Guild Wars 2

Not pointless, they get you into the 5/26 beta. The pre-purchase is not out yet so you can’t use it to get into that one.

Argon.1563:

Its not the “pay for prepurchase/beta” one. Not very “special” when the testers were selected on luck.

Somebody is rather bitter me thinks. It is “special” because only lucky people get to participate :P

Those Reapers are tied to Grenth. The necromancer is closely tied to the idea of Grenth (not all worship him, but the idea of what he stands for has presence across the world nontheless). The connection I’m thinking they will make is perhaps a very loose one that the new fighting style was based around stories of the Reapers. And since Marjori is likely the first Reaper, she knows all about Grenth as a human.

I wonder if they’ll make condi’s viable in PvE with HoT. Would love to run a PvE terror/chill build.

Valento.9852:

If it takes 18 hours to upgrade a keep, I am sure people will run dolyaks desperately. Upgrade times are on ArenaNet’s hands, and if they intend it to be an important change, they’ll make it so that it’s not a simple “speed up”, but a requirement.

The article said it would take 20-40 minutes to upgrade. That tells us that if no dolyaks make it at all, it will upgrade after 40 minutes. If every dolyak makes it then it will upgrade in 20 minutes.

Don’t know all the weapons yet, don’t know all the legends, don’t know all the traitlines and what we have seen is likely to be changed. I’d say we don’t have enough information to formulate much of anything. What has been data mined is also not reliable as I’m sure much of that is just place holders.

The Fiery Dragon Sword gives a burning death animation. It is not a legendary weapon, nor is it fire damage. So, there you have it.

mercury ranique.2170:

Invictus.1503:

My guesses in order of likelihood (according to my opinion of course):

1) Guild Halls – if Rubi didn’t overhype (like she tends to do) this is the big exciting thing as it has been requested before the original release and is the most talked about feature in the forums from the beginning days.
2) Revenant full reveal – they only gave us a partial reveal originally and said they would revisit again later because it was “no fun to give everything away at once.” They have to give a better reveal before the end of spec reveals in order to give the spec for Revenant (especially what the baseline weapons officially will be).
3) Beta date set – because yeah…they just gave those portals.
4) Legendary preview
5) “Challenging content” – they were very mysterious on what this would be (I think intentionally) so perhaps a reveal of some of this perhaps.

Personally I would put pre-order launch on top. It would qualify more as something big. The releasedate for GW2 was announced two months before the actual release. the pre-order started another 2 months before that. So if they open pre-order now, (on their own website, officially) it is on schedule for a release in the autumn.

I agree this would be big, but why would they devote an entire Ready-Up episode to the release and pre-order info? Ready-Up is all about gameplay, so that is why I don’t think they’ll devote it to this info. Perhaps a mention after a website blog post, but not the entire episode.

SPESHAL.9106:

The Reaper build looks like a strictly PvE playstyle.

It’s too early to say for sure, but, conceptually, the Reaper build would be too easy to counter in PvP…especially if you’re solo. You will have almost no gap closure and need to be within <600 range to do anything meaningful.

What’s also crazy is that many of the abilities and talents have multi-target aspects, but what cloth wearer with no escapes is going to get in close range of multiple PvPers. Remember that Life Force is the primary “defense” of Necros and it doesn’t scale with multiple people beating on you like immunities/stealth/invuln/etc.

We’ll see better in beta, but I think long cast times and close range abilities are more suited to fighting AI in PvE…than PvP.

If you can think of any cloth-wearing, long cast-time, melee build that is successful in any MMO for high-level PvP, I’m all ears.

This game already has a RANGED long cast time build (Kill Shot Warrior) which seems to do even MORE damage than the melee Reaper shown…yet it’s NEVER used in PvP and people actually laugh at you when you get hit with it.

Seems you mistook this thread for a general “talk about Reaper” thread as I didn’t really see a response to the the actual topic. Don’t worry, it happens…

Mechanically yes, I think we need reflects along with more stability (was hoping for the defiance bar) and a blast finisher on the GS.

Thematically stability fits with the “unstoppable horror monster” motif, but the blast finisher and reflects don’t exactly. Especially reflects as the movie monsters don’t reflect arrows and bullets, they just keep coming while getting slammed by them.

My guesses in order of likelihood (according to my opinion of course):

1) Guild Halls – if Rubi didn’t overhype (like she tends to do) this is the big exciting thing as it has been requested before the original release and is the most talked about feature in the forums from the beginning days.
2) Revenant full reveal – they only gave us a partial reveal originally and said they would revisit again later because it was “no fun to give everything away at once.” They have to give a better reveal before the end of spec reveals in order to give the spec for Revenant (especially what the baseline weapons officially will be).
3) Beta date set – because yeah…they just gave those portals.
4) Legendary preview
5) “Challenging content” – they were very mysterious on what this would be (I think intentionally) so perhaps a reveal of some of this perhaps.

ZudetGambeous.9573:

Terror and master of terror should be merged, they are not worth a GM trait by themselves. Terror should also move to soul reaping to compete with Dhummfire, and a power based GM trait should be placed in curses so that power builds don’t have a completely worthless trait.

This suggestion I like.

Yes, I never understood why they are separate trait lines. They should be together to to fit the theme. It is also rather annoying that if you want to be a terror reaper, you are locked into your three trait lines, no build diversity there.

A new shadowy minion that inflicts chill on enemies it hits, hits a bit harder than jagged horrors, and survive longer.

Anchoku.8142:

If Necromancer gets damaging shouts, maybe Taunt, had the DS invulnerability skill, AoE power damage and soft CC…

No taunt. According to this interview, they thought of adding taunt, but didn’t think it fit the theme. That makes me sad…

http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/473/feature/9691/Guild-Wars-2-Jon-Peters-on-the-Reaper-Elite-Spec.html

Would much prefer they give the Reaper Shroud to F2, and still allow old Death Shroud as F1 when using this elite spec. I can see some builds that would like to take Reaper, but still have the ranged options from original DS. If we want build diversity, don’t see why they should lock into melee Reaper Shroud.

A tad bit more information. I’m a bit bummed that none of the shouts cause Taunt. Mechanically it seems a mistake not to give Reaper access to Taunt.

http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/473/feature/9691/Guild-Wars-2-Jon-Peters-on-the-Reaper-Elite-Spec.html

Mad Queen Malafide.7512:

Invictus.1503:

I really hope to see a boost in lifesteal and shouts that spread lifesteal out will happen. I’m cautiously optimistic.

If you are optimistic about lifestealing, then perhaps you haven’t been paying enough attention. Life stealing has always been mediocre, even back in GW1. Now it is mediocre again in GW2. They have had 3 years to fix it, but when Signet of Vampirism was introduced, once again they dropped the ball (and made the most useless skill in the game). Then some time later, there’s a big patch, and SoV is on that list. Once again, still useless, because the patch did nothing to improve SoV.

Over 10 years of life stealing being rubbish! Is there any reason to be even remotely optimistic about life stealing ever becoming good?

Being cautiously optimistic does not mean I haven’t been paying attention. It just means that I choose to believe that we will eventually get a fix to it even though we haven’t seen it yet. Maybe not even in this elite spec, but in a future one that they choose to take inspiration from another classic horror film icon (vampires).

As for GW1, life stealing wasn’t too bad. It just got overshadowed by the incredibly versatile MM (and in some elite content Orders). Not to mention the Touch Ranger was very much alive and dreaded for a long time.

Ok, I’m a bit more optimistic about Reaper (waiting for POI today), but have to give credit on the graphic. That was great!

I’m hoping they finish the reveal of Revenant, then get back to specs, then finish with Revenant specs.

Aenesthesia.1697:

If only signet of vampirism was buffed tenfold, we would have the offensive support we need to be viable in pve

This exactly. When that first came out I was very excited that maybe the lifesteal build would be viable, too bad the signet’s numbers fell flat on it’s face.

I really hope to see a boost in lifesteal and shouts that spread lifesteal out will happen. I’m cautiously optimistic.

I’m liking most of it. Though I’m weary that we will continue to be selfish characters not welcome in much of PvE. Really hoping at least a few of the shouts offer team support.

Per the red post from Gaile, “This is your final weekend to obtain an in-game drop of the Portal to Maguuma’s Heart.” That was posted March 8th.

Source: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/hot/About-the-Portal-to-Maguuma-s-Heart/first#post5047938

Knighthonor.4061:

We already have shouts,,, its our Underwater Trident #2 skill
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Feast

guess people forgot about this. I call it a scream like the Everquest Shadow Knight… lol

I don’t believe that skill is classified as a Shout. I’m not in game now to confirm, but I’m pretty sure. If you are referring to the picture looking like a Shout, I think it is representing the necromancer eating (or feasting per the name) life energy.

Rebound.3409:

Ofc it was full. MMOs are all about the loot..and that item was the only truly valuable item you could loot in that map. Once the item was removed you already see a large of players stopped coming.

An mmo without good loot is not an mmo you keep playing. Most of us are back to doing just dailies.

GW2 is filled with just “temporary” successes. It needs more permanent stuff.

In terms of loot, SW is rather good. I also quite enjoy the permanent map that was created and many others do too as the map is generally well occupied. Chests are good, even loot has good possibilities as well, and let’s not forget the Preserved Queen Bee drop which is going for as much or more than a precurser.

KyreneZA.8617:

What about Bloodstone Shards, Eldritch Scrolls, Augur’s Stones, Crystals, Philosopher’s Stones, and Siege Masters Guides? How will those be purchased going forward, or are they no longer going to be required for forge crafting? What about any of those already on someone’s account?

For your answer, either read the blog again or read above. However if you want the quickest of answers, skill points beyond those being translated to Hero Points are being turned into currency. That currency will be used to buy things, such as what you are talking about.

Could I get a link to the “excitement” that we are talking about? Also, when was this interview?

Let’s hope Ruby took notes from the Ready-Up session last weeks and gives a better prepared POI this week. I really want to see what this spec is all about (traits, gameplay, etc.).

Let’s hope that Ruby took notes from the Ready-Up session last week and gives a better performance in the POI this week.

Inimicus.7162:

I feel the need to plead with Anet NOT to add melee staves into the game. Ever.

The staves we have right now are basically decorative 2 handed foci/scepters and are simply not designed realistically to be used in melee combat.

First and foremost, look up the Bo staff. That is a real combat staff, a straight stick. That is all a martial staff should ever be. At the very most it may have metal bits on the end, but otherwise it MUST be a balanced and boring and otherwise plain as plain can be, long rod.

Adding ANYTHING more to said rod in melee combat removes all reason to keep calling it a martial staff. That extra anything, wherever and whatever it may be, instantly changes how the weapon must be wielded. And thus, polearms.

There are examples of casters in other games using polearms in place of staves, characters with magical affinity using spears/javelins and other weapons in conjunction with magic, and now lately, they just announced the Guardians will have a magical attack that uses a spear as its projectile animation.

Adding polearms eventually will solve the issue of our current staff selection being overwhelmingly too ornamental and imbalanced to make working melee weapons, and will add a weapon type that easily crosses borders between magic and non-magic users.

Adding melee moves onto staves now, however, would have Anet adding everything they need for a polearm weapon type into their game now, and poorly jury rigged to a selection of weapon skins that don’t fit the bill properly.

So I plead: Don’t make the melee staff mistake now, it will be irreversible. Wait for polearms and do it right.

I see you made an entirely new thread with your opinion here. I replied there too, but figured I’d do so here as well. I can see that you believe the only viable “melee staff” is a plain stick due to the laws of physics and how a bo staff is typically wielded. Although I do not disagree with you, there are a number of appropriate staff skins to be wielded. However the primary opposing argument to this is simple:

- Look at the existing skins we have for GS and Sword. Most of them are extremely awkwardly balanced to the point of being completely useless in combat (and some are wooden or even rubber).
-There are a large number of bows that could not function within the laws of physics.
-There are a few dagger skins that are held backwards (meaning all attacks would hit the enemy with the hilt).
- Many of the more decorative skins across the board look like they’d shatter if ever used properly (The Moot comes to mind as one).
- Finally, don’t get me started on how I can fire an obvious six-shooter hundreds of times without ever reloading.

I’m not saying all of these things are horrible or should be changed. I’m just saying that if you want to limit one weapon (melee staff) to realism and physics, then you can’t exclude all the other weapons from such logic. Personally I’m all for these things in a game, including the melee staff.

@OP – you just posted the exact same post in another thread talking about Revenant weapons and is on the front page at the time of this posting. This new thread seems a plea for attention at best. The topic is found here: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/hot/Revenant-Weapon-speculation/first#post5054260

As to the topic, the primary point I can see is that you believe that the only viable “melee staff” is a plain stick. Although I do not disagree with you, there are a number of appropriate staff skins to be wielded. However the primary opposing argument to this is simple:
- Look at the existing skins we have for GS and Sword. Most of them are extremely awkwardly balanced to the point of being completely useless in combat (and some are wooden or even rubber).
-There are a large number of bows that could not function within the laws of physics.
-There are a few dagger skins that are held backwards (meaning all attacks would hit the enemy with the hilt).
- Many of the more decorative skins across the board look like they’d shatter if ever used properly (The Moot comes to mind as one).
- Finally, don’t get me started on how I can fire an obvious six-shooter hundreds of times without ever reloading.

I’m not saying all of these things are horrible or should be changed. I’m just saying that if you want to limit one weapon (melee staff) to realism and physics, then you can’t exclude all the other weapons from such logic. Personally I’m all for these things in a game, including the melee staff.

Genesis.8572:

Clearly, if the Dragonhunter is any indication, the Necromancer elite specialization will be called “Shouting Guy.”

lol, I really did have to laugh at that. So true, so true

Donari.5237:

That did make it look like a visual feast, and needing a bit more skill, foresight, and reflexes than base Guardian while still looking like Guardian light/fire.

Twitch chat had Mr. Peters discussing the idea of vastly changing the Tome elites. I was getting motion sick from how fast the chat scrolled so I didn’t catch details and would like those clarified.

I love the glowing book animation and would hate to lose that to turn the elite into a signet or shout. Also I caught a glimpse of how the healing one turns into a passive aoe heal plus an active effect? So we don’t get a full set of replacement 1-5 skills? I think that might remove some of the flavor from the elite.

If there’s a dedicated thread about the Tome changes I’d love a link.

Per your request.
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/guardian/Tome-Change-ideas/first#post5046980

Shiki.7148:

none.9681:

I don’t get the hate against traps. They’re basically the same thing as wells (except that their effect only starts once enemy is on them – which is a plus, not a minus) and nobody complained about Chronomancer’s wells.

Compare them to “Marks” instead. Cause they are really just that.

Thank you! It has been driving me nuts that people have been comparing to wells, when traps are exactly the same as marks. I guess necromancer is just such an under played and underwhelming class that most players don’t know anything about marks.

Personally I highly dislike the name. It is very generic and unoriginal in my opinion. Plus the theme seems to be shoehorned in. Technically aren’t we all Dragon Hunters? I killed a dragon and multiple dragon minions as a Necromancer and I’m now hunting Mordremoth, doesn’t that make me a Dragon Hunter?

In all, the light theme and the wings (which aren’t dragon wings) as well as the theme just don’t seem to fit well. I don’t know though, we’ll see if it grows on me.

It will be just as useful when HoT hits as it is today :/

Can’t believe they left out the traits. Very disappointing. Also didn’t care for the pre-recorded video part. They had it right when they had 3 people. Rubi + somebody playing + somebody explaining.

Siphaed.9235:

OP, you demanded a price. Players with reasonable expectations gave you reasonable price estimates. You try to dispute them at every turn. What exactly are you wanting out of this thread?

^This

As mentioned, you can reasonably expect $30-$50 (though I highly suspect closer to $30). I fully understand, from your original post, that you are strapped for cash. That said, based on your concern for a game, internet connection and computer able to play the game, and a few other factors I also believe you aren’t poverty stricken either and thus have a limited amount of disposable income (stressing on limited as I know what it is like to be “new to the market”). My suggestion, put $5 in a jar every 2 weeks starting immediately. Don’t touch the jar until HoT comes out except to add to it. By that time, based on projected end of summer release date, you’ll have roughly $50 to spend on the game.

A little pre-planning and discipline can take you a long way in this world.

ZudetGambeous.9573:

Knighthonor.4061:

Wallace MacBix.2089:

Knighthonor.4061:

nacario.9417:

They said all specs are meant to be on par. Tbh I wish they’d call it something else than “elite” spec as it sounds as if its the better spec.

it is better than a normal spec. it just has a trade off that balancing it out.

What is that trade out? I’m pretty sure we’ve been told that the spec isn’t losing anything that the base class has. It’s just getting added to.

A mesmer loses nothing (besides from the 3rd trait line) to gain an F5 and access to a cool down decreasing effect that can be shared with a party. They can still run most of their normal build, just change a utility, and they gain a lot more versatility. If each spec gets something as cool as alacrity why would we want to be our base class?

Build’s that focus on 2 trait lines only need to decide do they want a 3rd core line or to become the specialization and potentially gain a lot more. My zerker ele friend is happy to go into Fire, Water, Air. But he’d happily lose Lighting Rod if it gets him an F5 for becoming a tempest. With my War build, I can recreate 90-95% of what I have now with just 2 trait lines. So, I only need to compare the warrior spec to one of the new lines, and I’m getting stronger, and if I’m forced into the spec to get an F2, it’s kind of a no brainer.

Elite Specs lose out on one of the core lines because it replaces it. So thats a big trade off. Elite get new mechanics to make up for it.

Do you have a source for this? As far as i’m aware you just choose this as one of your 3 trait lines, it doesn’t “replace” anything.

It does replace a core specialization, but not in the way you are thinking. It replaces a specialization SLOT You can still combine the elite specialization with any two core specializations. You don’t lose out on the option to choose from those core specializations, but you still only get to use three of them at a time and the elite takes up one of those options.

Later, when there are multiple elite specializations per profession, they will be mutually exclusive. This means that if you choose one elite specialization you will not be able to choose a second elite specialization at the same time.

Well they did name them “elite” which is defined as “a select part of a group that is superior to the rest in terms of ability or qualities”

JustTrogdor.7892:

:)

A space is still a character. Your post meets that requirement

MelGT.8326:

phys.7689:

yeah but you have to look at what your giving up.

domination? 10 dmg percent while vuln, 15% illusion dmg, 25-50% minwrack dmg. interupt traits

dueling? blade training, numerous condi buffs, deceptive evasion (shatter fuel) harmonious mantras stacking dmg buff, phantsmal fury

illusions? all shatter buffs 15% faster cool downs on shatter skills (includes continum shift, which will probably have super long cool down) phantsmal haste.

power wise, these trait lines pack a huge punch, there will definately be builds that would be better of with these synergies.

HOWEVER they will be lot less interesting.

Why do you think you’re “giving all that up”? As far as I’m aware, you keep the first four trait lines, and only the last one gets swapped for the new elite specialization.

So instead of Illusions, you’ll probably have something like “Chonomancy”. You’ll still have Domination, Dueling, Chaos and Inspiration. I could be completely wrong, that’s just my understanding.

They’ve confirmed how it works. If you haven’t read the specialization core blog, read that first. If you have then what you do is you can choose EITHER three core specializations (use to be called train lines), OR 1 elite specialization and 2 core specialization.

So what they were getting at is that if you are a Chronomancer (the elite specialization) you would have to pick to give up at least 1 of the three specializations he mentioned)

Oh no, something new with very little information and absolutely zero testing! It MUST be OP.

Seriously, we don’t even have the traits, or other class elite specialization, or number, or testing so why would we be calling OP? I think that term is overused anyway, but right now this is just ridiculous.

I’m wondering what will happen if a skill is in mid cast when Continuum Split ends.
Will it end?
Will it complete at your original location (possibly causing a different set of issues)?
If it does complete will the recharge be reset after cast (so it casts and is instantly recharged) or will it complete, but go on recharge?

tobascodagama.2961:

Official blogpost is up: https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/meet-the-chronomancer-mesmers-elite-specialization/

I don’t see anything new over the Ten Ton Hammer article, though.

Yeah, they even used the same wording. Looks like Ten Ton Hammer got lazy and just copy/pasted their article from the early look of the blog post.

Really the only people that should even remotely complain are 100% pure WvW players. Anybody else should either be set, or just play what you normally play to get compensated.

PvP – no concern as all traits and skills are automatically unlocked

PvE – level 80 gives you 400 points, and you only need 65 more for everything. Since you play PvE, you would have had to actively avoid skill challenges not to have 65. If this is the case then fine, play what you like, PvE, and you bump into those skill challenges naturally

WvW – level 80 gives you 400 points. However WvW only has 13 skill challenges so you’ll need to go into PvE to get 52 skill challenges (which is rather easy though). That said, you likely only have 1 or 2 builds per level 80 toon so the 413 points you have should be more than enough for you to have the same (or similar) build if you are adamantly opposed to a little PvE

Frankly, I don’t see any real issue with this setup considering the level of overhaul they are doing on traits and the hoops they’d have to jump through just to try to implement many of these suggestions. And for those comparing this to the last trait overhaul, it doesn’t work that way. Last time they really only changed acquisition methods, they didn’t do a complete redo of the functionality of unlocking, GUI, restrictions, and point system.

The last thing I want to say is this, just relax.

TheDaiBish.9735:

Welp, looks like it’s going to be the Mesmer.

From where is that image? I can’t seem to find it.

Eh, I don’t really care. You don’t need to be “meta” anywhere, but especially not PvE. If you still like zerker, then I’m sure it will still be effective even if (and I’m doubtful here) it is not the pure meta.

Ideally there will be lots of “viable” builds and gear that are effective, and a handful of multiple “meta” builds and gear that are most effective.

They should just make all the revival traits baseline.

What annoyed me in the ready up is that they specifically said that they don’t like that people have builds like the OP’s build. They said that it isn’t how the profession should be played. So, a build that works, that is fun for the users, and that contributes to build diversity is being deliberately destroyed because they devs don’t like it. So much for play how you want, the devs on the ready up made it clear that you should only play the way they think you should play.