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Fourth Elite Specialization "Minstrel" - Concept


Sodeni.6041

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Hey fellow Mesmers!

 

I heard a few people talk about a music themed Mesmer elite specialization and I would absolutely love to see that! So I came up with a rough concept for the Minstrel (Bard or Siren would also be fitting names):

 

This elite specialization focuses on using music as their weapon in battles. While the Chronomancer is all about bending time and space and Mirage focusing on deception, the Minstrel is a specialist in controlling the battlefield and manipulating foes while also supporting their allies. From devastating sound waves and dissonances that hurt enemies and make them go crazy, to soothing lullabies which make your foes weak, slow and potentially let them fall asleep (new status effect). This new Mesmer elite specialization also shines when it comes to supporting their allies: With melodies and battle shouts they can buff and heal their teammates.

 

The role and theme of the Minstrel, as I'm gonna call it now, would be a Dps/Support elite specialization, similar to Firebrand and Scourge. So you can either decide to use a dedicated DPS build or go full support or even a hybrid of both! This elite specialization also has access to a few AoE-field based skills which the Mesmer currently lacks compared to other classes.

The Minstrel would use a shortbow as their weapon of choice. The elite socialization's weapon skin could look like a harp which would fit the spec well. Here are some pictures of "harp looking bows" I put together to give you an idea: https://imgur.com/a/hOajsro (And I finally want to use The Dreamer on my mesmer 👅 ). The shortbow would have skills that are aoe focused.A two handed weapon would be a good addition for the mesmer because we already have access to an offhand weapon on the Chronomancer (shield) and a mainhand weapon on Mirage (axe). Thus, getting a warhorn for the minstrel would be kinda boring in my opinion and too generic.

 

The core mechanic change would turn f1-f4 shatters into summoning instruments, with 5 new weapon skills each kinda similar to firebrand's tomes. You would have access to 4 instruments:

 

  • F1 - Guitar (Power DPS focus)
  • F2 - Flute (Condition focused)
  • F3 - Tamburin (CC focused)
  • F4 - Violin (Heal and survivability focus)

 

In contrast to Firebrand's tome pages you don't have a specific amount of skills you can use in each tome/instrument. Instead you have a base duration of like 5 seconds to keep an instrument and use its skills after summoning it. When the time runs out out you return to your normal weapon skills. But clones won't become useless with this elite specialization either! Each clone you have summoned when you press f1-f4 would add 2 seconds to the instrument's duration which also destroys the clones. Already existing Mesmer traits that affect shatters would still apply their effects when channeling instruments.

 

The utility skills of the Minstrel could be called shouts or melodies. Some of them would apply unique status effects to your allies for a short duration (toughness boost, increase received healing, etc), give them boons and heal them. Enemies affected by your shouts would be weakened and hurt of course.

It would also be great opportunity to get new debuffs and status effects like sleep which could stun enemies for a certain amount of time (5 seconds) but they are invulnerable during that time. So you basically "take out" an enemy for a few seconds during a fight which would especially be interesting for PvP and it would also apply break bar damage in PvE. Another option would be to make enemies dance against their will instead of making them fall asleep. Would be even more fun!

 

Possible Minstrel traits could make clones explode and leaving behind poison fields when you channel your instruments, increase the duration of instruments and increase the potency of your shouts.

 

So what do you think about a Minstrel Mesmer and my rough concept? Remember, it's just a concept but I had fun coming up with the ideas anyway. 🙂

 

Personally, I would be super excited to see a music themed elite specialization for the Mesmer in general!

Edited by Sodeni.6041
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@Sodeni.6041 said:

@Teratus.2859 said:I've toyed with this idea myself although mine was based on a Bard not a Minstrel.

Suffice to say I like the concept but I dunno how it would work in Gw2.

Thanks! What was your concept of a Bard? I would really like to know! :)

In all honesty I can't remember XD

I just remember thinking about Bard as an elite spec.. back then I was playing a lot of Baldurs Gate as well so I think I took a lot of influence from that.

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@"trev.1045" said:I played a minstrel on LOTRO and it was a lot of fun. I imagine a monstral as a buffing profession?

Yeah I love Bards and music themed classes in every mmo. GW2 really needs one as well. All we have is "Siren's Song", Mesmer's underwater auto attack on the trident yet.

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Hi, mechanically I would probably like your concept BUT:I would honestly dislike an instrument wielding bard character as that was never a thing in the guild wars franchise. The closest thing to a bard would have been the Paragon from Guild Wars Nightfall and I always liked that style over the commonly known "combat bard".However, I like the Idea of mesmers messing with sound but a Bard/Music style character never really appealed to me. I would like to see a banshee like character that utilizes "cries" (aka. shouts with cool mechanics ;) ). The reason why I would like to see a "cry"-Mesmer over a music-Mesmer is probably that I loved to play a teamcomp in GW1 that was called ["Cryway" ](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Cryway ""Cryway"") using Cry of Pain.The way I would like this to work in GW2 is that you use your shouts and every clone will echo the effect in a smaller scale.

E.g. "Generic Damage Cry" - Damage foes around you. Active clones will damage foes around them. (Radius 600) (Clone Radius 240) Clone damage is ~20% of yours.

While I dislike the use of instruments I do NOT dislike the use of the voice / the character's magic to create sound that alters reality. The idea of a Siren is also a great concept as it would dive deeper into the Siren's Landing lore but iirc the Sirens there were singing blessed songs of the Human gods which would feel very weird as a charr or Asura.

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@"Me Games Ma.8426" said:Hi, mechanically I would probably like your concept BUT:I would honestly dislike an instrument wielding bard character as that was never a thing in the guild wars franchise. The closest thing to a bard would have been the Paragon from Guild Wars Nightfall and I always liked that style over the commonly known "combat bard".However, I like the Idea of mesmers messing with sound but a Bard/Music style character never really appealed to me. I would like to see a banshee like character that utilizes "cries" (aka. shouts with cool mechanics ;) ). The reason why I would like to see a "cry"-Mesmer over a music-Mesmer is probably that I loved to play a teamcomp in GW1 that was called ["Cryway" ](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Cryway ""Cryway"") using Cry of Pain.The way I would like this to work in GW2 is that you use your shouts and every clone will echo the effect in a smaller scale.

E.g. "Generic Damage Cry" - Damage foes around you. Active clones will damage foes around them. (Radius 600) (Clone Radius 240) Clone damage is ~20% of yours.

While I dislike the use of instruments I do NOT dislike the use of the voice / the character's magic to create sound that alters reality. The idea of a Siren is also a great concept as it would dive deeper into the Siren's Landing lore but iirc the Sirens there were singing blessed songs of the Human gods which would feel very weird as a charr or Asura.

Thank you for your feedback! A "cry" mesmer would also be cool in my opinion! I based my concept around the already existing minstrels in GW2 so I thought it would fit the game :D

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@Teratus.2859 said:I've toyed with this idea myself although mine was based on a Bard not a Minstrel.

Suffice to say I like the concept but I dunno how it would work in Gw2.

I think it would be interesting to see 'bard' classes introduced to the game. To further support the support classes, and to finally see some changes to druid. they could provide healing + quickness. That would actually be really cool.

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@tim.4596 said:

@Teratus.2859 said:I've toyed with this idea myself although mine was based on a Bard not a Minstrel.

Suffice to say I like the concept but I dunno how it would work in Gw2.

I think it would be interesting to see 'bard' classes introduced to the game. To further support the support classes, and to finally see some changes to druid. they could provide healing + quickness. That would actually be really cool.

Isn't a bard and a minstrel basically the same?

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@"Me Games Ma.8426" said:Hi, mechanically I would probably like your concept BUT:I would honestly dislike an instrument wielding bard character as that was never a thing in the guild wars franchise. The closest thing to a bard would have been the Paragon from Guild Wars Nightfall and I always liked that style over the commonly known "combat bard".However, I like the Idea of mesmers messing with sound but a Bard/Music style character never really appealed to me. I would like to see a banshee like character that utilizes "cries" (aka. shouts with cool mechanics ;) ). The reason why I would like to see a "cry"-Mesmer over a music-Mesmer is probably that I loved to play a teamcomp in GW1 that was called ["Cryway" ](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Cryway ""Cryway"") using Cry of Pain.The way I would like this to work in GW2 is that you use your shouts and every clone will echo the effect in a smaller scale.

E.g. "Generic Damage Cry" - Damage foes around you. Active clones will damage foes around them. (Radius 600) (Clone Radius 240) Clone damage is ~20% of yours.

While I dislike the use of instruments I do NOT dislike the use of the voice / the character's magic to create sound that alters reality. The idea of a Siren is also a great concept as it would dive deeper into the Siren's Landing lore but iirc the Sirens there were singing blessed songs of the Human gods which would feel very weird as a charr or Asura.

wouldn't banshee be more of a necro thing?

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@Sodeni.6041 said:

@tim.4596 said:

@Teratus.2859 said:I've toyed with this idea myself although mine was based on a Bard not a Minstrel.

Suffice to say I like the concept but I dunno how it would work in Gw2.

I think it would be interesting to see 'bard' classes introduced to the game. To further support the support classes, and to finally see some changes to druid. they could provide healing + quickness. That would actually be really cool.

Isn't a bard and a minstrel basically the same?

They share many similarities but have slight differences.A Bard is typically a poet who composes and sings in honor of great deeds acomplished by heroes, warriors and kings etc.A Minstral is a traveling performer and entertainer who would sing songs, poetry and also dance and perform in troupes.. they would stage shows and plays often with music and costumes and act out a story.There's also Troubadours as well who were again very similar but more focused around singing about chivalry and love.

They are pretty similar professions though that is true.

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As others mentioned, a Bard or Minstrel spec has been suggested before. I personally would like it.

Food for thought regarding your suggestion:

  • 'Tomes' won't blend well with existing shatter traits. Virtues with pbAoE actives might work better.
  • Shouts would have to be significantly different than Mantras (Wells basically killed Glamours)
  • You could introduce Instruments through Utilities (Spirit Weapons or Spirits or Conjures)

Personal preference:

  • Longbow over Shortbow anytime skin-wise
  • DPS and area control with some offensive support over a singing healbot
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Minstrel mesmer with shouts is my second preference after a Trickster elite spec that focuses on "stealing" opponent's spells through interrupts--sort of a more controlling, domination focused spec in a nod to the GW1 mesmer. I envision it as using a dagger mainhand and replacing clones with "stolen magic" pips that they expend for new F# abilities and gain thru interrupting abilities or using skills that currently produce clones.

As far as the minstrel goes, I would prefer the F# skills to be songs rather than instruments as you suggest. Also, I think the foundations for a "minstrel mesmer" have already been briefly touched on with the trident moveset, which is pretty cool thematically.

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@"Lanyx.9064" said:Minstrel mesmer with shouts is my second preference after a Trickster elite spec that focuses on "stealing" opponent's spells through interrupts--sort of a more controlling, domination focused spec in a nod to the GW1 mesmer. I envision it as using a dagger mainhand and replacing clones with "stolen magic" pips that they expend for new F# abilities and gain thru interrupting abilities or using skills that currently produce clones.

As far as the minstrel goes, I would prefer the F# skills to be songs rather than instruments as you suggest. Also, I think the foundations for a "minstrel mesmer" have already been briefly touched on with the trident moveset, which is pretty cool thematically.

Your idea also sounds great! Songs would also work as f-abilities but personally I'd like to see instruments implemented as a sort of "kits" for the mesmer. They would be more versatile than songs I think.

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  • 3 months later...

Since we already have support spec my long forgotten idea of musical themed mes was Skald. Coming from Norns, skalds could be more offensive, focused on power melee/mid range with hammer and some kind of shouts. Their clones would become immobile a and shatter skills becomes AoE, shattering only those clones hit by them. Additionally, hammer could also contain one skill with extra shatter.

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@Dragoth.7153 said:Since we already have support spec my long forgotten idea of musical themed mes was Skald. Coming from Norns, skalds could be more offensive, focused on power melee/mid range with hammer and some kind of shouts. Their clones would become immobile a and shatter skills becomes AoE, shattering only those clones hit by them. Additionally, hammer could also contain one skill with extra shatter.

Chrono just gives out Alacrity and Quickness. The minstrel could focus on healing or other boons and power DPS.

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