I'm sure I’m not the first to think of this idea, but with news of a 4th expansion, I was thinking about what ArenaNet could do differently with regards to elite specializations. What if instead of adding a 4th elite specialization, they add a “secondary” specialization for each profession in the second specialization slot (elite specialization is in the third slot).
Fans of Guild Wars 1 are familiar with secondary professions and this could be a simple way to add that flavor to Guild Wars 2. To better explain my idea, let me use an example:
Warrior Secondary Specialization - Gunslinger (Warrior/Thief)
- minor proficiency: you can wield a main hand pistol
- minor adept trait: unlocks heal banner, elite stance, and elite shout
As we know, there are missing healing, utility, and elite skills for skill types of certain professions (Warrior does not have a healing banner skill). ArenaNet could add these missing skills in the 4th expansion as another selling feature.
An advantage with this idea is that you can take the Berserker, Spellbreaker, or Bladesworn elite specialization and the Gunslinger secondary specialization in the same build. Berserker with pistol + torch, Spellbreaker with pistol + dagger, and Bladesworn with pistol + pistol are all possible.
Also, this could be an opportunity to move certain traits in existing specializations into these new secondary specializations and create new traits for core specializations.
What do you guys think? What are your ideas?
Here are my ideas for the rest of the professions:
Guardian - Crusader (Guardian/Warrior)
- warhorn - charges into battle
Revenant - Mistwalker (Revenant/Necromancer)
- scepter - balancing between life and death
Ranger - Hunter (Ranger/Engineer)
- rifle - hunts with gadgets
Engineer - Artificer (Engineer/Elementalist)
- focus - magical artifact
Thief - Duelist (Thief/Mesmer)
- off-hand sword - deceptive swordplay
Necromancer - Ritualist (Necromancer/Guardian)
- shield - summons spirits
Mesmer - Bard (Mesmer/Revenant)
- warhorn - sings of tales from the mist
Elementalist - Arcane Archer (Elementalist/Ranger)
- longbow - fires elemental arrows from range
