The problem is failing to let go of the idea (picked up in other games) that gear determines your role in the game. GW2 was designed so that dedicated roles are not a thing in PvE. Gear is just another aspect of the character building system, not a determining factor.
So zerker is meaningless for DPS?
I think what you said is more true for GW2 than say WoW, but gearing is still impactful on your role. So you could wear Giver’s armor for DPS and yeah you could still DPS but you wouldn’t be as good as a character in Zerker’s.
Relative levels of effectiveness aside, GW2 is designed so that everyone in any build can and probably does do damage. Damage is not a role, it’s something that everyone does. In the same way, support is not a role, nor is control. You can enter an encounter prepared to provide more of A, B or C. You can also restrict yourself to mostly A, B or C. That’s a viable — but certainly not optimal — choice.
I wish ANet had not removed the old blog on healing. It was the source of the “GW2 trinity” assumptions. What it actually said was something more along the lines of damage, support and control being things that players do during the natural course of play. It certainly did not promise dedicated roles, yet that’s what most of the posts like the OP’s are really about.
I agree with everything you wrote — it’s the lack of roles that many people find disappointing. Roles required a minimum of teamwork to execute. You can use the Trinity as a classic example of roles, or create a new set of roles. It doesn’t matter, it’s the point that roles add depth to the game. It’s not as satisfying without them.
The combat system in GW2 is nice (best in any MMO I’ve seen) but it is quite shallow. There’s little complexity or depth to it. The lack of roles and required team work contributes heavily to this result.
You can execute combos as a team but they are hardly required, and definitely not necessary for success. If they were, it would enforce a degree of team work and coordination that would be very rewarding upon success. Some teams would fail (and should) but that’s the nature of challenging and rewarding content.
I agree with most of what you said except the lack of role, there is role in GW2, they aren’t necessary but they exist.
When I join a party, I expect the guardian to use Aegis, Reflect, condi cleanse just like I expected my tank to keep the aggro, it’s a different role, but it’s still one. I expect my warrior to run Banners, give might and fury. Thief using stealth, blind, blasting combo field etc. Instead of being forced into a healer, tank, dps role, you choose which class you want to play which role. Right now every class can be useful (except maybe necro which aren’t as useful as other classes)
Teamwork is useful in gw2 to be efficient, most people won’t like the example I’m about to post but look at how everyone know what they have to do, Warrior CC’ing abomination, thief using black powder, everyone throwing a blast, guardian using reflect and aegis at the right time, elementalist using swirling winds. The amout of coordination in this run is insane. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmmBAQzfSF4
.
