but vulnerable to hard stuns.

6. HotHit: Moment of Clarity Druid. You’ve got a LOT of dazes available to you as a Druid. Take all of them and lock down some suckers. Take a greatsword and staff, the latter is needed for primal echoes, the former synergieses with MoC. Wilderness Knowledge sets up the Remorseless triggers better than most things and deals with primal echoes invalidating Druidic Clarity, not needing to take Verdant Etching gives you access to Natural Stride, not needing a speed boost (though GS/Staff is naturally pretty mobile) means you don’t need runes of the traveller. So yeah, CC/support Druid that has maximum mobility and is pretty tough to take down. Marksmanship/Wildeness Survival/Druid

7. Blood Red Arachnid: Kitty/Kitty Zerk PvE Druid:

Gear: Full Berserker
Sword/Axe + Staff
Kitty / Kitty
Marskmanship: Clarion Bond, Steady Focus, Predator’s Onslaught
Beastmastery: Companion’s Might, Natural Healing, Zephy’rs Speed
Druid: Cultivated Synergy, Natural Stride, Lingering Light

Glyph of Rejuvenation, Quickening Zephyr, Frost Spirit, Signet of the Wild, Strength of the Pack. I considered using glyph of empowerment, but it just isn’t as strong as Frost Spirit. Anyway, this build is basically the PVE power build, except it trades the offensive bonuses of spotter and longbow with mild sustained and burst healing. I don’t imagine this build to be super useful, but it will definitely be good at carrying pugs.
The alternate version uses Greatsword instead of sword/axe, along with remoreseless and two-handed training.

8. Mistsim: Daze Druid. Offensive daze build: MoC, Mesmer runes, celestial or valk stats

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQJARWnEqAlsgVsCOsAEtil/ADet+WvrLvuMQAopfVD2BjYM-TpgUQAyyAg9HAA

9. Ehecatl: Spirit Druid. http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vNAQJAVWn8ICtqgNrA+qAEtglEBDeq2VHrOpuUwN4JAE7ednMhcBD-TZRFwAYLD0e/BAPBAIXAAEHCAA

Lots of protection and might for the team, tons of might for the pet plus taunt. Moa can taunt an enemy into it’s daze to set up Ancient Seeds for a 5 second immobilize and bleeds. Decent vigor and stability up time from the spirits to help with defense. Lots of heals. Healing from Water and Nature Spirit plus staff heals to heal the spirits which also heal you from Live Vicariously. Potentially very high astral force generation to do a full condi clear every 10-15 seconds plus burst heals. Steady condi pressure plus pet bursts to down enemies.
Playstyle: You are the shepherd and the spirits are your flock. Stay near them and protect them as they give you boons.

Please comment with any others I can add to the list – thanks.

Coarr.3286:

i hope it will not scale to well, otherwise pvp/wvw fights will lose a lot of their dynamic and will be unnessesary long

The longer the fight the longer the fun in my opinion.

@OP – I wouldn’t think so, but we’re not going to know for sure until we play it during the BWE.

Frostfang.5109:

Posted this in another thread here but I think it fits best here.

Its regarding the Electric Wyvern

The elecrtic Wyvern, it is a flying/winged beast that doesn’t do a single flying attack. Thats just sad. It looks clumpsy when it does ALL the attacking on/from the ground. The Fire one has one flying attack that is really cool.

Suggestion: Give the Electric Wyvern a flying attack. Make the electric attack a flying one similar tothe one the Dragon finisher uses in PvP, or the Griffons swoop. Maybe a bit of a swooping movement where it flies up to come down, breathe the electricity and then hit the enemy with the tail instead of the headbut.

+1

Frigoris.7853:

Red in the ranger forum, tis an exciting time indeed.

Mentioned earlier but I think having solar beam bounce between enemy targets so you could potentially form a lazer beam healing array would be cool. Some people mentioned having it able to target allies, it’s our basic attack so should function primarily as an attack.

The vine surge animation could stay in place for a while crippling and bleeding? anyone who walks through it, acting as a short term soft barrier.

Glyphs feel wierd being all melee range when the staff has high range.
New pets are fantastic except for the slow attacks that have a higher chance of missing. I’d take weaker faster attacks from the pets any day.

I’ll need to take another proper look at the druid info for more.

I agree – the solar beam may need a tweak. What distracts me the most is that it shares the same name as Pokemon move :P

I like your “array” idea. If Solar Beam was changed so that upon impact with the target enemy there were, say, 3 strands of light that bounced off that enemy and hit 3 other enemies in its vicinity (IDK, say 240 -300 radius?) it would be a nice touch. Those additional three strands of light might add random conditions instead of damage perhaps? Or both?

ORRRR – the additional light array may not hit enemies, but instead hit 3-5 allies surrounding your target enemy, providing random boons like vigor, protection, resistance and regen. You could then re-name Solar Beam as “Solar Array” or “Solar Dispersion” and escape looking as though you’ve copied pokemon :P

Yes I like this… so, so much potential.

OP, the Druid is a traitline like our other 5 traitlines.

Asking to “tone down the healer tunnel vision” on the Druid traitline is like asking to “tone down the power tunnel vision” on Marksmanship, or “tone down the pet-focussed tunnel vision on beastmastery”.

It’s called a specialisation for a reason. You don’t have to take it, but if you do you at least know what it brings to the table. It also enhances other builds if you don’t want to be a dedicated healer.

Girion.5483:

I’m afraid I’m one of those who’re not too thrilled about the Druid.

I really wish they’d have improved on the pet mechanic, instead of adding this celestial form or at the very least ditched the pet in favor of the celestial avatar, if it’s a must. Why would a druid bring a pet? There’s no synergy, except for this one adept trait.

Secondly, I’m absolutely not happy with the druid’s intended role as a field medic. Too much emphasis on healing. Why can’t I play a druid that is supportive in a different way, besides healing? To me, being the healbot of the party is not a fun way to play and to my understanding it also contradicts the core concepts of GW2 in regards to the holy trinity.

The glyphs I’d like to give a try, but since the minor traits of the druid line only favor heavy healing specs, I don’t see how I could make a druid variant work, that’s a little less focused on healing. There’s not enough variation. Don’t force every druid to be a healer! Provide this option through selectable traits and the staff, but also put something into this traitline for druids who want to be more selfish or supportive in a different way.

Last but not least …

Solar Beam: Improve the visual effect (sun ray!) and allow it to hit up to 3 adjacent targets, like the fireball on ele staff. Maybe even add an effect that applies blind under certain conditions. I mean, it’s a concentrated ray of sunlight afterall.

TLDR: Didn’t pick Ranger to play a Monk :\

I’ve said this before, now you may or may not agree with me here but -

You don’t have to be a dedicated healer. The Druid traitline opens up some great inter-build dynamics between current builds and weapons, as well as adding some brilliant self-sustain for the more squishy builds like LB power. You also do not have to wield a staff to be a Druid.

I think the point of the Druid is that it has the potential to be the best healer in the game – or a full on “healbot” if you will – for situations (whether Raid, PvP, PvE or WvW) that call for it. This is particularly true of heavy-damage scenarios that require burst heals – Roy C. mentioned this is more of the focus in CA form in response to a Ventari question in the Revenant forums. But nothing is forcing you into playing this role. As with every other build in the game it’s an option, and the Druid traitline has created new options for existing builds. As with every other elite spec, not everyone who mains that profession is going to like or agree with the direction their Espec has taken, but as with Druid they all create new build diversity. It’s called a specialisation for a reason. You don’t have to take it, but if you do you at least know what it brings to the table, just as you do with all the other traitlines you choose to take. Except – the best thing about the Druid traitline is that it has solid direction. This is something Rangers have been crying for since day 1, and now we finally have it as an option there are some people complaining. I can’t help but see a little hypocrisy in all this.

+1 Mistsim (now you put it into the context of 5 players, yeah 25% would be a tad OP :P but I do think if it stays at 10% the duration could be increased slightly by a couple of seconds). Though don’t get too downhearted just yet, during the balance livestream Irenio said that what he revealed there was just a glimpse at what Rangers will be getting on Tuesday. He is also still working on Druid between now and next weekend, so I’m trying to reserve most feedback till after I’ve played it. I think rate of re-fill of the CA bar will certainly be raised as an issue.

Speak for yourself OP, not for me.

I welcome a move closer to trinity. I am fed up of the zerker meta and want an actual role to fill.

Syntharia.8067:

Planning to try the new healing ranger ofc, i really hope he’ll have a place in those raids \o/
But imo Zealot would be too squishy for a healer, you actually might die before “saving” your allies. No armor/vitality and judging from the beta some mobs hit quite hard even through celestial gear. I’m going to try full Cleric druid for the next BWE

Full Cleric to start with definitely, just to see just how good our thuper steroid-healz can be :P

I’m hoping more condition damage options will be added to staff gameplay so that I can use staff with Settlers gear. Otherwise I’ll experiment with zerk, celestial, carrion etc. with current builds except swapping out a traitline for the Druid line, and seeing if there’s any nice synergy or any gaps filled in current builds. One I’m particularly going to be interested in is to see if people can find synergy between longbow power/straight zerker builds and the Druid traitline.

Frigoris.7853:

I’ve seen a few people mentioning making solar beam pierce, but we’ve already got bows that do that, why not mix it up a little and have it reflect off of targets (like a lazerbeam off mirrors) hitting up to 3?
If it bounces right you could end up getting multiple heals on some people from one attack.

The staff should have a few offensively focused skills rather than all heals, the avatar form being a heal bomb I can understand but I feel like that should be an ace up our sleeve for when it all hits the fan. It would also be nice if the pet changed with us and gained some supportive effect.

Personally I like the theme and animations. It’s refreshing and interesting and not at all the horrible rooted in place slow animation vine user we were all dreading.

I got the impression from the reveal that Irenio is leaning towards “beefing-out” a number of our skills, particularly the healing ones, perhaps with the intent of adding some kind of CC or additional condi damage. This is needed to diversify the gameplay. I hope we get feedback responses/changes before BWE3 so we have a better ground to start from.

I’m done. Not sure how to argue against people unwilling to accept facts.

EDIT: deleted my posts to alleviate the thread clog.

On with the feedback!

Levetty.1279:

Fyrebrand.4859:

Druid looks really interesting, but I am somewhat concerned that it’s too niche as a dedicated “heavy healer.” What applications does this have in open-world PvE, solo play, world bosses, or even the current dungeons?

This. Druid is too focused on just one thing and seems to have been designed with the idea that they want healers in raids (after we came to this game being told that we won’t need healers) and thats not even unique. What is druid going to provide outside of heals? Why won’t parties just bring a bunch of different classes who can all buff and heal each other and themselves, why would a Druid be needed? Why should it be taken over an ele placing down water feilds then blasting them with all their different blast finishers? Why should druids be pigeonhold into one mode?

Chokolata.1870:

Quite honestly, the QoEmp should be a 20% damage boost and a 20% reduced damage taken in its inverted form.

This is a great idea.

Although I’m very pro-H3ALZ, I also feel that the Druid will need additional access to CC and perhaps more condition damage to prevent it from becoming a completely stale state-of-play after a while. I feel this can be both built into the skills themselves (during the reveal, Irenio did say that multiple skills are still under review and may be beefed-out to set them apart from the rest) and also built better into the traits. They’re along the right lines with the dazes etc. but I feel they can build on this more.

They thought I was CRAZY when I posted a thread before the reveal asking for Druid to wield the staff as a spellcaster… but not so crazy now huh!! huh?!?!?!

Ltomato.8649:

I agree that Glyph of Empowerment needs a boost. I’d suggest an increase in damage to 20%, as well as affecting condition damage. Perhaps increase the duration slightly to 8 seconds but also increase the cooldown to 30 or 40.

That way it feels much more satisfying when you pop it and you can clearly and immediately see a burst from your team. 10% just isn’t enough.

Agreed, when I saw the 10% I thought “awww what?”, then I put my “what about balance?” head on, and having done both have come to the conclusion that a 20-25% boost would be more reasonable – entirely subjective of course

Going to copy/paste my “repsonses to the most common complaints” thread in here since it was merged into the abyss with the rest of my threads. There may or may not be a place for this in a FAQs section in your thread but I’ll leave that to your discretion OP.

Just to address a few of the most common complaints:

1. “Druid is pure healing but provides no other buffs to help the zerka meta!! We’re still not going to be wanted! It’s creating a healing meta!”

Irenio and Rubi specifically discussed at the end of the Druid reveal that HoT will be moving the game away from the zerker cancer-meta starting via its PvE and Raids content design. Full zerker parties as they are today will not survive in the new content without some kind of, at least semi-dedicated, heal/support profession. This is the role that a staff Druid will fill if they choose. Therefore, set-ups that just serve to buff the current zerker meta will be redundant.

As for the “healing meta” complaint… Just because healing elements may be required in new group content, it does not mean that everyone is suddenly going to be a healer. We will still need 90% DPS-focussed team members to actually get us through the content, but they will now need that new, higher level of support the Druid can offer. You can’t have a party full of healing Druids in group content because nothing will get finished!

On an additional note, Irenio mentioned throughout the Druid reveal that many of the skills are still under review and might be beefed-out with additional capabilities, or have their current abilities diversified.

2. “Druid does nothing to buff our core mechanic, the pet!”

Simply put, the pet is not the core mechanic of the Druid. Astral Avatar form is. The Druid design is at no obligation to improve the pet mechanic, though they have added some amazing new pets in the process with some interesting new capabilities. The pet improvement concern is to be discussed for Rangers. That’s not to say that pets don’t need their improvements however, because they really, really do.

3. “I don’t want to be a healer!”

Then don’t. Taking the Druid traitline does not force you into being a dedicated healer. Read people’s new build and theory-crafting threads – the Druid traitline opens up entirely new sustain and dynamic potential for existing builds, and also creates niches for new builds that improve upon existing ones – the trapper for example. You also do not have to wield a staff to be a Druid.

4. “It’s not nature-themed!”

It couldn’t be more nature-themed. Celestial (i.e. of planetary bodies – of which the Earth itself is one remember), heavens, spirits, influence on nature of the earth – it’s all interlinked thematically. It brings a brilliant, unique flavour to a nature-themed profession and it looks good too. One might argue that the magic nature (since Druid here is a magic spellcaster) of the astral lore is more fitting than the plant-and-soil stuff.

One valid complaint:

“What about event credit?”

This is something that will need looking into. As it stands, the loot from events is poorly distributed even without dedicated healers running around the place. Everyone is too focussed on tagging enough enemies, particularly champs, to get as much of the loot as possible. It entirely detracts from the fun of the game. The loot should all be collated in one large chest in one area at the end of each event. That way the event can be spread over larger areas and a huge zerg won’t have to run around tagging everything together. People might actually form tactics…

Hi all,

I posted about this same issue a couple of weeks back and I thought it had gone away until now. I downloaded the latest Nvidia driver a few days ago and the crashes have doubled in frequency – I’m now crashing on average once every 5-10 minutes and having to shut down my computer each time, with the attached message popping up every time (except it’s now version 355.98).

I was kindly left a bit of advice last time:

mercury ranique.2170:

try this
1: run command prompt as administrator (right click it and run as administrator)
2: type in the following lines and end each line with enter
sc stop “NvStreamSvc”
sc config “NvStreamSvc” start= disabled

Then test again.
This service is used to stream to nvidia shield tablets and possible for other things in the future. So if it didn’t solve it, or if you need it in the future you enable it as follow:

sc config “NvStreamSvc” start= enabled
sc start “NvStreamSvc”

This seemed to work, until I’ve downloaded the latest driver and now it’s all gone belly-up again, even when I do the above actions.

Is there a deeper issue/trick I’m missing here or is it genuinely a problem from Nvidia drivers? Thanks

I disagree and I for one welcome a heavy healer in the new expansion, and can’t wait to be useful in the new PvE, WvW, PvP and Raids content.

Mcrocha.3891:

To add on to your point about not doing anything to address the core mechanic of the pet, that is not really true. Healing and sustaining the pet does not count? We can more easily keep pets up now, which is in itself addressing some problems with the pet mechanic.

To be fair I didn’t say nothing had been done, I was just making the point that the pet is the mechanic of the Ranger rather than the Druid.

You’re right though, that is a positive step forward, and as mentioned in another thread I can’t wait to see people experiment with beastmaster/Druid builds whereby they send their pet to do all the attacking/tanking while the Druid provides the healing and support to the pet from afar. Not sure how viable this would be for anything other than boss solos but we’ll see!

Tragic Positive.9356:

Bryzy.2719:

Levetty.1279:

Also the ‘zerker cancer-meta’ is more thought out indepth and uses more of the games mechanics then stnd in the corner and spam heals.

Oh, so stand in the corner and spam damage?

Zerker meta has been one of the best PvE experiences I encountered. Unlike “don’t stand in circles, bring DPS meter and tank nice” games, GW2 zerk meta had lots of things to pay attention to.

Simply because you had to use your head.
You had to take positioning, timing, animation awareness > dodge roll, evade mechanics, party support (offensive/defensive) Defiance stacks, interrupts (such as Icebow#5) and tunnel phases into consideration. Plus, aggro works differently in this game.

In Fractals lvl 50 there were moments where bosses didn’t just die in 6 seconds. Those were the moments where I loved the game. If anyone screwed and dodged early – they were punished but had the option to correct the mistake (downed state mechanic).

I definitely liked the Zerker Meta for constructive PvE, but not for casual Dungeons or Open World content. It was a brain-dead mode there.
I just hope they’d change some of the original content, too.

I take your point. It’s just a shame that the zerker meta forced everyone into that playstyle for too much content in the game. By all means I think zerker-based builds need to keep a place in the game – and they will – it’s just that all it’s been so far is the only place in the game.