Guild Wars 2

Zoid.2568:

Elementalist will get an elite specialization and with that new “class” I hope there comes a new conjuration skill. So far the Elementalist got these conjurations available:
- Shield (Earth) [utility]
- Hammer (Lightning) [utility]
- Longbow (Water) [utility]
- Greatsword (Fire) [elite]

Tempest seem to be specialized in Wind, so we can assume Wind Attunement and a new conjuration. Instead of using an existing weapon as conjuration, what if they bring in a scythe or two-handed axe for wind type skills as a conjuration.

What do you think?

I think Tempest is more a reference to a powerful storm of elements and not specifically for the wind attunement. Lightning Attunement already has several wind effect type spells so IF they are creating a new attunement (which I don’t even believe they are) I doubt it would be wind. More likely skills for the Tempest specialization (which I believe is the elite spec) will based around speed/mobility/aoe. I woudln’t hold my breath for any new weapon conjures, especially with the addition of a new weapon option to the profession. That’s my 2 cents.

In my opinion it’s too similar to greatsword and hammer. You could just make “2 handed axe” skins for either of those weapons and the animation would still fit for it. Why have it be its own weapon at that point?

DiogoSilva.7089:

Is there any picture out there that shows glyph of storms or lightning flash equipped on a character? So far, we only have screens of Ether Renewal, Conjure Lightning/ Fire, Mist Form and Tornado.

Not slotted, but there is a picture that shows them on the skill selection sidebar. That is what people are referring to.

If they made Tornado arcane and the grandmaster trait Elemental Surge was still available then you could see some added functionality added to the spell (wouldn’t really save the skill, but their is some appeal to a continual aoe damage/condi applier)

With my current earth (4), water(4), arcana (6) build I routinely stay at very high health during fights. Being able to role Diamond Skin into that would make it a beast! Although I might switch my build up entirely when I see what skills and traits the elite spec offers.

Strang.8170:

More likely it´s the skill type for ether renewal, torando and such. They did say all skills will have a type in future.

There´s glyphs, conjuration (conjure weapons), cantrips and signets there too, and they´re not specialisations for sure since those skilltypes have been confirmed to be integrated in other specializations (water traits for cantrip bonuses etc.)
Furthermore, skillpoint are gone so hero points will likely be what you use to get skills, and thus they are on the same page where you spend thsoe points.

They said all skills will have a type, they never said it would be a new type. ex: Engi Mortar skill is being assigned to existing kit type. It wouldn’t make sense for one whole reward track to be assigned for 2 skills (ether renewal and tornado are the only two without a type…and technically tornado is classified as a transform.)

We know that their are reward tracks for each of the core specialization, used to unlock the traits for selection on them. So it stands to reason there will be one for Elite specializations as well (if this has not already been said directly in a blog post it has been heavily hinted at.) So unless the screen shot is from a developmental version build that does not have the new Elite spec in it yet (possible I guess, but unlikely), then the Tempest reward track is for the new Elite spec.

Nike.2631:

That is yet to be proven. Losing the ability to take 2-3 adept or 2 master level traits in a single line is a savage blow to a lot of existing builds.

I’m not saying the new game won’t be fun, but its only vaguely related to the game we are playing now…

They’ve said they’re trying to preserve many of the existing builds. One way their doing that is by merging traits. I’m sure their aware of many builds that use multiple adept or master traits from a line and will preserve them by merging them. You can’t say that a “savage blow” has been dealt if you don’t know how the traits have been modified yet.

Alexander.9810:

I am almost positive these are the utilities that the elite specialization uses. That suggests that the new class is some master of storms / winds.

Or when coming up with names for the new specializations they were like “What’s a name that would suggest a fury of the elements?” Who knows? Only anet right now.

Orpheal.8263:

Nonsense!

Tempest is no profession at all, its just a stinking normal English word for a weather effect, a strong storm (of wind normally just)… > look at Tempest Weapon Skins, = Wind Weapons

When you actually would look at what kind of things are listed up all there, one with the ability to put 1 + 1 together should quickly get it, that with Tempest isn’t meant an Elite Specialization, but most likely some kind of gameplay mechanic, that the Elementalist has…

You see first all the 5 original trait lines, that are now called Core Specializations. Then you see 1 Core Specialization for every single Utility Skill Type of the Class.

So its most likely, that tempests are simply a complete new Utility Skill type for the Elementalist Specialization where you can create then as Elementalist based on your attunement different tempest effects.

Fire Attunement = Inferno as a fire based Tempest Utility Skill
Air Attunement = Lightning Orb as an air based Tempest Utility Skill
Earth = Sandstorm as an earth based Tempest Utility Skill
Water = Blizzard as a water based Tempest Utility Skill

as the ele specialization will be most likely from what has been data mined stil lbe able to use ele,mental attunements, maybe gets a new 5th attunement, what I would guess as Ether Attunement for Arcane Powers as neutral element what would be then

Ether = Arcane Prism

For that change I simply guess, the Glyph of Storms will get removed.
Anet is merging Skill Effects, traits ect.

I find it not impossible, thta Glyph of Storms might be a glyph Skill (which rarely gets used if at all) and gets integrated with Tempest as more useful seperate Utility KSilsl under the new Term of “Tempests”, because thats what these kind of skilsl would be like, huge AoEs with environmental effects.

A Sandstorm could environmentally reduce the sight of foes.
A Blizzard could environmentally slow foes so that they can’t attack so fast anymore
A Lightning Orb could weaken foes or make them quickly alot more vulnerable while jumping from foe to foe or moving slowly around like a homing missile that continously damages nearby targets per second so that theres a dps option of those temepests
A Inferno could set foes on burning and cause torment also too through the incredible heat it creates everywhere around you, making breathign alot harder, or instead of torment posion, though all the poisonous smoke that an inferno can create. Both options would be incredibly powerful dps option,s one for direct damage, one for condition damage … whiel the other two are better support tempests

Wow….creative prediction. I disagree with you, but have to respect the creativity.

But Glyph of Storms is rarely used at all?! In what game mode are you talking about? I use it all the time, but granted I pretty much stick with only PVE.

ReaverKane.7598:

Nowhere there does it say that the skill types will all be kept within current categories. While that’s a likely case (thus allowing for the runes to synergize), nothing says they can’t or won’t add new types (along with new runes, perhaps?).
At least not in that blog.

True, but in the graphic attached to the blog post the Tempest choice is the only one not currently represent in the current system. And since there WILL be a reward track for the Elite specialization there is a strong likely hood that is what that reward track is for. It could be possible that the screen shot is from a version build where the Elementalist elite skill isn’t included yet, but I doubt it.

penelopehannibal.8947:

Perhaps someone could turn this into an app? Where you have a generic text, and the * insert * bits give you drop down menus so you can mix n match different responses and reasons but all meaning the same thing – then copy & paste the results!

(p.s. joke – if someone out there knows how to create apps I’m joking!)

Too late, I’m starting a Kickstarter. Think of the market for this! This will be a gold mine!

RabbitUp.8294:

Weyrd.2794:

Yeah, but this is an example of giving a skill without a class an existing class. It does not suggest they will be creating a new class of skill to reassign existing skills with classes to.

Yeah, that’s what I wanted to say. All existing skills will be assigned a pre-existing category.

Also, apparently, the same will apply to new elite skills (all shouts, or all traps for example: “We’ll also be reusing old types of skills like shouts and traps to create more synergy with the Rune system.”)

So, Tempest cannot be a new category and is indeed the new elite specialization.

Re-read you original post and see now that you did say that. Oops.

Also to any others, just to be sure there is no confusion, by new elite skills he means the six new ones introduced with the elite specialization (1 healing, 4 utility, 1 elite), not the specifically elite level skills.

And in a few years, after they adapt, if they make overarching changes again, they will complain about moving away for the system implemented in HoT. Some people just don’t like change.

RabbitUp.8294:

ReaverKane.7598:

Its most likely the new Spec.
I was going to say could maybe be a new “Type” for some unclassified skills on Elementalist, but then i went and checked and only one Ele Skill has no type, and its a heal. So unless they reclass skills, its most likely the name for the Spec.

They said all current skills will be changed to belong to an existing type.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/specializations-part-one-a-primer/

All legacy skills will be assigned a category if they don’t already have one; for example, the engineer’s Mortar elite skill will become a kit.

Yeah, but this is an example of giving a skill without a class an existing class. It does not suggest they will be creating a new class of skill to reassign existing skills with classes to.

“Hopefully that clears things up for you… please change your expansion plans accordingly if you desire my money.”

They’ve already spent probably thousands in development of the currently proposed features and there will most likely be a potential increase of revenue from players that end up becoming more engaged in the game due to the changes. Not to mention the redesign of the trait system seems to be geared toward making it easier to develop new trait lines in the future, decreasing development cost there.

Somehow I don’t believe you spend THAT much money on this game.

morrolan.9608:

Andred.1087:

Could you guys please for once stop pretending you know more about this than the kittening devs do… They’re doing an AMA tomorrow to clarify questions, for kitten’s sake!

Actually it is crystal clear that we will lose diversity in the way the OP describes, the medi guardian build will be impossible, yes builds will be adapted but there will be inherently less build diversity and less choice.

So because one build type becomes impossible we will lose diversity? How many different builds will become available for the first time because of the rework? It all boils down to we can’t make a determination on a gain or loss of build diversity until we know the true extent of all the changes made to each individual trait.

Hunter.4783:

Xaylin.1860:

Since the part about shouts is in a section dealing with elite specializations I’d assume that they are not talking about classes which already got shouts. E.g. no Ranger, Guardian or Warrior.

Yep, i was gonna make a post about this but i guess no point now.

From the wording of the article:

“at least one profession’s elite specialization will be a full set of six shouts”

One would reason that a class other than guardian, warrior and even ranger will get these new shouts, cuz there is no point in having these 3 aforementioned classes with 10 shouts now.

What they are doing is adding new skill line categories to each profession, each affected by a trait line.

For example, the druid ones will be nature magic, something of that sort.

Necros, are going to get skills closely related to greatsword, affected by their new elite trait line and fall into a new category again affected by this new traitline. Think of “Superior aria” like traits.

And it kinda makes sense too. this new system is not simply a badaid to horrible balancing, but will add in the new groundworks for more stuff to be added into it.

Whichever class gets the set of 6 shouts, keep in mind that one of the shouts will be the new healing skill, 4 will be utility, and one will be an elite shout, since each Elite specialization is get only 6 new “non-weapon” skills structured as above.

savacli.8172:

I think that’s a stretch; nothing on that whole panel has a ground targeting icon.

Agreed. I doubt Glyph of Storms is losing ground targeting.

“But I first need ALL CHANGES for HOT! You are fundamentally changing the trait system, the attribute system, and therefore balance, rendering all previous made assumptions invalid. ALL of them. GIVE’M TO US! "

I doubt they are set in stone yet and anet will not want to release them until they are more confident in them.

MiniEquine.6014:

Naevius.3185:

Actually, it is a bit disturbing that there are 11 lines there, even if one is the elite spec. Consider that it is one thing to pick 3 out of 5 (or 6) trait lines, but 3 out of 11 is another matter. And ‘Signets’ as a line? Does that mean no signets at all in other lines?

Signets would not be a line. They addressed that there are only 5 trait lines, a 6th I suppose for the elite specialization. Those choices are for unlocking abilities, and they grouped them together by type instead of by rank. This feels a lot more organized. If you want signets sooner, focus on unlocking the signets; then you’ll have them.

The water magic skills almost match up with the number of weapon skills an Elementalist can have per attunement. Maybe that’s what is tied to it?

If you compare the images in the Water Magic reward track progression to the images in the Water Magic spec trait line, they match up. Leveling up the water magic reward track “unlocks” trait selection in the water magic trait line.

The reward tracks for non-trait lines will unlock utility skills for use (and maybe modifications of their function, that’s just speculation though.)

The Tempest option at the bottom is very likely for unlocking the traits within the elite specialization. So the specialization is very likely (at the moment) called a Tempest.

You probably won’t hear specifics until after the closed beta when they are more sure of the balance of the new elite specializations. You will probably be setting yourself up for disappointment if you expect that kind of detail before then.

tfcgeneralkmk.9508:

i have a feeling it is also just for the new weapon as your armor isn’t changing much although new skins for armor to match better would be cool

They said there’d be a single armor piece that would be similar in style to the new weapon skin. They said it would probably be a should or head piece.

“a fancy weapon skin for your new weapon type, and an armor skin for a single matching piece of armor (usually headgear or shoulders). "

We’re not going to lose build diversity, but we are going to lose some build types (and gain others.) There is a difference. If you are among the populace who will lose access to a certain type of build and you REALLY loved it, then that sucks and I’m sorry. But there will also be people who fall in love with a new build option, so balance will be preserved.

Also you do mention a lot in your comments how much we don’t know about how they are merging/culling traits, which is true. So it has equal potential to turn out awesome or horrible.

You say you want anet to read this and think about the consequences of going with these changes, but you need to understand these changes ARE happening. The exact execution of how may change, but they will occur. You’d be better spent identifying specific functionality you currently have in a class build and asking for/suggesting a way for it to exist in the new system (they have said they are trying to preserve as many builds as possible so make sure they are aware of yours.)

Dadnir.5038:

In one word : disappointed.
In more word : Like said by the OP, it seem even more restrictive than the current system. At the same time there are tons of question that follow this announcement like :

- Will we be stuck to use only 3 traitline?
- How do we feed this reward tracks? (this is absolutely oblivious. xp? skill points?)
- How many point can we use?
- Does trait and skill are linked? Like : I’m an Elementalist specialized in fire magic, air magic and signet. (reducing even more our build freedom)
… etc.

1) Will we be stuck to use only 3 traitline? – Yes, but you can swap out trait lines freely like you can now.

2) How do we feed this reward tracks? (this is absolutely oblivious. xp? skill points?) – Hero points (what used to be called skill points)

3) How many point can we use? – Good question, an additional question would be how many points would be needed to get X far in a reward track. We probably won’t know this until release.

4) Does trait and skill are linked? Like : I’m an Elementalist specialized in fire magic, air magic and signet. (reducing even more our build freedom) – I don’t believe trait spec and reward track spending are linked. i.e. you can be spec’d in fire, air, and water but still fill up the earth, arcane, and signet reward tracks…their just wouldn’t be as much pay off. I could definitely see people locked in certain builds during leveling up due to reward track spending, only to be free to switch in and out of builds after they are post level 80 and have filled out multiple reward tracks.

I think the main thing he was getting at is if you want your Ranger to use a staff, you HAVE to spec in the druid line. You cannot spec in the core specs and still use a staff.

I imagine you would need to physically change skins each time. I haven’t seen any word yet on a quick change feature for skins.

sorudo.9054:

yeah, compelling, we’re compelled to leave the game to die.
they said they have a solution for the trait problem, all they did was screwing us over all over again.
they said they are gonna set things right, all they did was making sure that we are now forced to do all the things we deliberately avoided.

i don’t have a 100% map completion ankitten ot planning in doing it any time soon, i really don’t like dungeons but AFAIK it’s something forced.
so in short, you’re forced to do stuff you don’t like, changing the game in to labor.

Why are people assuming they need 100% map completion to have access to all skills and traits? You don’t need it now, you will not need it after HoT. You will probably need to have done at least some of the map content, which I could see as a bit of a hassle for someone who has multiple alts and on the later ones likes avoid map content all together and just use tomes and skill point scrolls. That process will no longer be available.

Meglobob.8620:

They are definitely deleting traits from the game, I presume every character class is going to lose a whole bunch of traits. The say it here, quote:-

’ By locking traits to tiers and reducing the overall number of traits, we’ve made each choice much more compelling.’

Also, present lvl 80’s will lose some traits they have now and after unlock them again. Again this quote:-

‘A level 80 character that’s done none of the hero challenges should be able to unlock more than enough skills, specializations, and traits to make several unique full builds.’

So well you may be able to run some builds, those builds could be awful ones or ones you personally don’t like/hate.

Not all missing traits will just be deleted however. Some are being rolled in to base skill functionality or being merged together.

From blog post:

“As you can see, traits have been merged, moved, and culled, and new ones have been created, but it lets us introduce more skillful traits and more meaningful trait choices that are going to really change how you play. Although some traits are being removed, we’re doing our best to preserve as many of the current builds as we can.”

Notsoperky.4291:

The only thing you can say for certain is that buying GW2 expansion will be pretty much mandatory for all pvp players and wvw players.

Other than that, I see a lot of builds being destroyed (many use more than 3 trait lines, and by my reading the elite line takes up one of those too, so you’re left with a choice of two and an elite line?).

However, there is potential for a lot of new builds too and no doubt a new meta will emerge after a few months.

I don’t think HoT will be mandatory right off the bat, but eventually it will be as they have said they plan to continue to add new Elite Specializations to each class and HoT is what unlocks the use of Elite Specializations. If you didn’t have it you’d eventually be missing out on a good number of build options. At first though, you’d be missing out on one specialized trait line, which would be required for meta play.

Spartacus.3192:

Nate.3927:

Spartacus.3192:

Crey.5263:

Look the thing that I loved about gw1 was the 1000s of skills available to my character…but I eventually grew up and realized that you still only use a small set of these skills. The people who are going to complain about losing access to those two trait lines, need to go back and really look at their builds and see that the overwhelming majority of the time, they are going to have two trait lines that they weren’t using anyways. or if they were it was for some negligible minor trait… especially since (using the water ele traits that have been revealed as a example) the traits seem to be getting better and doing more.

Im afraid i disagree.

I have 5 builds that i like to use for different scenarios on my warrior as follows and for when im just bored with one.

6,0,4,0,4 (shin’s build) for WvW
2,0,6,0,6 (TDM legendary 3.0) for WvW
0,0,6,2,6 (leg specialist GS/hammer) for WvW
0,5,0,6,3 (Phalanx Strength) for dungeons
0,5,6,0,3 (forceful GS) for Silverwastes.

As you can i see i go 6 deep in every trait line except ARMS (i go 5) . If im forced to only be able to spec into 3 trait lines im going to get bored real quick.

umm, all 5 of your builds utilizes only 3 trait lines. We get 3 full trait lines. So… what’s the problem?

OK correct me if im wrong but i can only choose 3 trait lines or can i swap the 3 trait lines for other 3 trait lines at any time? What im saying if im forced to choose Defense, Tactics and Discipline. Can i switch them the next day for Strength, Defense and Discipline for my other build? Or am i stuck with my first 3 choices forever?

You can respec specializations just like you can do traits now. You are not locked in.

“And don’t forget the lose of stat points, we already got too many “ZERK ONLY!!!” lfg posts and demands out there, moving stats off traits and onto gear will over inflate the fire of such demands.”

I disagree, some of those players will see a drop in some of their other stats since they had depended on their trait lines to provide a bump in them rather than their gear. Now it might be more advantageous to have more diverse gear. That’s just my thought though.

I also disagree that this will limit build diversity, but I will concede that it will change what types of builds are available. So a build type that you’ve been running for a while will no longer be possible, but new build types will be appearing as a result. I do realize this will be tough for people that really like their builds and want to keep them, but there may be other builds that you will enjoy playing more if given the chance. That’s the hope at least.

the trait system will still be overhauled for players without HoT, but they will not have access to the Elite specialization.

Do remember that they said they are merging some of the traits (and culling others) to get down to 3 for each tier. It is possible that the 2 adept or 2 master traits you might have chosen instead of a higher tiered trait could now be rolled into the same trait. Or that functionality could become a standard part of a skills use (like targeted necro wells). I wouldn’t get too worried just yet.

I am curious on how the excess skill points will be converted. There are a variety of mystic forge mats that require skill points. Will they give us a choice on how they are converted and thus what mats we get or are they going to do it automatically somehow?

From the blog post:

“Old skill points in excess of those earned by leveling and skill challenges will be converted into crafting materials for the Mystic Forge. Items and activities that were previously repeatable sources of skill points will now also provide that same crafting material.”

If you don’t want those skill point scrolls or skill points earned by them to be turned into mystic forge mats then I’d spend them before HoT comes out.

From the blog post:

“PvP players won’t have to worry about unlocking anything, as all skills and traits will be automatically unlocked upon entering the Heart of the Mists.”

So everyone just relax….

Keep in mind you’ll be gaining access to another grandmaster trait (in exchange for basically one first level minor trait.) This could potentially open up new build options to counteract ones that may disappear as the result of the change.

I doubt you’d have to complete all maps to unlock everything. I imagine leveling to 80 and doing a few “Hero Point” challenges along the way would be enough to unlock everything. After that it sounds like completing those challenges will get you mystic forge crafting mats instead. At least that is how it sounded to me.

Congrats to the OP, last two times my reward was express bank access…which I never really use

Still, one of these days….

Inculpatus cedo.9234:

The official statement says we will no longer gain XP, as our XP bar will be replaced by Mastery Tracks. We will ‘train’ these tracks by completing content such as: completing a chapter in your personal story, completing certain achievements, reaching hard-to-find locations, overcoming challenging encounters, excelling at adventures found within the Heart of Maguuma, or earning 100% completion for a map.

Now, whether one can ‘train’ the Gliding Mastery track by fighting Mordrem (for example) is unclear.

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/reimagining-progression-the-mastery-system/

“Once you’ve unlocked a Mastery track tier with Mastery points, you can begin training that Mastery. Mastery tracks are trained by gaining experience while the Mastery track is slotted on the Mastery training bar. Higher tiers in Mastery tracks require progressively more Mastery points and more experience to fully train.” (from article linked several times on this site.)

So basically, by accomplishing special acheivements (with personal story, map exploration, etc..) you gain Mastery points to unlock Mastery tiers. You can then slot a tier that will level up as you gain XP in the associated region. So when you are in the Heart of Maguma, you will level up Mastery tiers specifically for the new maps. When you are in the core game regions you will level up Mastery tiers for there (if you have unlocked them.)

You can earn mastery points before hitting level 80, but you cannot spend them to unlock the tiers until you hit 80.

So to answer the last point of the quoted poster, you can level up gliding by fighting Mordrem…if the Mordrem are located in the new maps and not the core maps.

I believe he is looking for advice on how to negate condition damage against himself, not make a guardian build that focuses on condition damage. This is based on this from his OP:
“Lately i’m having trouble with conditions, they burn my life out so fast..
Any advises? "

This is a joke that is being viewed funny by some and insensitive/annoying by others…which pretty much describes every April Fool’s Day joke I’ve ever heard of

I do feel that, from a “keeping your customers happy” standpoint, the option to turn it off would have been smart. But I also realize that the world will keep spinning and that this will eventually be over and forgotten.

While I did hope to catch up on the LS on one of my characters tonight, I’ll take the opportunity to clear some shows off my DVR instead. Still a win for me at least…