Guild Wars 2

I think that Hammers could be -6 instead of -7 and have some effect when you release them (Cripple!), but overall, after the changes they sound amazing. They give flat reduction and healing which scales with number of enemies.

I believe Taunt needs some work, and Elite should be more precisie about the damage reduction, but overall? You have Weakness, trait damage reduction, hammers damage reduction, Elite damage reduction, healing and you can apply Protection with Herald on top of that. I’d say, it’s pretty kitten tanky.

Two final things I could suggest is giving Jalis some Cripple maybe and an option in Retribution Spec to trait Rite of the Great Dwarf to make affected allies immune to critical hits/reduce chance on critical hit.

While Herald is nice addition, I don’t think that it will be a must-pick. I can certainly see many builds that don’t need that Elite Specialization and I’m looking foward to more Elite Specs (Ritualist!) in the future.

And I always speak from PvP perspective.

Bhawb.7408:

Rym.1469:

Side note – I wouldn’t bury Blood Magic Necros. Some traits, like Life from Death, are being incredibly underestimated or considered only with MMancers, while other builds can make great use of these.

While I agree clerics support Necro really makes amazing use of the blood traits, the problem with our support builds is we still have no weapon based support. Every other profession who has strong support builds brings either weapon-based support and/or heavy weapon based CC. We have neither.

That’s indeed a problem I faced myself.

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if Axe was reworked to be support-oriented MH weapon we need.

You could cap might by yourself in first preview, too. I’ve done it.

The interesting thing about Facet is that it also applies to allies and isn’t just Mightstacking, but also Resistance, Stability or Protection.

One bonus utility skill would’ve been perfect.

It’s just that some utilities are not really useful in all game modes and it’s usually just 1 utility per Legend that doesn’t quite fit or is not flexible enough. Which doesn’t mean that they’re bad skills! They’re excellent, just not for every situation.

Good examples would’ve been Unyielding Anguish for PvE, Phase Traversal for PvE, Forced Engagement in WvW and others.

Just one more utility covers that. Hell, we could maybe get some cool quest for each Legend to unlock that bonus uti!

NeroBoron.7285:

Yeah the heal seems really strong, maybe even to strong.
4x 900 heal that’s nearly the amount of a usual heal skill. Okay it has twice as much cooldown as a heal skills with 3500-4000 heal, but still.

But I would like to see the possibility to move while channeling that skill. And not to get stunned/vulnerable when it breaks. Then I guess it would be fine.

I believe Roy mentioned that he was running Marauder when previewing the Shield skills, so I guess healing numbers may be quite decent.

The worst part of this skill is that it’s immobile. And last thing you want is Grandmaster that makes you immobile for 3s when dropped to 25% health. With possibility of getting stunned right after.

Kain Francois.4328:

If you wanna cancel all your facets, why not just pop them all at once? They are instant cast, anyway.

Because I don’t want to waste my whole Energy reducing my usefulness to 0?

As for above^ – What you’re guys describing is misplaying. If I want to cancel my Facet of Chaos, I’m forced to use the active, even if it makes no sense and I have no target worth knockbacking. That’s not decision-making for me.

If I run around the map with Facet that gives Swiftness and find myself attacked, how do I make my decision-making? I’m essentialy stuck there with something I don’t need.

What about Facet of Nature? I can’t legend swap out of it.

I know what you mean, but I simply think that it won’t work well and would like an option to cancel energy drain, as with other upkeeps. You use upkeeps when you need them and you stop using them when you don’t. Like in GW1.

Otherwise, after the combat you will do..what? Wait till all your bar expires and fills up or use the active for no reason? That will be a chore.

Roy Cronacher.1576:

Facets deactivate by running out of energy, using the active skill or invoking a new legend. Switching legends does not cancel facet of nature though, since it is not tied to legendary dragon stance.

Then please add F3 which would cancel all facets.

Without this option, there won’t be much decision-making, timing or energy management – if you press wrong button, you’re pretty much screwed and forced out of Legend/forced to misplay.

This really has to be dealt with ASAP.

Misguided.5139:

I don’t see why facet of nature would stop, since it can be used with any legend.

I’m not quite sure how does the game calculate stuff when you swap Legends – could be that when you swap, Energy first goes to 0 to prevent any upkeeps and then is set to 50.

First thing – great work on these!
Now, to the point.

If I got it right, you can’t cancel the Facet once you start the upkeep. You can cancel it only with Legend swap (does it stop Facet of Nature?), using the active or running OOE.

This, from my perspective, would be terrible. Ideally, we should be able to cancel each Facet, but if there’s no good technology for that, then add F3 which cancels all Facet upkeeps, instant, no CD.

Could we get a word on that?

Okay, quick write-up:

1. I’m still waiting for returning of my Healing Orbs from Invocation minors, Roy.

2. I’m not sure if the nerf to IReinforcement isn’t too big. I think 2 or 3s Stability per pulse would’ve been just fine.

3. Forced Engagement – This skill has too high cost for it’s value in Taunt. Still.

4. The thing I don’t realrely want to be changed now, but I’m still curious about – Wouldn’t Glint’s heal make more sense on Jalis? I mean, it’s a heal about tanking damage.

5. Pain Absorbtion – this could be a stunbreak.

6. As much as I like the idea of profession weaknesses, I think that you’re limiting Condition removal a little bit too much, especially with such risky legend as Mallyx.

7. I still think that each Legend should have 6 utility skills instead of 5, so one regular utility can be changed.

8. Does that Protection Master trait from Herald’s spec work on every use of Ventari Tablet? Does it apply Protection at the start of the cast or at the end?

9. Stability Grandmaster doesn’t seem GM-worthy.

10. As I suggested before, could Ventari’s Protective Solace apply 1s Knockdown on cancelling the upkeep? This way it could’ve been useful against non-projectile foes.

11. As I suggested before, remove Knockback from Ventari Elite, please. It doesn’t work right with Momentary Pacification. Give it some other effect.

12. Natural Harmony could spawn 1-2s Water Field for more synergy with Staff and Blast Finishers now.

13. As I suggested before, could you make spawned Fragments and Healing Orbs more visible to allies, possibly with clear “+” indicator?

14. Tablet should be instant cast, move faster and spawn on entering Ventari.

15. Make #5 on Staff a Skillshot. It works fine, but saving allies would be easier with aimed skillshot when you choose the direction.

16. As my last point, may I give you something for consideration? I’ll quote myself:

Rym.1469:

Energy system is legit.

If anything, some Energy gain could be bound with Healing skills, as most of them pretty much reflect good play of each Stance.

I.e.:

1. Mallyx heal could give 5 energy per condition (promotes self-conditions, gives more energy for more Resistance).

2. Shiro heal could restore 10 energy with each Dagger proc (synergy with Odds)

3. Jalis heal… Jalis heal will probably get some reworks, but I’d like to see maybe Energy gain based on that “tankiness” like more Energy the moar damage you take over some period.

4. Ventari – I’d say it would be the best Legend for that. Energy gain when your Tablet passes an ally. (More Energy in group situations, promotes good play)

5. Glint heal – Yet to see, but I imagine something could be done.

Most of these are accompanied with hefty cooldown on healing skill or involve skillshot. Good timing on heals could delay Legend swapping for Energy boost. Wrong timing could give you barely any Energy.

Fill up Jalis and Glint if you like, you get the idea. I believe if we are to get some bonus Energy gain, it should be via good play.

If you want to keep Energy as it is, it’s totally fine, too. I thought that it could’ve been just the middle ground.

Thanks for all the work, Roy! Hope to play Revenant soon.

Cheers,
Rym

Charr.

Probably female this time. Since I don’t play any other heavy armor prof now, I hope Revenant will be the first one to grab my attention. I have a close look on Warrior’s Berserker spec, too.

nearlight.3064:

@manveruppd, what do you think necros will run when ele gets nerfed? Also I heard from a popular streamer that the ele balance dev is on vacation right now so thats why it hasn’t been nerfed yet… but I guess it will be soon since vacations can’t last forever.

If they nerf Ele’s AoE Condition removal, we could see some movements from Old Ones, buried deep beneath the tidal waves of Cleansing Water and meta. Rumours of sunken skills rising from the depths.

Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Epidemic M’eta wgah’nagl fhtagn!

..or just more bunker gaurds…

Bhawb.7408:

nearlight.3064:

@manveruppd, what do you think necros will run when ele gets nerfed? Also I heard from a popular streamer that the ele balance dev is on vacation right now so thats why it hasn’t been nerfed yet… but I guess it will be soon since vacations can’t last forever.

They’ve been on vacation for two years? Man I want to work at ANet.

Side note – I wouldn’t bury Blood Magic Necros. Some traits, like Life from Death, are being incredibly underestimated or considered only with MMancers, while other builds can make great use of these.

1. It’s not a life siphon.

2. Ask Arena Net. Nobody here can give you a solid reason why it should not work in Shroud.

Arena Net has long history of balancing some professions, including Necromancers aroud BPS – “Best Possible Scenario”. In best possible scenario this trait can outheal pretty much any damage on it’s own. In any other scenario, it’s crap, rarely healing you for more than regular Regeneration when you need it.

Energy system is legit.

If anything, some Energy gain could be bound with Healing skills, as most of them pretty much reflect good play of each Stance.

I.e.:

1. Mallyx heal could give 5 energy per condition (promotes self-conditions, gives more energy for more Resistance).

2. Shiro heal could restore 10 energy with each Dagger proc (synergy with Odds)

3. Jalis heal… Jalis heal will probably get some reworks, but I’d like to see maybe Energy gain based on that “tankiness” like more Energy the moar damage you take over some period.

4. Ventari – I’d say it would be the best Legend for that. Energy gain when your Tablet passes an ally. (More Energy in group situations, promotes good play)

5. Glint heal – Yet to see, but I imagine something could be done.

Most of these are accompanied with hefty cooldown on healing skill or involve skillshot. Good timing on heals could delay Legend swapping for Energy boost. Wrong timing could give you barely any Energy.

I don’t mind Revenant getting defiance bar. Cool skill. Everything depends on how strong that defiance will actually turn out.

RS #2 striking foes it passes through would be a good start.

It doesn’t cover whole points. You still have space to contest a point.

I’d like him to sing “Wind of Change” when I afk.

nearlight.3064:

Also since this is vaguely a thread about blood magic, do you guys know if mercy runes boosts the revive speed for transfusion and life from death?

No, they don’t.

For OP – Keep in mind that multiple Vampiric Presences do not stack. So if there’s other Necro with that trait, it’s better to run Life from Death if you have CD reduction on Shroud in build or some healing power. Or Warhorn trait for more Vampiric procs from Locust.

Professions weren’t influenced by human gods. Other way around.

It brings smile to my face every time people try to bound something with either six dragons or six human gods. Glint was older than anyone of human pantheon, so Facets aren’t inspired by any of those.

I honestly wouldn’t mind something like Backline support/CC.

The niche could be aiding allies in bigger radius. So far, many Support builds after the Spec patch, weather upcoming or in game already, seem to be rather range-restricted. 300 range or less. Druid could fill up the niche.

As for support itself… I wouldn’t mind some good Healing over Time unique heals. I mean, so far main supports cover:

- Gaurd – Boons and Boons and Boons, condi cleansing
- Ele – almighty God of everything and water/fire fields
- Engineer – Renamed swiss knife with tons of blasts
- Thief – Uh…Stealth, I guess?
- Mesmer – Boon sharing and reflects on reflects cuz PvE loves reflects
- Necromancer – Debuff, okay heals and rezz hero
- Warrior – offensive support, condi cleansing (more or less)
- Revenant – “hard” heals, possibly empowerment for Boonspammers.

The only support we really lack is one based around strong Heals over Time (HoTs). And maybe more access to on-demand Combo Fields.

For the pet – no idea. I guess untill some Dinohunter elite spec is revealed, we’re stuck with rather meh shouts for Pet-damage oriented builds. Maybe Pet acting a little bit like a wildcard Revenant’s Tablet.

Staff – We know that there’s some root, so I guess CC. Maybe pet empowerment, Protection Boon. Possibly some Blast finishers.

There’s one niche Ranger could use some stuff and that’s Boon Stripping, but I don’t think the Druid will have it. Though AoE ranged Boonstrip would certainly make Rangers more desireable in WvW, competing a bit with Wellspam Necros.

It’s fairly costly and Revenant himself doesn’t have a lot of ranged weaponry apart from Hammer, so if you use it and plan on sitting inside, you won’t have much pressure.

Yes, it’s decent utility and has amazing counter-stomp/rez ability, but as said above, will be affected by Stability (though single UA strips 4 stacks without traiting).

Roy Cronacher.1576:

Treetoptrickster.4205:

Roy Cronacher.1576:

Treetoptrickster.4205:

Azure.8670:

Obviously there’s nothing to see until tmrw, but as of now it sounds very meh to me. Maybe I’m misreading the information but it sounds so much like the tempest with limited access

The passive effects of the facets that sound to be only boons aren’t the coolest to me, but I’m really loving what I’ve heard about the active effects. The shield is OK to me, I’ll have to see if it works well and if it has any means of helping with offence. I’m really looking forward to making a Bard Type character though. If the auras are cool enough and if the spec doesn’t make me completely unable to kill things I think I’ll love it!

Glint active skills for the facets have a lot of offense.

OMG. OMG. OMG. Roy replied again! fans self

Haha

Lonewolf Kai.3682:

Quite the opposite for me. I’m super sold!! I can’t believe you’re not. Passive effects along with great sounding actives! What more did you want!?

@Roy, what’s wrong with you man!? I’m already overboard hyped for the Revy and now you go and do this?!!? I’m having to dailing 9-1-1 as I type this! My mind has been blown clear off my body! I’m actually scared to watch the POI tomorrow.

ROFL. Got to keep the hype train rolling. Make sure to watch out for the POI stream tomorrow and a post I’ll be making after. There will be some extra stuff from BWE feedback.

Maybe it’s because you have whole new profession to create so you’re so responsive, but so far, you’re my favourite Game Designer after Colin’s Smile

Since I play a Charr…it would be Scar, I guess.

I wouldn’t mind Sword #2 stacking Poison.

That Chill is short as hell anyway.

One thing – All those Sword #3 attacks should strike foes from side or in back, so it synergizes with Assasin’s Annihilation.

As a bonus, that trait should have same ICD, but per target, so Sword #3 could function not only as damage, but also defense move in TFs.

DiogoSilva.7089:

Besides, Unrelenting Assault has been advertised as an epic-looking and offensive skill. The general playerbase will probably want it to deal good damage, not to be balanced around defense.

“General playerbase” would only like it see profession made entirely out of damage modifiers and direct damage with a lot of mightstacking.

Then cry because mobs are too hard and can kill them.

I would not balance around that General playerbase.

I’m looking foward to trying out Mallyx with DDefiance and Facet.

Considering the fact I stated that Mallyx needs a little bit more Resistance outside of TFs, now I see why they didn’t bump the durations.

Even with just Facet, it’s a lot more Resistance.

Captain Unusual.9163:

Galedeep.5496:

Male Charr Necro sounds pretty amazing, it’s so deep and rumbling. “Suffer” in particular has a great kick to it.

I like most of the male Charr shouts, except for “You are all weaklings!” It just sounds so calm and matter-of-fact. It doesn’t sound like you’re turning the tides of battle to crush your foes, it sounds like you’re just explaining to some students that they’re all not particularly strong. It’s more like “You are ALL weaklings.” than “You are all WEAKLINGS!”

Also, protip, don’t write “weaklings” a whole bunch of times at once, it starts to look like a very, very silly word.

“You’re all weaklings” said Charr lecturer, with dissapoitment in his voice, giving students their paper sheets with failed semester exams.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/professions/necromancer/2-Feast-of-Corruption-Worthwhile

That’s pre-patch discussion about FoC^.

I plan on continuing the series in near future.

Considering Robert Gee has already said that he has changes for Scepter, I believe it’s already done, but I’ll give some feedback:

1. It seems like our only good weapons are good mostly because they have easiest ways to gain Life Force – I hate to say that – least “skillful”. Game after the patch can be…too quick for most cast times or one-hit abilities.

Consider doing something like Devs have done in the past with Warrior’s MH Sword – moving third part of AA and #3 with some changes.

What I mean by that is making our Scepter AA generate Life Force instead of #3 and changing #3.

2. Overall changes – durations of conditions applied by Scepter without Lingering Curse have to be increased baseline. Make them DoTs, not 800-1200 damage from one skill…

3. Grasping Dead – Make this skill important. In current game, single Cripple is almost useless and doesn’t justify low damage, same as skill affecting 5 targets.

4. Now this may be controversial.
I’d say that Scepter should be the condition weapon and be balanced around condition Necro’s needs. By that I mean having added utility.

That includes punishment for cleansing conditions, healing or added defense.

5. We should also talk about OH Dagger and general uselessnes of Enfeebling Blood on #5 skill now. But that’s another topic.

Bonus fact: Try combining Embrace with Heal and Pain Absorb/Unyielding. This way, you can copy free Weakness, Blind or Cripple.

I think that the monetization wouldn’t be problem at all.

They’d have to make Reward Tracks a little more accesible, since “F2P players” would not be able to do dungeons. Maybe more zones in “free rotation” and buyable reward tracks with gems?

I’d in fact like less"humanized" faces, more akin to Mordrem for HoT.

From what I’ve seen, Ventari was practically unchanged apart from some numbers from the first preview when Roy got a ton of identical feedback on it.

That “beta” version, based on what Robert Gee said, was locked down for changes shortly after first preview, so I believe that apart from couple numbers and specs update for Rev, there wasn’t time to implement more in-depth changes.

Which, I believe, Roy already has in the sleeve and will show them in following days.

I like Stronghold.

I think about it in other way – it’s too simple and plain, rough at edges. Wouldn’t mind more mechanics or more advanced NPCs/defenders options down the line

I would also be interested in how would it work if there was both lanes push, not just 1.

Evans.6347:

The snipers are a bit too much. They almost down any class in one volley.
The rest is fine.

Tbh, had some fun with those last hours. Moving with Ventari’s projectile bubble felt like moving in a transporter in Beirut.

Bhawb.7408:

Kaiser.9873:

I still don’t understand why Reaper shouts have any cast time whatsoever. Warrior shouts have zero cast time and Guardian shouts have zero cast time.

Even Tempest has 2 shouts with zero cast time(one of which is their stunbreak), 2 shouts with 1/4 second cast time, an elite shout with 3/4 second cast time(60 second CD), and an heal shout with 1.5 second cast time. Plus these shouts actually give some defenses when used with a frost aura(-10% damage) and Magnetic Aura(5 seconds).

Then ya got the Reaper. Weaklings, Save you, and Your soul sitting at 3/4 second. Suffer and Rise sitting at 1 second. Chilled to the Bone, 2 seconds with 120 second CD.

While I think they are excessive, our heal and elite definitely need cast times (1s elite, heal is fine at 3/4s). But yes, Suffer and Rise are definitely in need of heavy work, not just cast times, and the other 2 shouts should probably just be 1/2s casts. I don’t like having instant cast offensive skills, it breaks the whole point of the game for me where you are supposed to be able to counterplay things, but a lot of our shouts aren’t directly very offensive, but lend offensive buffs to the following skills, meaning those skills should contain the counterplay, not the shout itself.

I’ve been thinking…What if our shouts were split in 2 parts?

First could be instant and apply first effect, second would be not and apply second effect.

i.e. CHttB instant Chill and Stability, but 1s cast on stun.

It’s tricky, but possible I believe. This way individual parts could’ve been a little stronger or have different Cooldowns, similar to Turret Overcharge i.e. again ChttB, Chill part with 60s CD, but stun part with 90s CD.

Just a random thought. It could’ve been interesting spin on whole Shout mechanic for the Reaper.

Chinese Necromancer icon.

Bhawb.7408:

Rym.1469:

3. The idea with Invuln on shout… I’d keep it with Block, but extend the duration or reduce the cooldown. I think it having some counterplay instead of “k m8, now kite for 4s” is more interesting for both sides.

Just a note, it isn’t true invuln, it reduces all damage taken to 0, but all conditions and CC effects still work as normal. So you’re still able to try to kite and CC the Reaper, but the Reaper can also chain it with stability. Honestly feel like the “k m8, now kite for 4s” is exactly what a horror theme goes for.

But I do get the idea, various kinds of damage negation could be used to tune it, I just wanted to enforce the idea of it being actual negation.

Uh, you’re right, I read it wrong.

Two more things I could maybe suggest:

1. Reaper Onslaught instead of resetting the cooldown of #2 RS on kill (which is imo…intriguing. Shouldn’t the #5 RS get reduced cooldown instead? I mean…it’s executioner…uh) could make RS #2 apply Chill to foes it passes through or something. Make it a skillshot if it has to go in straight line.

2. Shivers of the Dread…Uh, the second minor. Instead of proccing only on Fear, it could proc on all hard CCs Or on fears and Interruptions.

Option 1 – Finisher shout. 300 or 400% more damage on foes below 20% health, spawns Flesh Golem that degenerates health when hit foe dies or goes into downstate.

Option 2 – Minion that Chills and has Ranged attack to assist Melee Reaper.

1. Deathly Chill could instead do damage when your Conditions are cleansed/fade…
That would be more of Curse trait, however.

2. I’m thinking about some alternative concept for “Rise!” Minion. It would’ve been puurfect if that Minion had ranged attack which Chills, IMO.
Again, synergy.

3. The idea with Invuln on shout… I’d keep it with Block, but extend the duration or reduce the cooldown. I think it having some counterplay instead of “k m8, now kite for 4s” is more interesting for both sides.

Wish I could actually test the Reaper for myself, but that’s some basic feedback I can provide without going deep into gameplay.

AlphatheWhite.9351:

Warlord of Chaos.7845:

If you want to show me how I am wrong, please duel me and show me the error of my ways.

That’s just as inane as the idea that a criminal could prove his innocence through trial by combat.
Deciding who’s right by who’s the better pvper? Really?
Now who’s unwilling to be convinced?

I want to see you fly!

Duke Blackrose.4981:

WraithOfStealth.1624:

There is no need for different “noises”, the legend you are channeling is making the sound, not the player character. Why would Shiro suddenly become a kawaii canthan schoolgirl and start talking in a female pitch. “I’ve returned to defend you (senpai)”. (PS that line is horrible even in his own voice)

Please make this a thing.

Nope.

That’s racist!

Thousand bumps, this is top priority case and discrimination!

I’m happy for the league system.

If it actually works and we have enough (read: more) PvP Players after HoT first month, it may actually be huge carrot for me. I care less for the backpiece, because I believe it will be some shiny, white wings looking good on human model only, but titles? I’m up.

Time to get equivalent of Wrathful Gladiator in another game.

Um…wat?

It’s not WWE. And I certainly don’t want to watch competitors who behave like couple MLG CoD kids.
Sponsors neither.

While interesting…

Why would you not pick Reaper if it added bonus Shroud?

It’s not alternate playstyle, like Elite Specs were announced to be (although we have Chrono), it’s just level up.

Blaine Tog.8304:

Bhawb.7408:

2 of the shouts need to be changed heavily, I’d really like to see Rise removed and changed into something like “You Can’t Kill Me!” (insert better shout name here)

How about, “I Am Become Death!”?

I’m a fan of Yogg-Saron shouts he uses in Ulduar and think they would fit perfectly the Reaper. GW1 Norn shouts just sound…hillarious.

What if our pitful Elite was named “Bow down before the Death!” and in addition enemies affected would perform /kneel when stunned?

For reference:

https://youtu.be/L3mpw4Y7Pjg

Bhawb.7408:

I find it hilarious that abjured winning is what solidifies this as meta, when Nos was fighting the respawn timer almost as much as he was fighting the enemy (no offense to him, he makes do on a really tough profession).

Meta – the other wording for “let’s copy paste exact builds winning team uses”.

Not like it’s something new. Metabattle has been doing this elevation thing since the creation.