What if Shadowstep can teleport a downed ally?

Just curious, what is the harm if i could shadowstep while reviving downed ally to safety? Doesn't seem too op since i can only teleport one person while Ranger/Necromancer can teleport 5 allies with reduced range.

I would support the change.

I say the mechanic can act as a flip skill.

When you teleport/shadowstep normally (without shadow-stepping on top of a downed ally) it does nothing, and acts as normal.

But when you witness a downed ally, You put your cursor or pointer on top of them and shadowstep on them, then your flip skill turns into a retrieval skill and safely shadow returns back to your original position. It would offer shadowstep a unique twist.

EDIT: OR

Since we know every Thief in the world takes shadowstep as a utility in their kit maybe it wouldn't be as balanced. Maybe a change to limit the amount of thieves using this, that will actually have to invest and sacrifice condi-cleanse (Shadow's Embrace) or stealth on steal (HiddenThief) for Merciful Ambush can be:

Upon selecting Merciful Ambush (Adept trait) This trait transforms how Shadowstep works, and that transformation is as stated above the (flip mechanic).This also gives better utilization for the trait that literally NO ONE uses, but was a neat idea (On Paper) Shadow Savior. These changes can add support and utility and overall open up more options for Thief Medic type builds and such.

/thoughts?

why do people suggest buffs for broken skills?

I've suggested Pull skills being able to pull downed allies in those Downed State threads, along with a slow crawl skill for the downed player and a slow drag G skill for allies to drag them instead of the profession specific skills and they can take out Rally and Mount Stomp while they're at it. Either suggestion would come with some problems though, like someone out of squad bringing your sniped driver away from support or something.

@kash.9213 said:I've suggested Pull skills being able to pull downed allies in those Downed State threads, along with a slow crawl skill for the downed player and a slow drag G skill for allies to drag them instead of the profession specific skills and they can take out Rally and Mount Stomp while they're at it. Either suggestion would come with some problems though, like someone out of squad bringing your sniped driver away from support or something.

I would love to retrieve my downed friends by hooking and dragging them with scorpion wire. Just seems such a thief-y way to support them lol haha xD

We already have this skill as a stolen skill in raids guys dont get so exited

Thief is in dire need of anything that makes them more viable for support. Pretty much the only thing they have going for them in this area is the ability to stealth-ress allies and you can't even do that in WvW anymore if you get stuck in combat.

This is part of why we only see roaming/hunting builds on Thief.

How about a trait like "When you shadow return with any skill, nearby downed allies return with you". This would affect mainly Sword #2 (already used for shadowstep healing builds) and Shadowstep utility skill.

@"Hannelore.8153" said:Thief is in dire need of anything that makes them more viable for support. Pretty much the only thing they have going for them in this area is the ability to stealth-ress allies and you can't even do that in WvW anymore if you get stuck in combat.

This is part of why we only see roaming/hunting builds on Thief.

How about a trait like "When you shadow return with any skill, nearby downed allies return with you". This would affect mainly Sword #2 (already used for shadowstep healing builds) and Shadowstep utility skill.

Rather than forcing support qualities into core thief, I would suggest to wait for the next elite spec.The next elite spec should be support focused, since thief already has a bruiser and a dps elite spec.

@Kodama.6453 said:

@"Hannelore.8153" said:Thief is in dire need of anything that makes them more viable for support. Pretty much the only thing they have going for them in this area is the ability to stealth-ress allies and you can't even do that in WvW anymore if you get stuck in combat.

This is part of why we only see roaming/hunting builds on Thief.

How about a trait like "When you shadow return with any skill, nearby downed allies return with you". This would affect mainly Sword #2 (already used for shadowstep healing builds) and Shadowstep utility skill.

The issue here is it creates a situation in which the Elite Specialisation has to be taken, which is what the devs have been trying to avoid. They've already been struggling to undo the same past mistake for a long time now with tradeoffs.

There's difference to other classes, for example:

• Core Guardian is still supportive without Firebrand's Tomes or Mantras via Consecrations, Shouts, Signets, & Symbols.
• Core Elementalist is still supportive without Tempest's healing Auras or Overloads, with Staff Water attunement.
• Core Mesmer is still supportive without Chronomancer's Wells, via Shatters & Glamours.
• Core Ranger is still supportive without Druid's Celestial Avatar or Glyphs via Commands & Spirits.

Thief has nothing like this, they have.. Shadow Refuge, if you count that, two projectile denials (one of which is an area denial too), and portal. None of these are super supportive, so the Elite Spec would overshadow it too much.

They don't even give out significant boons without Deadeye (group Might stacking on Core is bad).

@Hannelore.8153 said:

@Kodama.6453 said:

@Hannelore.8153 said:Thief is in dire need of anything that makes them more viable for support. Pretty much the only thing they have going for them in this area is the ability to stealth-ress allies and you can't even do that in WvW anymore if you get stuck in combat.

This is part of why we only see roaming/hunting builds on Thief.

How about a trait like "When you shadow return with any skill, nearby downed allies return with you". This would affect mainly Sword #2 (already used for shadowstep healing builds) and Shadowstep utility skill.

• Core Guardian is still supportive without Firebrand's Tomes or Mantras via Consecrations, Shouts, Signets, & Symbols.
• Core Elementalist is still supportive without Tempest's healing Auras or Overloads, with Staff Water attunement.
• Core Mesmer is still supportive without Chronomancer's Wells, via Shatters & Glamours.
• Core Ranger is still supportive without Druid's Celestial Avatar or Glyphs via Commands & Spirits.

If you see it like this, then core thief is also supportive. Just not at an extend that makes them a viable support in group content, but it is the same for ranger. Ranger might have some support qualities in core, but it is nowhere near enough to be able to realistically support without taking druid.

What you dismiss as supportive qualities on thief:Venoms can get shared with allies, which if traited will also life leech (so: heal). Even their healing skill, skelk venom, can get shared.Merciful ambush heals allies you are stealthing and you have some ways to do that.Shadow savior will heal allies whenever you shadowstep.Thrill of the crime shares boons with allies after stealing, bountiful theft does it too.

There are support effects. It's just not enough to make thief a realistic support in any scenarios (some raids are exceptions, in which thief is played as a boon support).An elite spec can fix exactly this problem, making thief a viable healing support in raids/strike/fractals/whatever. Druid did the same for ranger, so why not do it for thief?

This would fit well into Shadow Arts as a trait with a substantial cooldown.

I'll say build this into Merciful Ambush so in addition to Stealthing the ally and yurself, gain an additional Special Action key which lets yu teleport up to 600 Range away, not to let players go straight into OOC, but to move the ally and yurself out of potentially deadly area bombing.

After the teleport has been used, the trait goes into cooldown.

@Yasai.3549 said:This would fit well into Shadow Arts as a trait with a substantial cooldown.

I'll say build this into Merciful Ambush so in addition to Stealthing the ally and yurself, gain an additional Special Action key which lets yu teleport up to 600 Range away, not to let players go straight into OOC, but to move the ally and yurself out of potentially deadly area bombing.

After the teleport has been used, the trait goes into cooldown.

That would make that trait an actual choice instead of a easy pass. I used to actually use that trait until it was changed but it's just not enough of an immediate impact right now.