Guild Wars 2

Are there any standard Ranger (preferably beastmaster-style) builds that are meant for surviving in the HoT wilderness? I’m specifically wondering what utility skills and traitlines are best for wandering solo and killing stuff. For the record, I already have an established weapon combo (greatsword/longbow) so if the traits could suit those as much as possible, that would be great.

Elric Of Melnibone.4781:

So is T4 during day required to have T4 night be possible?

I don’t think it’s required, but it’s recommended. It’ll happen anyway if you have enough players to get to night T4.
If you really want to get to a Verdant Brink map that’s going to make it to night T4, look in the LFG tool. I’ve used this to join several maps that later completely succeeded.

Well, this is a relief.

That’s actually pretty interesting. However, I wouldn’t change Rev’s staff… I’d change a much less used weapon since staff skill 3 is much-needed CC.

1. No.
2. I’d take it.
3. ? Sounds like a no.
4. LOL NO.
5. Not a WvW player so can’t judge.

Favorite: Reaper (tankiness = survivability in HoT imo)
Least favorite: Thief, Engineer (not necessarily DD or Scrapper)
Will soon be testing: Warrior/Berserker
Will be testing later: Rev/Herald, Mes/Chrono

Try just naming him “Kralky” and see if that works. If it doesn’t, something is censored.

New perspective: Warriors are different from every single other profession in that they’re the simplest.
As a Warrior, you use no magical implements, and none of your weapon skills rely on magic; you use only brute force, and your special mechanic (adrenaline-charged attacks, which gain power while you’re in battle and lose it while you’re resting) only drives the point home. Your longbow skills burn foes because you literally light your arrows on fire. The semi-unique skills you use to buff yourself and your opponents are basically just fighting stances, battle standards (okay, so maybe those are a little bit magical…), and rallying cries (your shout utilities, as well as warhorn skills).
TL;DR: Not having to deal with magic is, in a way, awesome. Especially if you’re a charr. :P

I have a Macbook Pro Retina 2015. Though the load times are acceptable, the FPS (20-30 on low settings) is not.

My $300 Windows 10 laptop with almost no battery life runs it better.

EDIT: Can confirm now… used high shaders to take some screenshots, and 20fps in non-populated areas. This is on the Windows laptop.

Mal.1670:

KestrelGirl.9267:

Had this issue too when attempting to make my second sylvari. (Surprisingly, my first sylvari’s name went through after only one added letter.) Eventually gave up and made a norn and an asura instead. :P

Wait wut, race affects name availability? I’ve never heard of that…

No, it’s convention to give your human, charr, or norn a last name, but not a sylvari or asura (though asura can have titles, eg my Rev “Mistwalker Ryxxi”, so that’s a workaround).

Alicornus.7095:

Give Jennah some character beyond “young fairy-tale queen with plot convenient mesmer powers” to get on with Logan’s romance

She’s a young, inexperienced, naive, overly trusting queen whose realm is plagued by bandits and pirates. I don’t think you’ve done the Caudecus’ Manor storyline, the human personal story, or any renown hearts in Kryta.

Donari.5237:

KestrelGirl.9267:

DeadSurvivor.6157:

As much as I’d like to have some names I have used in past games, I don’t think an inactive person (who may become active at some point in the future) would be happy returning to Guild Wars 2 and find his characters are generically renamed to a default with letters and numbers. I’d be disappointed if that were to happen to me if I left and returned.

Just sayin’, my idea would avoid that. Notice the 9267 at the end of my name? If I were to be inactive for 2 years then come back, that would be added to the end of the names of all my characters (it also ignores character limit). Then when I log back on, I’m mailed a number of name change kits corresponding to the number of characters I have, so I can change all their names back.

Back to what? If someone else has taken the name, you can’t get it back.

Back to what they had before if it isn’t taken, or something entirely different if they want.

As a new Mesmer/Chrono who started playing the profession seriously post-nerf, I’d like to ask about dueling/illusion based builds in PvP, specificially sword/sword/GS or sword/shield/GS. Is anything like that still viable?

DeadSurvivor.6157:

As much as I’d like to have some names I have used in past games, I don’t think an inactive person (who may become active at some point in the future) would be happy returning to Guild Wars 2 and find his characters are generically renamed to a default with letters and numbers. I’d be disappointed if that were to happen to me if I left and returned.

Just sayin’, my idea would avoid that. Notice the 9267 at the end of my name? If I were to be inactive for 2 years then come back, that would be added to the end of the names of all my characters (it also ignores character limit). Then when I log back on, I’m mailed a number of name change kits corresponding to the number of characters I have, so I can change all their names back.

Since you don’t have armor options besides the Druid shoulders, just get the Nature’s Oath outfit, tbh.

My friend has a male charr; I have a female sylvari. Both Reapers are absolutely bada** in their own way.

Meh, just fix pet names and give us better offensive abilities, and we’ll be happy.

Naranek.3467:

I’ve got to get my Charr ranger a fire wyvern so I can name it…Charrizard.

You win the thread.
On a related note, I told my friend (who is considering making a mesmer) to make a charr, so that she can call it a charrmer.

I normally play damage-tank Reaper with gs for normal open world and staff for team fights. Specs are Death Magic and (depending on situation) Blood Magic or Spite. It’s quite different from the meta but seems far more survivable because of Unholy Sanctuary.

Open your specialization window. Change your third specialization (it can only be your third one) to Dragonhunter. The icon is outlined in pink/red so it’s easy to find.

If my Ranger ever uses a bear as a pet, that bear will definitely be named BEir. (Too soon??)

Brynna Mindrender is my newest toon. She’s a norn, contrary to what you might expect.

UPDATE: deleted her… I can’t stand norn light armor!

About the name-removal thing: I think what should happen to people who’ve been inactive for two years is this.
Their characters’ names will not be removed. They will be changed. See that 9267 after my username? That four-digit number that their username has added to it, preceded by a space, will be added to their characters’ names. (Example: Naruto 3948) They have the option to change it back if possible, or change it to something else.
Sound better? If this is implemented, I can only imagine how many sylvari and asura names will be freed up…

Yes. Please. This.

Y’know, the ascended elite spec weapon collections are a thing: Dark Harvest (Reaper), Yggdrasil (Druid), Ydalir (DH), Glint’s Bastion (Herald), Fixer-Upper (Scrapper), Wild Abandon (’Zerker), Horologicus (Chronomancer), The North Wind (Tempest), and Bo (Daredevil).

Had this issue too when attempting to make my second sylvari. (Surprisingly, my first sylvari’s name went through after only one added letter.) Eventually gave up and made a norn and an asura instead. :P

Well, you look familiar… No makeover yet?
I TOTALLY want more Lightward weapons, if only for my Glint-themed asura wannabe-Herald. Support.

Do want!

(15 character length restriction, meh.)

Dizzle.5289:

Caerrdwen sounds really cool! Sounds very sylvari. If you need is sylvari 8/10 if not 6/10 haha my Necs Name is Saria Bloodshed!

Yeah, Caerridwen is indeed a salad. :P

I LOVE Nevermore for Necros (though my Reaper won’t be wielding it anytime soon – too pricey for someone who’s only had the game for 4 months and the expansion for a month!). Around the world, ravens are seen as “bad omen” birds; as psychopomps as Stitch mentioned; and even as tricksters. Completely fits, as long as you can find dyes and armor to match :P

Better rune: Rune of the Flame Legion.
LET IT ALL BURN!!!

Aaron Ansari.1604:

@KestrelGirl, you might also be remembering a map-wide Mordrem event than ran in Diessa shortly before HoT’s release. Alas, it was temporary content, so you won’t be seeing it again. Either Diessa or Iron Marches, though, the mordrem activity has still been a fair distance away from the Shatterer.

It’s the one in the Iron Marches, lol. I do know that the Diessa event happened, but that was actually before I started playing GW2.

Nobody reviewed mine (Caerridwen), so imma just review more until senpai notices me. (:P)

Or here try this one…

Name: Kira Bloodfallen

Gender/Race: Female Human
Reason: Uber vampire, yet dark too. The name is based on Shalltear Bloodfallen name from Overlord anime. Yet, due to the nature of that name taking up so many places, had to shorten it. So “Dark Lady whose Blood is gone” was born.

Though in all honesty, I know vampiric build isn’t that strong, but the whole reason I made Kira Bloodfallen was to play a character that is in a fan fiction story I’m making with friends in RP on another game is the sister of Shalltear Bloodfallen, which for me I love.

6/10, fits surprisingly well in Tyria but would belong on a charr more. At least the last name would.

Avunaye Dothraken
Avunaye is Swahili for Reaper. She is a Black Female Norn. Most of my characters have the family name “Dothraken”

5/10; not only the Skyrim thing, but the Dothraki in Game of Thrones are a thing. The first name is great though.

Konig Des Todes.2086:

We actually don’t know why The Shatterer is stronger yet – after all, Mordremoth is a far distance away from Kralkatorrik, and per the final cinemtic of HoT any magic heading in Kralk’s direction would pass through/nearby Rata Sum, the Grove, and Tequatl’s hunting grounds first. However, the articles release do indicate or at least imply that it is story relevant.

Leylines are everywhere. There’s also a dynamic event in Ascalon somewhere that involves Mordrem. (I think it’s in Diessa, but not sure.)

As someone whose first 80 was a GS/LB Ranger, I approve.

Hmm. I’ll just review these…

Guardian
The Paladin: access to tome skills, which are similar to engi weapon kits, but no access to weapon swapping. Special weapon is melee axe OR AoE warhorn.

This would be pretty viable, but the lack of weapon-swapping is not at all a good way to balance the class. It also will need special virtues like DH has; what would you want to theme these around?

Revenant
Racial legends, to make up for the lack of racial skills.
Asura: Snaff (golemancy/engi-ish); gain rifle
Charr: Khan-Ur (phalanx buffs), OR Kalla Scorchrazor (FIRE!!!); gain greatsword
Human: One of the Thackerays – Gwen? Keiran?; gain greatsword that may be a ranged weapon depending on whether or not the legend is Gwen.
Norn: Asgeir Dragonrender OR the spirit of the wild chosen at character creation. Weapon TBD.
Sylvari: DEFINITELY Riannoc; gain main-hand axe – or perhaps a ranged weapon, like the longbow, that the Warrior can use but the Revenant cannot.

Warrior
nothing here yet – suggestions welcome!

Engineer

The Golemancer: access to golem minion skills and staff as a support weapon. Golems spawn with retaliation, so they’re a counter to AoE.

Oh, of course.
I never thought of a golemancer using a staff, or golems having retaliation. I kinda like this!

Ranger

The Packmaster: access to minion skills to summon life-stealing bats, ranged-poisoning oozes, hulking minotaurs, evasive griffons, tanky rock dogs, and even karkas! They also have multiple (weaker) pets equipped at once, all of which are the same type. Special weapon is short-range scepter with whip effect. (This effect is already present in-game and has been seen being used by Nightmare Court enemies.)

Not my idea, but I love it! I’ve always wanted a beastmaster spec for Ranger ever since Druid turned out to be a total disappointment for me and my aggro playstyle. This fits the bill, though I’d replace “multiple pets of the same type” with “both equipped pets in the pet panel active at once” and make the pet attacks about as strong as a Necro’s flesh golem’s attacks.

Thief

The Bard: access to song skills (which constantly give boons to allies and conditions to foes as long as they’re active) and off-hand focus. This may require an energy mechanic to limit the length of a song; also, it may immobilize (or slow?) the caster as long as a song is active.

Ooh, cool. What special mechanic would it gain, though, in place of Daredevil’s extra evasion bar?

Elementalist

The Spellweaver: gains access to physical skills (?), main-hand sword (used for evasion), and a “spellweaving” F5 skill that combines the skills of any attunements on cooldown.
Depending on which elements are on CD, the Spellweaver may become:
Elemental Storm (Fire/Water/Air) – Rain fire, hail and lightning upon the target area, inflicting significant damage to enemies within.
Elemental Annihilation (Fire/Air/Earth) – Stomp the ground, pulling your target towards you with a shockwave that cripples and dazes them. Then raise a pillar of fire that launches enemies around it. Finish off with a lightning strike that inflicts massive damage and defeats downed enemies in the area.
Elemental Calamity (Fire/Water/Earth) – Encase enemies in the target area in rock prisons, immobilizing them. As this wears off, cause an explosion that burns and chills foes… and then smash the rocks apart to bleed them and knock them back!
Elemental Sanctuary (Water/Air/Earth) – Surround the area with rocks that push back enemies, winds that destroy projectiles, and pouring rain that heals allies and removes conditions.
Convergence of Elements (Fire/Water/Air/Earth all on CD!) – Unify all elements, covering yourself and nearby allies with an elemental sheen. You and all nearby allies stack conditions on foes and gain boons with each attack, depending on your current attunement.

WOAH. The F5 skill is overpowered as kitten. I suggest that only the Convergence of Elements be used, and with a hefty cooldown too. Also, having an ele spec use physical skills is a bit… wrong. Do Eles have shouts already?

Mesmer
Since the Bard was already mentioned as a Thief specialization, I’d like to make a suggestion of my own for this one.
The Illusionist: gains access to clone- and phantasm-making Minion utility skills and more powerful shatters, as well as main-hand mace. This isn’t a very fleshed-out idea, but I imagine the mace could be a bit like the Revenant’s hammer or the Mesmer’s GS: a ranged weapon that has an illusion-shooting autoattack, a clone-making skill, and a skill that allows the player to swap places with and buff a clone (I think the Mes version of that’s a weapon skill so gotta have it on more weapons!).

Necromancer

The Shaman: gains access to a new set of Sacrifice utility skills (more powerful corruption skills that steal your health or life force instead of giving you conditions), as well as off-hand torch and Shaman’s Shroud (which conditions foes, applies a few boons to allies, and siphons life force with autoattack). This spec uses life force outside of Shroud to trigger its new healing skill and some utility skills. (The others drain health.)

This was someone else’s idea, but I went ahead and made it work a little differently. Its utility skills are all fleshed out (heh) in another post, and they’re decent; it’s just that there’s one too many. The weaker version of Last Rites (helps downed allies) is the one I’d like to remove.

Wondrouswall.7169:

Maybe they will finally put to use the elite skill they made up for Ranger in the early stages with a new elite spec.

https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Alpha_Strike

I like! If all three pets were a Smokescale, a Bristleback, and a Jungle Stalker/Tiger… oh man… xD

Justine.6351:

Their is a bandit disguise there as part of a heart that gives venoms your attacks.

What does this have to do with it…? I do know of that heart though. Wrong post or misread?

So I was just wandering around Brisban Wildlands, leveling my Rev and slaying some Nightmare Courtiers, when I noticed that some had Nightmare Hound pets. And were wielding scepter whips (effect and all) and either foci or warhorns. (Probably the latter.) I know that some enemies have unique weapon combos and certainly skill combos, but I hope this is a sign that we’ll be getting an aggro Ranger specialization!
Thoughts? If you’d like to see some of these Nightmare beastmasters (briefly, before you kill them), check out Joy’s End, in the southeast corner of Brisban.

Screenshots coming if I can get them fast enough.

Just saying, apparently Mordy’s death resulted in a huge energy release (because of all that ley energy) that made the remaining Elder Dragons more powerful. Hence the Shatterer’s buff: Kralkatorrik made his champion better with his new energy.
This also explains the Teq buff: the energy leaving Zhaitan’s domain after his death made Tequatl stronger.

Aliaf’s names are both great. 9/10, since Carew sounds sylvari-ish.
My Sylvari Reaper’s name is Caerridwen. (“Ceridwen” is an NPC and the other common spelling variants were taken.) She is named after a shapeshifting sorceress in Celtic lore. What could be more perfect?

No thank you. Not in this game. If you want a naked character, get Zodiac armor.

One, it’s “cleansed.” Sorry.
Two, Orr is that way for the people who haven’t finished the personal story.

Gliding. Also, more flavorful content in general – I’d love to see more of those unique merchants.
And how about another world boss in Ascalon, besides the Shatterer? All the starting zones except for Plains of Ashford have a world boss. (Fire Elemental, Jungle Wurm, Shadow Behemoth, Frozen Maw.) Could we maybe have a ghost boss?

If it helps, I’m pretty sure one of the Vigil warmasters in Orr is a norn who is always in bear form.

I may be new to the class, but I’ve done some PvPing with DH and the trap skills it adds are AMAZING. This is, of course, as long as you’re not acting as the team healer.
By the way, the best DH weapon combo for any purpose, from what I’ve found, is greatsword/longbow.

Apparently it’s because a human man (Ronan) planted the Pale Tree, but the graves explain how the Tree created female sylvari.

I recently realized that the Elder Dragons just happen to link up with the cardinal directions, with the exception of DSD.
Zhaitan was based in Orr, in the south. Mordremoth’s realm lies to the west. Jormag’s domain is in the north, and Kralkatorrik resides in the east. Primordus lies at the center/below.
Given that we’ve dealt with Zhaitan (S) and Mordy (W) already, the next dragon we heroes take on will be Jormag (N), and after that, Kralkatorrik (E). Primordus will be last. The DSD, as the odd one out, will probably not feature in GW2’s storyline.
Thoughts?