Played about 2 hours in sPVP mainly using scepter, some d/p
Shroud Mechanic
Shroud 3 Dawn's Repose - as a support skill is significantly curbed by its fixed distance, I can't support anyone in pvp if my ally must be at the exact end of my dash - would change this to a max range dash with an option of choosing any point between 0 and max range like dragon hunter f2 leap. I hope the vine graphic is just a placeholder for its dash indication.
Shortbow five skill doesn't fill up the shroud meter once the match starts - should be rewarded for using such a high-cost initiative skill
Scepter
Scepter barrier output isn't so great and as a support given all the dps out there, I'll be a half-useful teammate, coupled with lackluster heals and no way to tell if rot wallow venom heals on life siphon (if traited) I'm better off using scepter as condi dps - which seems to work so far if you can get people to sit still and proc torment's secondary effect (I did have fun using basilisk venom for stun and devourer venom for immob for this reason). Blowing initiative on a teammate for barriers that'll be focused down in a teamfight won't really serve much than to put me in a worse position.
scepter 2 is lackluster vs all other #2 slot skills for thief (no leap, immob, no whirl, no shadowstep) and arguably not as on par as other skill #2 for any other profession using scepter, it's not worth blowing all the initiative especially given the fleeting nature of barrier and the longer initiative generation time.
There's no comboing with scepter so scepter/pistol will leave you with no stealth escapes.
In short - taking scepter and specter trait line will leave cripple your mobility and escape options as thief, and support wise you virtually only grant barriers - no aura support like tempest, no traited procs like barrier scourges (would really really like some barrier traited skills)
Utilities
Didn't take wells except the well elite, people seemed to dodge it fairly well, no one really got sucked in or punished, did have fun shadow stepping onto the clocktower ledge and dropping it on the enemy though. On initial impression could use a wider area or stronger pull or more pulses, doesn't seem as scary as gravity well. None of the wells offer a stun-break so it's hard to justify taking a weak well that gives boons/aoe dmg/condi dmg vs. even roll for initiative or shadow refuge. Kudos to the wells though, their effects look superb.
Traits
having barrier on stealth is nice but as a thief I'd rather have mobility and preemptive escape measures vs lackluster support with hindered mobility and escape options. Perhaps the additional barrier granted with stealth might turn the tide when stealth-stacking in spvp but only time will tell, and perhaps may not be worth it if you're sacrificing a trait-line.
Other Comparisons
specter d/p feels subpar vs daredevil d/p
Other Game Modes
PVE Wise - I don't see the need to take Specter at all vs a Machinst who can barrier, vigor, alac, might, fury, on mace and mech alone (On a side note maybe punish machinist for losing his mech, and a slight or no punish at all for skillful recall). I can keep up permanent alacrity with 3 wells and harrier gear but as a specialization who can only do personal barrier generation I don't see myself playing specter a lot. The promise of single-target support sounds great, but it feels like a mismatch between gw1 flavor/mechanics put into a gw2 system.
WvW
I know on the stream the dev joked about taking specters in WVW but given it's subpar healing and barrier output why not just surround yourself with Necros unless you want to have constant stealth.
As my initial impression things could use some sprucing, the theme is there but mechanically specter doesn't feel as consistent and seems out-of-place. It's salvagable but could've been more unique like lore-wise somewhere down the line assassin and ritualist merged and they provided some sorta unique shadow buff similar to like how weapon spells granted special effects on ally-target or enemy-target (e.g. enemy is blinded x 5 per each weapon swing). In the end though I don't see myself picking up this elite spec in either spvp or any level of pve (map meta, raid, fractal, strike missions, casual map explore) as other professions outshine the specters role, and other thief specs have a more impactful flavor.
"So I says, I says to her, if you had a body like Lyssa, I wouldn't have to even ask!"
