Guild Wars 2 - The Thread

[synkr0nized]

Originally Posted by Doc ock rokc

MESMESERS ARE SO BOSS. Literally how they made them is so freaking interesting.

At first, they weren't in GW2. I did not understand how you could not only fail to include a totally terrific class but also one of the classes pretty unique to your fantasy MMO/CMO game. I still open GW just to play mesmer and raise the dead on my necro or spirits with my rit and use heals that are preventative instead of reactive. There's a lot to like.

[Oron]

Ever since GW2 was announced way back when, I've been skeptical about the shift to open worlds. I like the closed world system in GW. Seems like the new battle and PvP mechanic will make up for it, though. And I guess it will make things more convenient when friends want to join you while you're in the middle of something.

[Doc ock rokc]

Originally Posted by synkr0nized

At first, they weren't in GW2. I did not understand how you could not only fail to include a totally terrific class but also one of the classes pretty unique to your fantasy MMO/CMO game. I still open GW just to play mesmer and raise the dead on my necro or spirits with my rit and use heals that are preventative instead of reactive. There's a lot to like.

I think it was because of complaints. Mesmers in GW had two speeds, "Stiff wind can knock me over" and "Everything in front of me is fuckin' dead." It made them that lethal joke class in many peoples eyes.

[Locke cole]

I like how a good Mesmer can pack a set of spells to hex a single enemy into absolute unusability. They get blasted for casting spells (Backfire), for attacking (Empathy), for doing nothing (Wastrel's Demise), and, if you multiclass as a Necromancer, for having Hexes placed on them or removed (Soul Barbs)!

...Now I kinda want to make a PVE Mesmer. Never actually did that. Or a Warrior, for that matter.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Originally Posted by Toast

The current system requirements posted here (although of course subject to change) aren't all that high. I don't know what your system is like, just wanted to point out that there is an estimate of the system reqs available.

Huh, that's actually not so bad. I was expecting dual core to be minimum requirement for this (most things seem to be). I'd still need about twice as much RAM and probably a better graphics card and a new hard drive because holy shit 25 gig install!!

Originally Posted by Locke cole

I like how a good Mesmer can pack a set of spells to hex a single enemy into absolute unusability. They get blasted for casting spells (Backfire), for attacking (Empathy), for doing nothing (Wastrel's Demise), and, if you multiclass as a Necromancer, for having Hexes placed on them or removed (Soul Barbs)!

...Now I kinda want to make a PVE Mesmer. Never actually did that. Or a Warrior, for that matter.

Mesmers have always been able to xanatos gambit enemies into doing that, punishing you if you cast a spell, punishing you if you DON'T cast a spell. Kinda their thing. I wish I'd spent more time on my ranger mesmer in Factions now, mesmers were always pretty cool.

This time around though, it's all about the Elementalists. Why? Because you get 4 times as many attacks per weapon than anyone else! Which is awesome because you no longer have to specialise in 1 or 2 elements, you just switch on the fly to a different set while your attacks cool down and by the time you get done cycling through them all the ones you used first have cooled down again and you can repeat the cycle. Constant attacks, no waiting.

[Arcanum]

The only downfall is that the elementalist can't switch weapons mid-combat like all the other classes (except the engineer since he has kits). However, if you decide "to hell with utility skills" and equip Conjure Weapon skills in your utility slots, you can go from 20 offensive skills to 35, or even 40 if you throw on the Fiery Greatsword Elite. I don't think you would ever need that many different skills in a single fight (since utility skills and weapon can be swapped around outside of combat) but still it's nice to have the option .

[Locke cole]

I like how switching elemental attunements is itself an attack.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Originally Posted by Arcanum

The only downfall is that the elementalist can't switch weapons mid-combat like all the other classes (except the engineer since he has kits). However, if you decide "to hell with utility skills" and equip Conjure Weapon skills in your utility slots, you can go from 20 offensive skills to 35, or even 40 if you throw on the Fiery Greatsword Elite. I don't think you would ever need that many different skills in a single fight (since utility skills and weapon can be swapped around outside of combat) but still it's nice to have the option .

I like having lots of ways to kill stuff, that way I can be crazy prepared for any eventuallity.

Originally Posted by Locke cole

I like how switching elemental attunements is itself an attack.

I'd forgotten about that. Man elementalists really just don't stop attacking ever, do they?

[Arcanum]

Originally Posted by Locke cole

I like how switching elemental attunements is itself an attack.

Actually only switching to Fire or Air damages people around you. Switching to Water heals you and allies, and switching to Earth boosts your magical defense.

But yeah the elementalist is just a non-stop storm of elemental death.

[Oron]

Yeah, Elementalists will be one of the more utility-based characters based on how varied and versatile their builds can be.

We'll probably start seeing a handful of Ele and Eng farming builds within a week of the game's release.