Guild Wars 2

I like the new maps but the triangles within triangles design the other maps had are sort of scrambled some terrain decisions seem a bit backward, like having smaller expanses between structures full of winding canyons or deep woods to funnel players while the large flat spaces seem to be inside bases which will be largely ignored since once you’re inside you’re shooting for the boss kill.

The new maps are nice and I hope the devs don’t turn them into small flat boxes as some people seem to want, it would just be an overpopulated spvp match at that point. Though, there does need to be some changes based on how actual players and teams move around and engage each other and how each base should be a presence. On the other maps for the most part there were clear triangles where two opposing structures could threaten or defend a third and one or two of the locations would have to answer.

alchemyst.2165:

I use s/d staff with dash in pvp, dash to make up for some of the mobility lost by shortbow. I’ve found that if you play this similarly to a cele ele you can yield good results for you and your team. You can 1v1 a lot more easily with Daredevil and staff now, and s/d is very good with daredevil. And it’s also fun to play.

There is some topography in WvW where shortbow #5 can save a long round about trip, do you use staff #5 on that terrain or just avoid those parts? Also, if you play in the new action mode have you had trouble facing the right way on some dodges in Dash mode? The other two feel like normal for the most part but the odd way Dash doesn’t like to arch when you do jump/dodge often leaves me facing the wrong way and I might double dodge right into the middle of a stack or go shooting off into the sunset when I’m trying to get into the fight. I’m sure it’s something simple and I’m overthinking it but since you seem to like Dash I thought I’d ask. Not so much a problem in normal mode except I can’t jump flip/dodge like I used to, it’s almost entirely in action mode.

I look back on all the expansions I’ve played and this one is right about on par, except the music is much better than most. I have some complaints about a feature or two and I’m not entirely happy, but that has more to due with the game mode I like to play, I can’t claim the expansion is less than good based on that. This is actually a pretty good expansion comparatively.

Sich.7103:

the map itself is the puzzle jump

I’ve been in maybe two or three fights on that map so far but I’ve died more times than that. If you’re a Daredevil using Dash, slow your roll.

With your Trickery and DrDvl choices I would use Roll of Initiative as well, it’s like a mini Withdraw with those traits aside from it’s base effects though that may be a better choice in WvW than spvp.

meepeY.2867:

Solaris.9210:

How did you kill the first thief so fast when he was in the downed state? It looks like you just cleaved him a couple of times and then he just instant died as if you stomped.

The new Daredevil Elite skill is a 3-part chain combo. The last part of the chain will stomp downed players – If “Finishing Blow” knocks an enemy into the downed state, it will stomp them instantly as well.

Very, very useful in 1vX fights.

The new action combat mode makes Finishing Blow and Fist Flurry feel really rewarding just watching it all land.

When I go into sPvP lobby or into World vs World, I’ll have different trait builds. You might have daredevil selected in normal pve maps your staff will un-equip and go into your inventory once you enter the Heart of the Mists if you don’t have the trait line selected for that mode. I could be totally off the mark though, curious to see what it was once someone figures it out for you.

Your traits change depending on the game mode hub you’re currently in. Whenever I go to Heart of the Mists, and even with DrDvl selected, it still un-equips my staff to the inventory. See if you don’t have DrDvl traits selected for one of the game modes.

Mind if I ask what puts DrDvl in T3 if measured against a T1 Elite? Is it the three steps to land?

I really appreciate this, I can sort of visually find my way around but without a population there for awhile it’s hard to dig up all the features of each place to orient myself. Though, it would help to have a full size map at the start of each section, with maybe the names of each place you’ve detailed in bold and the plot being reviewed circled on that map so that we step into the guide with a directional image in our heads.

That’s really unfortunate if true, I saw no reason to take that trait on it’s own without Trickster. If it doesn’t synergize with Trickster, none of the modifiers on it are going to kick in to even measure this traits worth, it’s a no show at this point if you’re correct. Which would also mean you might as well take Thrill of the Crime and at that point, you might as well also take Bountiful theft and run the same build everyone else does. Hope you’re wrong.

messiah.1908:

i you withraw ans lost burning and bleed if evade pops up and if i use it and didnt see the evade pop up only 1 got cleansed.
it state when you evade (not when you dodge) an attack and not while using dodge

That’s how I read it. I have Withdraw and Roll for Initiative give two condition removals from Trickster and Escapists Absolution from Evade procs along with a small amount of extra healing on both from Driven Fortitude.

Blood Red Arachnid.2493:

Math stuff, fun read.

I really enjoy the staff and I think it will overtake Sword/dagger as my main weapon set but I find it a bit funny that our dullest weapon with no edge is on paper our best dps weapon.

Nocta.5274:

Machined Staff *

I dunno exactly what it is, but its tied to the dragon’stand map.

Also, completing your elite spec gives you the Daredevil’s Scarf, and supposedely the Darevil’s runes recipe. If you didn’t get the recipe, you can buy it at the laurels vendors.

Thank you much. I’ve looked around vendors and to see if it just automatically entered into my recipe book, I’m sure I’m just stumbling around and I’ll figure it out. That Machine Staff isn’t bad looking, that look is a bit recycled but that’s okay, the sets look reminds me of Thundercats or Voltron maybe.

Nocta.5274:

You probably can obtain it on any characters but I’m fairly certain you have to open the box on your thief.

I’m 10/14 now. I completed Verdant brick and got the Thief’s cache, and I finished Stealth gliding. Still need exalted gathering and Nuhoch stealth detection.

Anyone knows anything about the Daredevil’s Inscription and the Machiend Staff ?

What is the Machiend Staff? I’ve heard there’s supposed to be a recipe included with our Elite completion but in that other thread no one’s received it.

gavyne.6847:

Let’s keep in mind the OP is talking about lower tier servers, they had population issues long before HoT expansion. So this whole “they’ll be back” doesn’t work for them, because they weren’t even there before to fill up the old borderland maps.

Then he can just add to one of the other threads about it. No one’s holding him hostage on that server.

Once I got my elite spec out of the way I had fun running around in ours but is was very sparse of players. I think once people get their hero points knocked out and some larger guilds wrap up the HoT stuff it will fill up more.

So we are supposed to get a recipe? I had checked after seeing this thread the other day but didn’t have anything new. Count me in as not receiving one.

Sir Vincent III.1286:

Yuki Aburame.5283:

Would really like the elite skill “Impact Strike” to be a 2 hit combo instead of a 3 hit combo. Would make it so much more useful (depends on cast time of course) and fun to use (more flow).

Yeah, I’m still figuring out how to implement that skill in my play style…it seems out of place.

If it wouldn’t cancel out by doing anything I wouldn’t mind it being three steps, but currently there’s too many ways to get it canceled, mostly by consequence of combat but human error just by reflex when you’re reacting to stuff coming at you.

You’ll probably notice textures at different settings like gamma and post processing levels. I use Shadow Orange, which on some surfaces is pretty much black but has a nice dark leather brown that shows texture cracks about as well as Charred and Cinders on other surfaces.

I don’t get a lot of game time and I mostly play in WvW, often doing stuff that doesn’t pull in a decent rate of loot or gold. So, I’d finish crafting for the rest of my gear slots that need ascended. I’d likely contribute some to the guild and spend the rest as needed.

ArchonWing.9480:

Infusion.7149:

ArchonWing.9480:

I think the most lame part is that the amount of heroics you get per level up is RANDOM, somewhere between 2-4. I have no idea why they did this, but that’s nothing short of frustrating that some players would be put behind due to dumb luck.

It’s really in between 100 and 200 levels, so I am going to say 150.

To be fair, it should be changed to 1/5 of that though. It only requires 40 maguuma challenges but 150-200 WvW chests.

Well, the heroics also have an alternate use as well if you choose not to pursue an elite spec in that manner. I haven’t been to the new zones so I don’t know if it’s easier to get the challenge or to get 3-4 wvw levels. I do think 200 levels is too much if one gets unlucky though.

Also, what about those end of week chests; are they gonna give heroics too?

I found that If I hounded the LFG for HP groups I was able to knock out most of my elite spec in the new maps. I still need like two or three more but even with only first mastery in mushroom and glider I was able to get most. I would say grab the updraft glider mastery if you can to make it easier on some. I got one Maguuma Hero Point and couldn’t see myself trying to finish it out there, WvW players got kittened in that regard unless you have a huge supply of boosters and can play during the most active time zone and you get a perfect balance of structure taking and zerg fights and you might get close to the same rate as PVE in expansion maps but probably not.

GinghamLion.3614:

This was my absolute favorite part of the entire daredevil specialization. That animation is perfect and I don’t want it going anywhere.

Pick bound if you don’t like it. I can’t get enough of how awesome it is.

I won’t pick bound, but I still don’t like this Dash animation. I need the modifiers from it but that animation is anti productive if you’re in the action a lot in WvW and I can’t imagine it’s any easier to not get yourself killed in sPvP the way those maps are designed where it’s already difficult enough to keep within your kill box or on a point.

It won’t grow on me, this animation has almost got me killed more than anything. I can’t position or orient myself around my target or stay within the range I need to, basically I can’t stay on top of my target, I have to always play catch up with this Dash animation because it wiggles me away from them and I have to try to snap back.

I also cannot jump and flip into the dodge as with the normal dodge animation which is something I make constant use of and that’s a big hit to me losing that. The other two Elite dodge animations are spot on and work both normally and combined with jump/flip.

Wanze.8410:

Stoaga.8190:

We all share your pain and frustration, there is not one person that is happy about the new mastery system, trust me in this

I am happy with it. Players that are fine with the mastery system just dont constantly post about it on the forums, like those that arent.

He just said in his original post that he’s fine with the mastery system…

Kravick.4906:

dace.8019:

Oh yeah, it’s just Hero Challenges now. My bad.

So… I’m stuck then? Not able to finish my elite skills?

The devs said there should be enough hero point challenges to knock out 400 in the new area alone, unless I read that wrong. If you’re a WvW player you’ll likely struggle for those points but you’re not going to hit a wall where you can’t finish them.

SpellOfIniquity.1780:

“yo, dawg. i heard you like masteries so i locked masteries behind masteries so you can master while you master.”

You must first master the masteries or the masteries will master you.

Sir Vincent III.1286:

The real problem is, why are you taking 15k damage? Ever considered perhaps that you need to rethink your build? So maybe even if the attack is unblockable that you would take less damage?

I’m not really sure what “staff attacks” you’re talking about, but take 15k damage from 3 attacks says more about your build than the staff attacks.

That sounds more like Thiefworldproblems, this guy should make a thief. Aside from that, the regular contributors to this forum consistently critique our own skills and traits and bring to light anything that might be overpowered, the Bandits Defense thread not long ago is a good example.

Does it really remove it into the inventory bag? I go there as a quick way to access stuff but I think I’ll skip that for now, I’m sure they’ll fix that soon. Any amount of repetitive extra steps will clear a place out in any game.

My weed and coffee platter seems a little bleak compared to that spread. I’ll pick up some Grandmas Peanut Butter cookies after work.

Treeoflife.4031:

I’ve returned to SD recently and seeing it used in PvP (since i haven’t seen any at all) is nice. If you are looking for an alternative build….You should consider switching out bountiful theft for the trait in trickery that lowers cooldown of tricks and removes conditions. Swap out infiltrator’s signet for roll for initiative and switch Executioner for Improvization. With all the extra initiative from RFI the burst you lose from dropping Executioner you easily make up with the extra skills available plus everyone and their quaggan cousin runs condi so the extra condi removal is nice. Also being able to use steal skills twice can really save your noodle sometimes. The only real down side to these changes is losing the guaranteed interrupt due to losing BT for preventing stomps…but hey. Just something to consider. Anyways nice work…also is that the game lagging or the recording? i’d believe either lol

That’s pretty much the template I’m using right now. I went overboard during last beta and pimped out Withdraw and RFI with Trickery and Daredevil, giving two condition clears and at least some healing on both aside their base effects. There are times however when I do wish I had Bountiful Theft on my Steal again, I go back and forth on that one.

CrimsonNeonite.1048:

try using RFI and Trickery, it might help with your problem with low init.

I’m using those right now and I’ve found I just don’t use Shadowstep as much if not at all. Tricked out RFI usually lets me peel out of a zerg and a quick Shortbow 5 to put some distance after. I keep coming back to RFI or Blinding Powder as go to Utilities with the other two slots being whatever.

There are places in WvW maps where fights tend to take a predictable path and after awhile you will know what sort of topography you can short bow 5 up or across for instant high ground or barriers.

I go zerk with armor and a bunch of different pieces of trinkets. With limited play time and only playing WvW I had to make a long term choice of armor once I started cranking out Ascended, there’s no way I can afford to change my mind more than once later on. Everything else is pretty easy to switch out.

Either that new staff skin or just Staff. I’ve checked out everything and nothing looks good at all for a daredevil thief but Staff at least looks close to being just a staff.

I threw my Elite slot on Left Ctrl so I have to lean into it a bit with my lower left side of my palm but without having to pick up my hand or fingers from the keyboard. I had the problem of spamming Impact Strike but also with miss clicking my other Elites which was more an issue of my panicky gameplay. I just needed something more deliberate but still fluid. I like the video, a nice stretch of clear game play is more engaging to watch, also easier for more casual players like myself to see what’s happening.

knyy.6427:

I know there are bigger and more urgent problems out there for thieves/daredevils but that one nevertheless bothers me. and maybe there is a quick solution for this, so no dev needs to spend a lot of time for it.

if you use a physical skill on daredevil your weapon will just disappear and you see your character doing the animation. can we get, that the weapon will just get the default stow position on your character?

that would be way better.

I had thought about that last weekend when I was messing around with pistol/pistol. It would look awesome holstering your pistols in a flash to kick or palm strike someone then quick draw and start shooting again.

Kolly.9872:

What about if reveal could just be as any other condition? So we could remove it bringing condition removal? I don’t think it could be to OP since thief is already weak vs conditions and wasting the few cond removal we have just for 1 reveal might not always be the best idea.

I rarely stealth and only once in awhile for daze, I’d be fine with that if it were low on priority, I’d rather clear other conditions first.

ragnarokda.1805:

I was thinking something like:
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vZAQNAqaVn0MBNmidmCmOBkmilviyLAaxHoDzDfyv8A-TpgPgAnlBA2fAA

But my problem is that if pulmonary impact doesn’t stack on itself then spamming interrupts isn’t a good idea. And also getting rid of conditions and my choice between impacting disruption and escapist’s absolution. Without ID then interrupts aren’t going to mean AS much as just applying conditions by any other method and this will just be a p/p condition build. Which is okay still but I really wanted ID to work well. haha

Just some thoughts… I’m not a pro thief by any means.

I’m no pro myself, I just give everything an attempt and try not to force results so my results wont be accurate. I rolled an interrupt build around recently and found myself funneling into one or two plays over and over trying to interrupt which was me trying to force the build, the interrupts didn’t land often enough when I was able to play naturally. It might be more reliable in sPvP where every little thing is monitored but in WvW your interrupts are likely to be gobbled up by unintended targets unless you’re roaming or floating.

It’s also unfortunate that you’ll have to chose between Pressure Striking and Trickster because you could take Trickster for condition clearing and put Scorpion Wire on your bar as a condition clear and an interrupt.

alchemyst.2165:

Really? I found the most success running D/D Staff. I run DA/TR/DD running Weakening Strikes, Escapist’s Absolution, and Bound with Withdraw, ShadowStep, Bandit’s Defense, Fist Flurry and Impact Strike. It’s actually pretty good considering you have two weapons that complement each other; Staff has defense, D/D has burst.

I’m using pretty much that roll out but I find myself instinctively trying to lock down people the way I would with S/D. I’ve started using anything that can position me right ahead of them to try and interrupt with the Elite sometimes if I really need to stop a runner over 50% health. Bandits D seems to work better in a 1v? because at least one new comer will unknowingly land the hit where the prime bad guy isn’t going to walk into it. I really want Fist F to have fewer opportunities to miss but I’m going to use it anyway because it’s fun and looks cool but I’ll probably end up shelving it for other low cooldown utilities a lot.

Maybe it’s just my pace but I never felt the Feline Grace difference, I still get out of Acro what I always have really in practical use but one constant is feeling the strain of reaching the burst threshold. It’s pushing it already with DA/Acro/Trickery and Acro is conflicting as it is where it asks you to use half of your actions to dodge and evade but most effects kick in after the fact of getting hit so you’re spending a good deal of the time eluding hits and cleaning up wounds. I tried the build last time but felt that instead of Acrobatics compounding DDevil they mostly just leveled out to one trait line that mostly made openings for Trickery.

I’ve enjoyed my time on this server since transferring here, it’s relaxed but there’s always something to get into or blow up. I’ll try to quit 1vZerging, I know people don’t enjoy reviving some new guy all night, it’s either a new build idea bombing hard or I’m sleep thieving after work. You can just leave me there on the ground to think about what I did, I’ll catch up with how the gang here moves. I do appreciate how inclusive and at ease everyone is here.

babazhook.6805:

Understood but I am going to try with no shadowstep using bandits defense as the stunbreak over shadowstep. I picked up a couple hits of that food that removes a condition on heal.

I can’t drop Shadowstep yet but I am dropping Shadow Refuge for Bandits Defense, that utility is simply fun to use regardless of it’s use, which is great anyway. Just to finish out my Kungfu Joe build I’m also taking Fist Flurry, I know it’s stupid but I’m going to push it forward until I hit a wall and see what I can keep.

babazhook.6805:

If traited you can get a whole lot of condition removal off withdraw at an under 15 second ICD. I am going to give this a try in beta and see how readily I can keep conditions off using the DD evade and traiting to remove a guaranteed 5 conditions and possible 6 with withdraw

Now if withdraw slated along RFI one does not have to rely just on a dodge to clear chill.

That’s basically what I had last beta with Flanking Strikes + Trickster, staff, and Shadowstep with Trickery and Deadly Arts. It basically translated into a DA/Acro/Trickery build with Pain Response, Hard to Catch, and Don’t stop which, if you’re “sober”, you’re probably not going to go down unless focused hard, even in WvW.

This adds nothing really to the conversation but I entirely blocked out the GM Dodge traits out of my mind even though I had made my whole build around Dash, it’s like forgetting a common word all of the sudden. I do get the general idea of the build, I’ve stuck to S/D with Acro pretty much all the way through and even though I want to make my ongoing build work, I have to say that scrambling to even hit a threshold of damage between dodges and evades is tiring, mostly due to the dodges and evades you have to use unexpectedly and that’s compounded if your using up your endurance to race out of an AOE surge putting you way out of range that you’ll have to make up, likely with more dodges.

I like the build though, just mentioning how uneven each fight can be from another from your own perspective at least

Zodryn.4216:

Every dodge removes chill bro, and so does withdraw.

I read it as Condition Removal on Evade, not dodge, so you have to successfully evade the attack. If you’re using up your endurance to dodge for evade instead of a skill for evade then you’re using up a good portion of your endurance and you’re also not landing hits mid dodge. So, if you’re spending your time dodging, you’re not landing hits for damage and likely prolonging the fight to allow more time for bad news to happen. I still like that trait however, but you probably have to have used an Acro build for some time to get a non-deliberate feel for catching an Evade proc.

assassin.7895:

Who’s noob, me or the kitten thief?

Anyone who bothered to spend time arguing about it.

I’m sure most of us have raided before and with the edging towards a soft trinity they probably simply mean that the all zerker meta is done in the sense that there will be a portion of your groups who will tank and support. Whether we’re using a power or condition build, thieves are going to be there for dps.

Christonya.3856:

I don’t think I am being too absurd to say they really should roll the DD stuff (the extra dodge ect) into acrobatics and completely remake our kitten elite spec from the ground up, giving us a second roll for us to perform.

I like the idea of the Daredevil mechanics and I wouldn’t want to lose that playstyle just yet. I think DD would have been fun as a more reserved build up to an explosive execution with the staff or by hand like with Fist flurry. It would put some distance between DD and Acro and given the opportunity to re-route some of those acrobatic mechanics back into the Acro line.

Tabootrinket.2631:

Not to mention that the only thing we got, staff animation and dodges are completely broken (and RECYCLED), while other specs have tons of new visual effects mechanism and it works fine.

On Dulfys Twitchcon Panel thread on the reddit sub there’s an overview point that basically says “Upcoming content will have stuff that you can’t just dodge to survive.”

If there are chunks of content where we can’t rely on dodges, and our dodges are broken anyway, then we have nothing to worry about. All is well.