About specs and secondary professions

[Grand Marshal.4098]

I had a small idea running in the back of my head about specs in EoD.

Especs have been compared to the dual proffessions of GW1 in the past. In that logic I thought to myself the following:Rev: functions differently so I didn't add themCore: vanilla warrior-Berserker: a warrior/warrior (mix of the class with another heavy proffession), high dps etc.-Spellbreaker: warrior/mesmer (I don't remember who said it, but this was an unnofficial "official" description of the spec)Core: vanilla guardian-Dragonhunter: guardian/ranger-Firebrand: guardian/guardianCore: vanilla ranger-Druid: ranger/elementalist ???-Soulbeast: ranger/ranger or ranger/warriorCore: vanilla engineer-Holosmith: engineer/warrior-Scrapper: engineer/engineer ???Core: vanilla thief-Daredevil: thief/warrior-Deadeye: thief/engineer ???Core: vanilla necromancer-Reaper: necromancer/warrior-Scourge: necromancer/necromancer ???Core: vanilla elementalist-Tempest: elementalist/elementalist-Weaver: elementalist/thiefCore: vanilla mesmer-Mirage: mesmer/mesmer ???-Chronomancer: ???

Secondary professions didn't allow for you to stack your own profession twice, what I mean with this here is that a spec feels like an enhanced version of core in it's main aspects a.e. berserker being dps for warrior, mirage being clones for mesmer, tempest being core elementalist with overcharged elements. Also just like secondary professions, the first profession is the basis and the secondary adds flavor, so a warrior/engineer functions differently than an engineer/warrior.

With this in mind, do you believe Anet has something similar in mind when going for especs? Can we assume that they wish to create a spec with resemblances from each armor tier per profession (a spec reminiscent of a light, medium or heavy armored profession per class)? What would you want to see with these mixes?

[Dadnir.5038]

@"Grand Marshal.4098" said:Core: vanilla warrior-Berserker: a warrior/warrior (mix of the class with another heavy proffession), high dps etc.It might be a bit of a stretch but I'd say berserker is warrior/necromancer (berserk mode being the "shroud")Core: vanilla guardian-Firebrand: guardian/guardian

Could be Guardian/elementalist

Core: vanilla ranger-Druid: ranger/elementalist ???

Ranger/necromancer, definitely!

-Soulbeast: ranger/ranger or ranger/warrior

Maybe thief/revenant because you borrow the power of your familiar.

Core: vanilla engineer-Holosmith: engineer/warrior

Engineer/necromancer, can't make more shroud like thing than holoforge.

-Scrapper: engineer/engineer ???

I'd say Engineer/guardian

Core: vanilla thief-Deadeye: thief/engineer ???

Curiously I'd say thief/ranger

Core: vanilla necromancer-Scourge: necromancer/necromancer ???

Necromancer/mesmer, the use of the shade feel similar to the mesmer's clone mechanism.

Core: vanilla elementalist-Tempest: elementalist/elementalist

Elementalist/guardian, each element is a passive virtue that you can "overload" for a skill effect.

Core: vanilla mesmer-Mirage: mesmer/mesmer ???

I think it's worth the mesmer/thief label.

-Chronomancer: ???

I would say mesmer/guardian or maybe mesmer/engineer

[Grand Marshal.4098]

@Dadnir.5038 said:

@"Grand Marshal.4098" said:

Core: vanilla warrior

-Berserker: a warrior/warrior (mix of the class with another heavy proffession), high dps etc.It might be a bit of a stretch but I'd say berserker is warrior/necromancer (berserk mode being the "shroud")

Core: vanilla guardian

-Firebrand: guardian/guardian

Could be Guardian/elementalist

Core: vanilla ranger

-Druid: ranger/elementalist ???

Ranger/necromancer, definitely!

-Soulbeast: ranger/ranger or ranger/warrior

Maybe thief/revenant because you borrow the power of your familiar.

Core: vanilla engineer

-Holosmith: engineer/warrior

Engineer/necromancer, can't make more shroud like thing than holoforge.

-Scrapper: engineer/engineer ???

I'd say Engineer/guardian

Core: vanilla thief

-Deadeye: thief/engineer ???

Curiously I'd say thief/ranger

Core: vanilla necromancer

-Scourge: necromancer/necromancer ???

Necromancer/mesmer, the use of the shade feel similar to the mesmer's clone mechanism.

Core: vanilla elementalist

-Tempest: elementalist/elementalist

Elementalist/guardian, each element is a passive virtue that you can "overload" for a skill effect.

Core: vanilla mesmer

-Mirage: mesmer/mesmer ???

I think it's worth the mesmer/thief label.

-Chronomancer: ???

I would say mesmer/guardian or maybe mesmer/engineer

For some reason, I din't feel inclined to call any type of mode as a necro-mix to the core spec. The gameplay of holo for example is more reminiscent of warrior than necro. And unlike any other modes, only necro has the second health pool mechanic. So I guess we may even be talking about elements from a third class in some cases.

[Kodama.6453]

@"Dadnir.5038" said:Engineer/necromancer, can't make more shroud like thing than holoforge.

I think he is right with it being more an engineer/warrior combination.

When Anet mentioned that e-specs are replacing dual classing, they also meant thematically. Holosmith has nothing that ties him to necromancer thematically.But as a warrior combination, it makes sense.

Warrior is the "weapon master", this is represented in the photon forge by the holosmith. Instead of carrying tons of different weapons with themselves, engineers invented a device that enables them to create any weapon they desire. Photon forge shows a wide array of different weapons in it's arsenal:

• Skill 1 and 2: Sword
• Skill 3: Staff
• Skill 4: Pistols
• Skill 5: Hammer

Additionally, there is the heat mechanic. I think it resembles the adrenaline system of the warrior quite well. Adrenaline empowers the burst skills based on the current adrenaline level. Heat empowers the exceed skills and some traits based on your current heat level. And adrenaline and heat even have been connected thematically in GW1, there has been a spirit called "Infuriating Heat", which increased the adrenaline gain for all on the map.

I would imagine an engineer/necromancer combination to be more chemicals/alchemy based thematically.

[Kodama.6453]

@Grand Marshal.4098One note about Mirage: It is most likely the mesmer/thief fusion. It copies the thief mechanic of stealth attacks, just with another trigger (mirage cloak) and generally feels very much like a thief thematically.

[draxynnic.3719]

One thing that's probably worth noting is that some of the elite specialisations are probably more aimed towards GW1 professions than GW2 professions. For instance, druid feels to me like a bit of a Ranger/Monk, while reaper is a bit of a Necro/Dervish.

My thoughts:

Berserker: Warrior/ElementalistSpellbreaker: Warrior/Mesmer

Dragonhunter: Guardian/RangerFirebrand: Guardian/Elementalist

Herald: Revenant/DervishRenegade: Revenant/Ritualist

Druid: Ranger/MonkSoulbeast: Ranger/Warrior?

Daredevil: Thief/WarriorDeadeye: Thief/Ranger?

Scrapper: Engineer/Guardian?Holosmith: Engineer/Dervish

Reaper: Necro/DervishScourge: Necro/Ritualist?

Chronomancer: Mesmer/GuardianMirage: Mesmer/Thief

Tempest: Elementalist/DervishWeaver: Elementalist/Thief?

It is worth noting that not all of the elite specialisations were necessarily conceived as being like secondary professions - some are just expanding the profession.