Guild Wars 2

Okay, the keep wasting siege mystery has been solved. The NSP server has the person who did it and apparently it was a mistake and they’re very sorry and remorseful. It was a misguided but well-intentioned new player unfamiliar with how WvW works. They wanted to “pimp out” the keep to make it look cool and didn’t realize that putting up siege would waste the supply. So looks like GoM is off the hook for that. Golem suiciding and spies leaking intel still needs to be addressed and we still need to make sure sabatours and other disreputable types don’t ruin the matches but I think we can lay that mystery to rest and focus on the good fight ahead.

The reality here is that WvW is a simulation of war. And unfortunately, throughout history, spying and sabotage has always been a factor in war. I think it’s pretty clear based on the recent events that NSP (of which I’m a proud member) probably has both spies and saboteurs in our midst attempting to undermine us. This trick of using up all the supply in SM on useless and clustered siege is not new. I remember when it happened while we were playing AR. It’s either a tactic used by the other side who have a friend or two on our server, or it’s simply a member of our server who wants to sabotage our competitive play for personal, vindictive reasons. I recall one player on our server who would log on while we played WvW and spam our chat with insults and detractions because he perceived he had been snubbed by our commanders.

The vast majority of NSP are good , honest players who wouldn’t spy or sabotage on their own server. Just as the vast majority of GoM and HoD are good, decent players who just want a a fair fight. But it doesn’t change the fact that we have a problem.

So how has spying and sabotage been delt with by armies throughout history? Wild accusations or pleading with the other servers to fight fair won’t change anything. The good players on GoM and HoD will just be offended, and rightfully so. Instead we need to start employing counter insurgency and counter espionage methods to catch the bad apples in our midst. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Communicating in code. Codes have helped keep intel out of the hands of spies for years. A simple substitution code developed offline and used in combat chat that only the NSP commanders know would be very effective. The code would refer to where we are headed on the map. Only our commanders would know the destination they are leading their zergs. This would prevent spying about where we are attacking.

2. Guarding supply. If we take SM, we station a rotating system of guards to watch the supply and see who’s using it when. If a player is spotted wasting siege, that player’s identity is recorded, reported, and ostracized.

3. Counter-intel. Get the other commanders on other servers who want a fair fight to agree to stay vigilant and report any suspicious behavior in their ranks to NSP.

4. New tricks. Distractions and odd behavior on NSP’s part can help throw off a spy or saboteur’s plots. Red herrings. Announcing very vocally what our plans are on team chat, then secretly doing the opposite.

Obviously I don’t want to post too many suggestions here because some will need to be covert, but I think if we pull together we can prevent or at least weed out some of this behavior.

Aeros.2046:

For shame, all of you. Can you not forget the brave Scritt soldier who joins the pact assault on the Temple of Balthazaar? Into the legions of Zhaitan and the corrupted flames of the Altar of Betrayal, a Scritt bravely goes. How can you call them test subjects of the Asura? Do you see see any Hylek or Krait trying to take that lofty peak? No. Only Humans, Asura, Charr, Sylvari, Norn and Skritt.

Hear, hear!!! Well said!

Jeraziah.3809:

So, people want dumb rats. Who are lab rats of the asura, and are almost all thiefs. As a actuall race? the krait or the hylek would be better. As they play some importnant part in the lore. and have some intelligence to participate in a story -_-

Dumb rats??? Humph… rats are actually the most intelligent of all rodents. Regardless, I do think if the Skritt were introduced as a playable race their lore would need to be expanded a bit. The reason I like the idea of Skritt is because I always gravitate towards playing verminous, filthy, monstrous characters that are dismissed by the other races as sinister, primitive, or hideous. Such as undead or goblins. There’s a built in narrative there, the unsuspecting underclass rises to greatness, etc. But it also solves another problem, especially if you give the playable Skritt a more menacing, ruthless vibe. Gw2 needs a bit more evil options in their character creation. I almost always play evil or sinister characters and although I LOVE this game beyond words, it’s very hard to create a villainous character. Every race is so wholesome and good. My Sylvari looks fairly demonic, but even charr are rather cuddly. I want a character with patchy fur, rotting flesh, long claws, and red eyes, who wheezes in the dark. Skritt can be that. Especially if the playable skritt are designed a bit more like the Skaven from Warhammer minature games (see attached). I’m thinking that a mass of cut-throat Skritt, a bit bigger and brighter than the other Skritt in the game, swarm up from deep within the Shiverpeak mountains. Or they’re water rat pirates from beyond the sea. Their tech can be really messy and thrown together. Always breaking apart. But still kind of steam punky. They’d be the punks of steam punk. Broken teeth. Missing eyes. Etc. Also, Krait would be absurd. Good luck slithering around everywhere, not to mention the no pants problem.

Frosty and Frosty Law Firm.4981:

Cute, but impossible by lore.

Pftt…. Lore… Skritt defy lore! Besides, according to Asura research data, Skritt’s intelligence increases when surrounded by other Skritt. Perhaps, deep in the heart of the Shiverpeak mountains, a massive nest of Skirtt have produced one highly intelligent Skritt who will rise above the yoke of Asura testing and control. Oh ye of little faith….

Thank you all so much for your invaluable insight and suggestions! Much appreciated.

A brave, noble Skritt shall rise to prominence and slay the dragons! Thus the ancient prophecy proclaims….

Thanks Tek! Much obliged! Great to know. I’ll send you some mail. I’ll try out s/s gs. I have real faith in this class. Gonna stick with it.

So I started a Mesmer recently and am IN LOVE with this stupendous class. By far the most enjoyable, interesting profession in the game. I’ve been rocking it in PVE, using sword / pistol — staff. Unbelievably effective and a total blast. Full disclosure, my main is an Engineer and I WvW a lot with that character, so I’m used to WvW from an eng perspective.

How effective is a mesmer in WvW at full level? I dabbled a little, but found the learning curve steep. In PVE mesmer seems perfect, but how effective are they on the battlefield? Are you pleased with your damage output? Can you run with a group or must you relegate yourself to a roamer role? How ’bout defending or attacking keeps and the like? What builds do you use for WvW? Any tips for a bright-eyed and bushy tailed mesmer?

Dear Anet,

The only thing that would make this absolutely brilliant game even more brilliant is if you make the Skritt a playable race during your next expansion. As a life long owner of fancy rats, I have long yearned to play a rat like race in an MMO. The voices / dialogue for Skritt are already hilarious. I would LOVE to play through their personal stories.

If you dig this idea, please post your suggestions for Skritt racial skills below:

Here are mine:

SLOT SKILLS:

“Scrap-lobber”
Toss bits of jagged metal in three fast ranged attacks that bounce between targets and apply vulnerability and poison.

“Strength in Numbers”
Call a swarm of rats to attack the target and everything in an AOE circle around the target. The swarm will follow the target if the target moves. Lasts 2 seconds. Applies confusion, poison, and weakness.

“Lab Rat”
Ooze conditions around you and leave a trail of slippery condition applying goo (poison, fire, chill, vulnerability) that randomly applies either a knockdown or sticky glue.

ELITE SKILLS:

“I Wants The Shiny!”
Use a Skritt made magnet to yank your foe’s weapon out of their hands into yours and hit them with it in a leaping or ranged attack. Temporarily removes main-hand weapon dam and skin from your foe, and gives it to you. Useful for three hits. On mobs with no weapon, it’s their main attack that’s stolen.

“Skritt! I’m hit!”
Fake your own death, giving the outside appearance to foes and mobs that you are completely dead. You can spring back to life at anytime (or when the effect runs out in 60 seconds) with regeneration and 3 stacks of might.

I fifth the motion.

Obviously an mmo requires killing mobs, but I think for Sylvari, killing should be a last resort, in self-defense, or for the greater good of nature. And I agree with the OP that the luminesance questline is a bit harsh. And it implies that all the beautiful glowing effects in the grove were built on the corpses of millions of insects. Seriously though, we Sylvari gotta come up with a better way to light our lamps. This highly impractical method just attracts too many darn mosquitos.

Having said all that, Sylvari are not all sensitive, wilting flowers. We have a dark, poisonous, vicious side. Just as nature does. “This rose has thorns!” I often find myself drawn to the Nightmare Court. But even the court uses nature to sow their seeds of discord. They wouldn’t burn down the forest.

Also Ventari was a centaur, which I think is significant. A truly violent race. Should we really be following the teachings of a non-plant?? I mean, I’m totally devoted to the pale tree, but I’m just sayin’…..

For the most part I feel like they did a great job with the Sylvari quests, but I think the OP has a solid point. There were a few glaring moments where I literally stopped playing and thought, my Sylvari would never do this. Specifically the quest that encourages you to SET FIRE to brambles in order to disrupt the Nightmare Court. Culling or trimming the brambles, maybe. But burning down the forest? What the…?This felt so far removed from our ethos I completed the quest without doing it. Also, I get guilty every time I have to chop a tree down to harvest materials. Feels totally wrong. Ventari would not approve. Also, our take no prisoners approch to the Nightmare Court feels a bit extreme. (SPOILER ALERT) I was shocked when Caithe just stabbed that informant to death after she gave us intel. Nightmare Court is made up of former members of the grove, former friends and family. Seems a bit harsh to just slaughter them on sight. But the krait I have zero sympathy for. Those heartless kittens deserve all they get.

Plus that suit is a walking coffin.

I second the motion for stronger golems! We Asura build our golems with advanced Snaff technology. We take great pride in our illustrious golems. Yet when I summon them in WvW, I feel like I just sent a wind up toy into battle. I do use Series 7 on occasion. He’s good for 1v1 if he manages to get his duel ranged attack to proc. But I mostly use him to startle and distract. I used D golem once and watched him flail around and place defensive bubbles far away from me. He’s been gathering dust ever since. Is it too much to ask for better AI and tougher / stronger attacks? Golem pride!

We Asura like a sizable cranium. Means yer wicked smart. Armor looks fine.

Asura all the way, Bookah! Golems, gears, gadgets, etc. Fits like a glove.

When soul-binding an exotic, my female Asura engineer said:
“Statistically speaking, this is rather rare!”

Apologies if that was already posted. Love this thread.

Heh, great idea. Although “Sensual Assault” sounds a bit creepy. Wouldn’t wanna see a charr attempt a sensual assault. May I suggest “Sonic Assault?”

It IS possible that Asura females have the dog/cat/rat version of mammery glands: A row of six nipples located on their tummies which are virtually invisible most of the times. Female cats, rats, and dogs do not have large, protruding mammery glands on their upper chests. That’s a human trait. I just can’t see the egg-laying thing. Although the golem baby-tossing scenario seems the most likely.

I LOVE this idea. kitten I want a buzzsaw kit! One suggestion. Instead of in ability #5 the user running forward, dragging the buzzsaw across the ground, I think you got it backwards. You should slam the buzzsaw into the ground, and the buzzsaw should drag YOU across the ground like a spinning, mulch churning front motorbike wheel.

XerxesBlack.5892:

Neat idea. But I myself think it would be more viable for our current mortar to be turned into a kit that we can pull out and use. As it is now it is weak and highly situational. It would be awesome as an elite kit with those charges you mentioned that only go on cool down when all of them are gone.

some ideas I’ve had for it.
range of 1200-1500 (possibly longer)
gain stability but -50% movement speed
Keep the current attacks but lower the CDs and/or up the damage.

I like the sniper kit idea, but I can’t see them taking out the mortar (as crappy as it is right now) to replace it or just giving us 1 elite more than everyone else.

Well, one easy way to fix mortar would be to allow it to be affected by our traits, armor + weapon stats and sigils. And allow it to crit. Or up the damage drastically.

Right now Mortar is like a big target that roots you to the ground and says: “Kill me! Here I am! Drop your AOE here, buddy!” Grenade kit can do everything better. Plus the range is so short, as you point out, which is the opposite of what a mortar actually does (long range, high dam). Frankly, I think there’s too much bad about the Mortar than good. Replacing it with a new kit will not only rebalance our class and open up the possibility of new builds, it will attract more people to the Engineer class. The trouble right now, from a dev perspective, is that almost no one plays our class. Seeing another engineer is like spotting a yeti. We need to drum up participation and a sniper kit (or buzzsaw kit) could do it.

Another solution, if you don’t want to add another kit, is to add a kit slot. This slot would be added on the toolbelt and would free up a utility slot so we could make more complex builds and use one more ability. See, the problem with the kit concept is that we have to sacrifice utility slots for our kits. Which really restricts our already limited slot space. But an elite kit will also have that “clear up” effect on the skill bars.

Rouven.7409:

Now the real problem is the character select screen. It is absolutely unacceptable that I’m not even able to see my knees. Perhaps I should delete all other characters, but really Anet has to move the character up – to the center. Center is the keyword.

Hear hear! I HATE that I can’t see my beautiful feets. Also, I think currently equipped weapons should be visible on your toon in the loading screen for all races.

We’re actually not that small. Asura heads are bigger than human heads. So our helms get more play. Plus, another way to look at it is that because we are smaller, armor details look better. The bigger you blow up a polygon texture, the worse it looks. The smaller, the detail really comes alive. Plus as a ranger you got a big weapon, the bow. The only real size issue I had was with pistols. They look like pop guns in our hands! Other than that, we rock.

Plus, being small is a HUGE advantage in WvW. I love getting over looked in a zerg. You can do a ton of damage that way.

Creld.8702:

Right. First, no. Second, there was already a class for this, and it’s pretty obvious why they chose to drop the idea (http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Commando). The engineers currently in game are, lore-wise, based on charr technology, specifically Iron Legion (why an asura is using charr gear is another question).

Commando was an april fool’s joke by Anet. Not a real class they considered and dropped.

SECOND as an Asura Engineer, I take the gravest exception to the notion that Eng is Charr tech only. So many skills fit with Asura. Rocket Boots? Slick Shoes? Analyze? Elixirs… Elixir gun, etc. What SYLVARI are doing playing engineer is beyond me. But ASURA??? Keep your hands off my flamethrower, Bookah!

Third! Awesome design ideas by everyone! Maybe the dev’s will take notice….

nakoda.4213:

the modern steam punk engineer archetype is an evolution of the mad hatter archetype.

absolutely we are tinkerers, gadgeteers, and explosives exp…well we like to.blow thimgs up.

but stationary, quiet, boomsticks? i just cant see it.

frankly, the abovr comment about “army rangers” is why warrior does in fact fit the role of sniper more than any other profession.

engie rifle is shotgun-like and not a shotgun because anet probaaly didnt have time or resources to make another weapon class, especially one specific to just one profession, sobwe get a rifle instead. but shotgun certainly fits the bill more than a rifle, and especially more than a sniper.

Doc Brown begs to differ. The only class in a fantastical or old world setting who WOULD have a sniper rifle would be the mad inventors. No dim-bulb warrior could master the technology of magnification, wind resistance, or bullet drop.

You got it. Flame on.

I’d also try moving those 10 points from inventions to tools for extra crit and speedy kits or kit refinement or SD. Here’s my build:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/engineer/Intoxicated-Pyromaniac-Build-WvW/first#post1393388

This is a good one to start with:
http://www.gw2build.com/builds/engineer-pve-flamethrower-5716.html

Spracket.9604:

I was really happy when these threads finally died. There used to be at least 3 “zomg sniper kit” threads on the first page. It was such a relief to see them disappear. I guess since this is the only one it’s less annoying, but it still doesn’t make any sense.

Thanks Spracket! You’ve more than earned this wet blanket. I’ll just wrap it up for you here… one sec.

Kyon.9735:

MentalPause.9183:

Durzlla.6295:

Fine, we will fire rabbits an other small animals with our 1 skill which, due to the weight I our ammo, would cause us to be more mid-long range, and just think of how awesome it’d be to fire a small, angry animal at your enemies from long range, and after the initial hit the small animal begins to attack them?

Our #3 skill could be called “Explosive” rounds, and the next 10 animals fired from our gun will be strapped with explosives an upon triggering the skill again they’d all blow up launching and inflicting vulnerability to everyone hit.

The #2 skill we’d fire a watermelon or “critter food” at the target causing all the fluffy animals we’ve fired from our gun to swarm onto that target wanting blood, and as such they’d cause bleeding on each of their attacks until the critter food wears off.

The #4 skill would be the gillie suit and the #5 would be the reflect.
EDIT: for obvious reasons all the animals fired have experimental rabies from animal testing and would randomly inflict chill, weakness, poison, and confusion, there’d be a max of 10 if them walking around and they’d die in 2 hits (ie each time they take damage it deals 50% of their health)

lol, who doesn’t want rabbits as ammo. I certainly do.

@ Kyon I understand that we are supposed to be a mid to close range class but it is fun to entertain the notion that we could flow between all ranges, which as Penguin pointed out could = versatility.

I still don’t understand why you people are trying to make it as if I said that a Sniper Kit is impossible for us when I clearly did not say anything like that. I merely disagreed with Entropy about how he said we are currently clearly snipers with our rifle. All I did was state that we are no snipers in our current form followed by my points on why we are not. So please, don’t start putting versatility into discussion as I’m fully aware how versatile we are.

Yer off the hook, kid. Point taken.

Heh heh… rabbits make the best ammo. Asura already know this. Silly Bookah…

Kyon.9735:

Entropy.4732:

Kyon.9735:

Penguin.5197:

Kyon.9735:

Entropy.4732:

Penguin.5197:

Blakey.5670:

He’s the guy fixing the tanks, not the hero -_-.

You wish, engies are the commando guys running with shotguns, grenades and mines and flamethrowers

Plus Iron Legion engineers were the ones who advanced technology enough to invent the rifles in tyria, it only makes sense that engineers would also be the ones to create sniper rifles

Well said, sir. CLEARLY we’re the sniper class. Warriors with their sub-par intelligence and meat-head impatience would never spend hours analyzing wind patterns and bullet drop diagrams. PUH-lease. Silly bookah…

Clearly we are not. Anet defined us a class that thrives in CQC/Mid-range battles. Notice how our “Rifle” skills work best when in close range much like a shotgun? Or how our Rifle only has 1,000 range(1,200 when traited)? Or how the only Kit that goes beyond our default 1,000 range is the grenade Kit? Or how we’re the only ranged class that is able to equip shields? We were originally designed to be a Heavy Class character since we’re usually fighting in the 100~1,000 range unless you go for grenades.

B-b-but we are Versatile! lol (I cant say that word without laughing)
Devs have never mentioned anything about us being originally a heavy class

Even though I agree that we are mostly for mid range, we are versatile enough to have a few long range skills at 1200+ for a sniper kit to be believable. Grenades, traited rifles,mortar, some of out turrets, traited elixir gun, supply crate, heck even magnet is at 1200

I don’t even know how versatility was brought up in the conversation. I was merely stating that there is no way in our current form that we are to be considered snipers, unless you consider throwing grenades at 1,500 range “sniping”.

As one of the ONLY two classes who can use rifles you really think there’s “no way we are to be considered snipers”? I “snipe” as best I can with my rifle in WvW all the time. We are clearly gun users / tech users who support groups, often at range. What is more snipery than that?

So your playstyle is just standing at 1,200 range and spamming auto-attack?

If the opposition is protected by AOE chokes or a foe is running, sure. With Incendiary Ammo added in there for a little spice.

Kyon.9735:

Penguin.5197:

Kyon.9735:

Entropy.4732:

Penguin.5197:

Blakey.5670:

He’s the guy fixing the tanks, not the hero -_-.

You wish, engies are the commando guys running with shotguns, grenades and mines and flamethrowers

Plus Iron Legion engineers were the ones who advanced technology enough to invent the rifles in tyria, it only makes sense that engineers would also be the ones to create sniper rifles

Well said, sir. CLEARLY we’re the sniper class. Warriors with their sub-par intelligence and meat-head impatience would never spend hours analyzing wind patterns and bullet drop diagrams. PUH-lease. Silly bookah…

Clearly we are not. Anet defined us a class that thrives in CQC/Mid-range battles. Notice how our “Rifle” skills work best when in close range much like a shotgun? Or how our Rifle only has 1,000 range(1,200 when traited)? Or how the only Kit that goes beyond our default 1,000 range is the grenade Kit? Or how we’re the only ranged class that is able to equip shields? We were originally designed to be a Heavy Class character since we’re usually fighting in the 100~1,000 range unless you go for grenades.

B-b-but we are Versatile! lol (I cant say that word without laughing)
Devs have never mentioned anything about us being originally a heavy class

Even though I agree that we are mostly for mid range, we are versatile enough to have a few long range skills at 1200+ for a sniper kit to be believable. Grenades, traited rifles,mortar, some of out turrets, traited elixir gun, supply crate, heck even magnet is at 1200

I don’t even know how versatility was brought up in the conversation. I was merely stating that there is no way in our current form that we are to be considered snipers, unless you consider throwing grenades at 1,500 range “sniping”.

As one of the ONLY two classes who can use rifles you really think there’s “no way we are to be considered snipers”? I “snipe” as best I can with my rifle in WvW all the time. We are clearly gun users / tech users who support groups, often at range. What is more snipery than that?

Kyon.9735:

Entropy.4732:

Penguin.5197:

Blakey.5670:

He’s the guy fixing the tanks, not the hero -_-.

You wish, engies are the commando guys running with shotguns, grenades and mines and flamethrowers

Plus Iron Legion engineers were the ones who advanced technology enough to invent the rifles in tyria, it only makes sense that engineers would also be the ones to create sniper rifles

Well said, sir. CLEARLY we’re the sniper class. Warriors with their sub-par intelligence and meat-head impatience would never spend hours analyzing wind patterns and bullet drop diagrams. PUH-lease. Silly bookah…

Clearly we are not. Anet defined us a class that thrives in CQC/Mid-range battles. Notice how our “Rifle” skills work best when in close range much like a shotgun? Or how our Rifle only has 1,000 range(1,200 when traited)? Or how the only Kit that goes beyond our default 1,000 range is the grenade Kit? Or how we’re the only ranged class that is able to equip shields? We were originally designed to be a Heavy Class character since we’re usually fighting in the 100~1,000 range unless you go for grenades.

Hey, I’d love for us to be a Heavy Class character, but clearly they changed their minds on that. Let’s face it, the initial design concept for the Engineer hasn’t lived up to the final result. Turrets were supposed to be a core mechanic, but almost no serious eng uses them. Gadgets were supposed to be useful and effective. Just because Anet hoped we would be the masters of mid-range battles doesn’t make it so. In fact, we have a lot to be desired in that area. I think a kit like this could take the eng in a much needed new direction. And as long as the sniper skills are “whacky” enough for our class aesthetic, I think it’s a perfect fit.

Penguin.5197:

Blakey.5670:

He’s the guy fixing the tanks, not the hero -_-.

You wish, engies are the commando guys running with shotguns, grenades and mines and flamethrowers

Plus Iron Legion engineers were the ones who advanced technology enough to invent the rifles in tyria, it only makes sense that engineers would also be the ones to create sniper rifles

Well said, sir. CLEARLY we’re the sniper class. Warriors with their sub-par intelligence and meat-head impatience would never spend hours analyzing wind patterns and bullet drop diagrams. PUH-lease. Silly bookah…

Wow! Amazing ideas Mental! Love em! "Snipe"’s concept of “the longer you hold the more damage it does” is fantastic. And Experimental Round could have some amazing applications. Would deploy’s shield move with you or would it be stationary?

Brilliant points Durzlla! I love those changes. And thanks Kobold! I believe we have your wet blanket around here somewhere… one sec.

This would make my millennium and I think it would give engineers the little balance boost we need. I could see this as either an Elite skill instead of Mortar (that thing really bites) or another regular kit.

I’m curious about what weapon skills the Engineer community would want in their Sniper Kit. Please list yours below:

Mine:
The kit would equip a beautiful Asura-tech sniper gun.
1: Long Shot: An instant very long ranged shot that could cover a big distance and would have a 60% chance to apply confusion on a crit.
2: Ghillie Suit: This skill would grant 4 seconds of stealth as long as the caster was motionless.
3: Target: This would be another dam shot that would do less damage than long shot but would apply 2 stacks of vulnerability.
4: Gun Butt: A close range melee burst dam ability that would have you hit your target in the face with your sniper gun butt, causing a knock back.
5: Headshot: A very powerful timed-cast ranged shot that would have less range than skill 1, but do much more damage. It would take 2-seconds to cast and also apply blindness.

Post yours below!

Heh heh… very big verses very little. I like. 9/10

Here’s my asura engineer, Warpgate. Ready for maintenance.

Thanks red! Much appreciated.

I LOVE the engineer class. Having said that, I played a bit of elementalist recently and was amazed. Ele is a very polished class. Playing an Ele is like driving a slick silver porshe. All controls are smooth, modern, and efficient. It’s clear a great deal of thought and testing went into the Elementalist. You understand the philosophy behind ele instantly.

Playing an Engineer (to stick with the car metaphor) is like driving a beat up, oil spluttering, rust-bucket jalopy that coughs gears and hisses steam. It’s like driving a car you used to get laid in from the 80’s that guzzles gas and looks like dirt but is still somehow awesome because it has heart and a big thunderbird stencil across the hood. Playing an Eng you have no idea what the dev design philosophy was. Or rather, you think you know…. then you realize that approch doesn’t work, so you try something else and you’re like… aHAH!!! I get it now! Then you realize you were wrong again. Engineer’s are a messy, grimy, dirty, wacky class. But that’s the fun of them. Reaching into our bag of tricks and pulling out odd stuff. Foes have no idea what to expect because there’s so kitten few of us. It’s a kitten fun class too. Best aesthetic in the game imo. But if you roll an eng, be prepared to get frustrated at times and toss your wrench across the room (hitting mobs in the process).

And if you know what you’re doing, you can put the fear of god into folks in PVP and WvW. I always back off when I see a fellow eng. The good ones are super hard to predict. In closing, I’d say it’s a super fun, rewarding class. But you really gotta like driving a rust bucket.

Manticore Five.9867:

Oh, I’m joyous. Dancing through the streets, in fact.

It’s a good name. Reminds me of drunken monkey style =)

Glad to hear it!

Manticore Five.9867:

Entropy.4732:

Heh heh… ya gotta love Engineers. All smiles and sunshine. First off, okay. Maybe the name doesn’t fit perfectly. Ya got me there. But I’m never 2 shotted by anyone. In fact, my survival rate is very high. It’s true that you don’t have a stun-breaker, but this is not a sPVP build. It’s a WvW build. Which means it’s intended for fighting mostly in groups.

Well, thanks for the summary of the differences between this and an actual 100nades build.

I notice you’re still keeping the deceptive “100” part, which would still cause any reasonable observer to think this build is similar to 100nades. So be it: at least the comments under your post will make new engineers aware of the differences.

Changed the title. Happy? Man alive….

Kimbald.2697:

Kit refinement on untraited grenades is still 6 grenades just like the normal barrage, so the trait defenitely is worth it.

For Flamethrower it does an aoe burn that removes condition too.

Not that static discharge is bad, but if the issue is condition removal, than kit refinement is a good compromise between that and damage.

And don’t forget that static discharge works unreliable on thrown skills if no enemy is near you.
Not to mention the Flamethrower toolbelt has a very long cooldown as it is (so less static discharge).

Basically your main trade-of in damage is:
lose a static discharge on your grenade barrage and get a free grenade barrage from kit refinement on the grenade kit swap.

Test it a bit on dummies, see what you like more.

Kit refinement also gives the aoe burn and the condition removal on FT… I know what I would pick

Great points! I’ll try it out.

I will say this tho…. Medium Cof helm looks better on Asura than any other race imo.

Interesting ideas Kim. You could certainly swap out static discharge for Kit Refinement with this build if you prefer that. I like SD because of the range tho. Love the way it bounces around incoming zergs.

Thanks Kard! That’s more like it! Very productive advice. Yes, I think the link must have messed up. I did indeed want self-regulating defenses and not invigorating speed. I’ll try the life steal food. Great idea. As per Elixir C, I’ll try it too. Although I have a feeling I’ll miss grenade barrage.

Heh heh… ya gotta love Engineers. All smiles and sunshine. First off, okay. Maybe the name doesn’t fit perfectly. Ya got me there. But I’m never 2 shotted by anyone. In fact, my survival rate is very high. It’s true that you don’t have a stun-breaker, but this is not a sPVP build. It’s a WvW build. Which means it’s intended for fighting mostly in groups. When immobilized, I usually hit the thief back with FT 3 (or rifle 4), drop supply crate, pop Elixir B, and dodge back while healing. Works fine.

And nades without grenadier trait not worth it?? Not so. I want nades for grenade barrage so I can do a ton of area dam in a quick amount of time while I’m flamethrowing. And it works great. No other kit gives that kind of powerful toolbelt skill except maybe throw wrench, but the radius of that is limited. Big o’l bomb is fun, but I don’t like the time delay. Plus nades are great for deffing towers etc. And I love the synergy of static discharge with this ability. Yes, if you want perma-swiftness you can use speedy kits, sure. But mostly I want max damage and the static discharge hits hard with all my vulnerability stacking.

At the end of the day tho, I didn’t post this build for advanced build-theory crafters. I posted it for WvW players who have just hit 80 and are looking for a fun build to try. I personally can’t stand the playstyle of 100nades in WvW. Because WvW is so zergy, you almost never get a chance to “step into the foe’s sprite” and unleash kit refinement without getting killed brutally. And I hated the helplessness I felt verses melee types. Plus spamming grenades at range is boring in WvW. The joy of FT is that there are no red circles on the ground for foes to dodge. This build perfectly suites WvW running and gunning with groups and is very effective in that context. Give it a try!

Greetings illustrious Gear-Heads!

I present for your consideration my humble build. This is a hybrid build combining some aspects of 100nades into a traditional flame-thrower might-stacking alchy build. I’ve had great success running this build in WvW. It’s fun, effective, simple, and a blast to play.

Okay, so here’s the build (may need to copy to desktop):

http://gw2skills.net/editor/?fcQQFAUlspSXHxSrF17IxoCkG0DAj37K6Rlb8kB;T4Ag0ynEOJdS9kyJKeM8I4xyjjHJPjAOQA

TRAITS:
We’ll start here. It’s 0/30/0/30/10.

We go 30 into firearms because having a high crit rate is essential to this build so our conditions proc. Plus you are applying burns constantly so the +300 to condition is primary. We grab “Precise Sights”, a great trait that combined with your high crit will have you stacking vulnerability on your targets like crazy. “Napalm Specialist” next because you want your burns to last as long as possible. My Runes of the Flame Legion boost burn duration by another 15% and add +5% damage to burning foes. Then Juggernaut, because this is primarily a flamethrower build. The real strength of Juggernaut is in the might gain. At least 15 seconds before battle try to switch to the FT kit as it takes a bit for the might to build to 6.

Then we go 30 into Alchemy. The vitality is important as you need health for the front-liner role, and concentration is invaluable because this build is all about keeping boons up and on. I go with HGH, Deadly Mixture, and Self-Regulating Defenses. HGH is an AMAZING trait, although not very glamorous seeming at first. HGH will actually give TWO might boons for 20 seconds every time you use an Elixir ability. So that includes Elixir B, the tool belt skills, and Elixir H. Between both utility skills and their tool belt skills, you can keep your might up around 11-14 which is very strong. Deadly mixture gives you that 15% dam increase for flamethrower, but the hidden gem of the alchemy trait line imo is Energy Conversion Matrix (deal 1% extra dam for each boon on you). So if you have 5 boons on you, that means a 5% dam increase. Now, I’m sure my pick of Self-Regulating Defenses is unusual, but I love this trait. You could also go with fast acting Elixirs, but as a front-liner, rushing into zergs, you really need an escape plan. Self-Regulating Defenses is like an instant get out of jail free card. You drink an Elixir S (more might) automatically when you are in danger of dying. It’s like a timer that goes off and gives you a chance to rush back to the safe area. But you could also go with Flast-Acting Elixirs if you want.

Lastly, I put 10 points into tools. The big pick up here is “Static Discharge”. This is where the 100nades part comes in. You can toss Grenade Barrage in the midst of your flamethrowing and static discharge will add onto that dam considerably. For some reason my crits are far higher on grenade barrage with this build, as opposed to 100nades. Not sure why. I get around 6,000+3000 on one barrage, static discharge not included. On 100nades build the grenades are more, but the crits are only for 2000 each. Might be the might stacking or use of Elixir B. My armor is mostly berserker stats. Sometimes I’ll swap this trait to “Speedy Kits” when running supply, then switch back for combat.

SKILLS:
So we use rifle for our weapon. I only switch to rifle when the target is running away or at range. Net shot, Elixir B, incendiary ammo (next three attacks burn), tap 11111111 boom. They are down. I’m using Superior Sigil of Earth on the rifle which stacks bleeds very nicely. The idea is to stack conditions at range while criting steadily.

Then for utility skills I go with Elixir H, Elixir B, Grenade Kit, Flamethrower Kit, and supply crate.

COMBAT APPROACH:
It’s important to “boon” up as you enter battle. Hit Elixir B, but also Toss H & B as you close distance. Open with FT 2, so you do as much dam as possible in the area. Then FT 11111 to apply burns, etc. If you strafe right and left you can hit a bunch of targets with FT 1. Then pop Incendiary Ammo. Then Grenade Barrage. If you time this well enough, Incendiary ammo will hit hard on Grenade Barrage and stack up the burning. Then you go back to FT or rifle to finish off the match. I only switch to Grenade Kit when I’m assaulting a tower and want to AOE foes on the walls. You also get a bit of crowd-support with Toss H & B. As you buff your crew, static discharge can still hit.

For food I use Minotaur Steak which gives +6 critical damage and +60 to precision. Plus it’s very cheap.

That’s about it. Nothing too complicated, but it’s a ton of fun and you get the synergy of static discharge grenade barrage without being tied to the Grenade Kit like 100nades forces you to be. You stack burns, bleeds, and vulnerability like crazy while also enjoying a ton of burst damage. Enjoy!