4th elite spec

[Eekasqueak.7850]

I think it's all but confirmed we're not getting another spec, most we can hope for is just more core weapons. 

[draxynnic.3719]

4 hours ago, Eekasqueak.7850 said:

I think it's all but confirmed we're not getting another spec, most we can hope for is just more core weapons. 

Nah. They said that they'd covered most things that they'd do with elite specs and that there wouldn't be elite specs next expansion, but their wording actually does imply that there might be at least one more round... sometime.

[Eekasqueak.7850]

28 minutes ago, draxynnic.3719 said:

Nah. They said that they'd covered most things that they'd do with elite specs and that there wouldn't be elite specs next expansion, but their wording actually does imply that there might be at least one more round... sometime.

Depends on how optimistic you're feeling I guess, I won't be holding my breath though. 

[Ulysses.2058]

9 minutes ago, Eekasqueak.7850 said:

Depends on how optimistic you're feeling I guess, I won't be holding my breath though. 

I feel sort of the same way, if something might happen 3-4 years from now, I may just act as if it wouldn't happen at all.

[phokus.8934]

9 hours ago, Eekasqueak.7850 said:

I think it's all but confirmed we're not getting another spec, most we can hope for is just more core weapons. 

Basically.  New elite specializations are all but dead.  But I imagine they'll make additions like new utilities, baseline weapons, etc.

Edited May 2, 2023 by phokus.8934

[draxynnic.3719]

On 5/3/2023 at 12:41 AM, Eekasqueak.7850 said:

Depends on how optimistic you're feeling I guess, I won't be holding my breath though. 

Sure. It could be marketingspeak because they know that people will be up in arms if they say never (especially warrior and ele players), or it could be a case where they don't actually make an active decision that elite specialisations are done but they never actually get around to it. 

But careful reading of what they actually said does reveal that, while they think they've done most of what they want to do with elite specialisations and that it's not viable to make elite specialisations every expansion while also increasing the rate of releasing expansions, they're not claiming, or even implying, that they've done everything they want to do with elite specialisations. If anything, they're implying that there is at least something else.

Which, if they have any self-awareness at all, should include things like a ranged-oriented elementalist spec, a support-oriented warrior spec, a ranged-oriented engineer spec that isn't pet-oriented, a revenant elite spec that isn't trying to be a DPS/support hybrid, and maybe rejigging ranger and warrior so they can have one spec with alacrity and one with quickness rather than the current setup (which would likely involve a new ranger spec as well). Other specs don't have such obvious holes that can't be filled by adjusting the existing specs, but in at least some cases it might be more elegant to use a new elite spec to fill out a role rather than trying to jury-rig an existing elite spec to do the job.

[Batalix.2873]

On 5/4/2023 at 8:02 AM, draxynnic.3719 said:

Sure. It could be marketingspeak because they know that people will be up in arms if they say never (especially warrior and ele players), or it could be a case where they don't actually make an active decision that elite specialisations are done but they never actually get around to it. 

But careful reading of what they actually said does reveal that, while they think they've done most of what they want to do with elite specialisations and that it's not viable to make elite specialisations every expansion while also increasing the rate of releasing expansions, they're not claiming, or even implying, that they've done everything they want to do with elite specialisations. If anything, they're implying that there is at least something else.

Which, if they have any self-awareness at all, should include things like a ranged-oriented elementalist spec, a support-oriented warrior spec, a ranged-oriented engineer spec that isn't pet-oriented, a revenant elite spec that isn't trying to be a DPS/support hybrid, and maybe rejigging ranger and warrior so they can have one spec with alacrity and one with quickness rather than the current setup (which would likely involve a new ranger spec as well). Other specs don't have such obvious holes that can't be filled by adjusting the existing specs, but in at least some cases it might be more elegant to use a new elite spec to fill out a role rather than trying to jury-rig an existing elite spec to do the job.

 

Agree on all of that except the no-pet Ranger. We have Soulbeast already, so (1) they already tried and (2) having two attempts will just invite unfavorable comparisons to one or the other.

 

I do think that if the especs were given distinct enough identities away from core professions, core could function as their own "fourth" class. And in that respect, Ele is already ranged and Warrior already has shouts and banners, and Rev already has amazing core legends. So they cooooould make it work, possibly, theoretically. I could certainly stomach a world where Virtuoso gained more mind control and charm abilities and a more rose palette, Untamed pets got bigger and more beastly-looking and maybe summoned buddies, or Daredevil introduced a "gambling" dice submechanic with initiative pips, etc.

 

My remaining few "wants" could be met that way, for the most part. But I would hope it would be accompanied by a general attitude to (1) really dig deep in differentiating especs and hitting on stronger/clearer archetypes, because some like FB and Scourge need to be pulled back and focused, some like Mirage and Renegade need a little extra flavor, Guardian especs in general need to bend the color blue a bit more and use fire a bit less, and all the EoD specs need another pass. And (2) build out the core professions to actually feel powerful and distinct from any of their especs: core Necro should double down on minions, Ele on ranged damage, Mesmer on...something, etc.

[draxynnic.3719]

2 hours ago, Batalix.2873 said:

 

Agree on all of that except the no-pet Ranger. We have Soulbeast already, so (1) they already tried and (2) having two attempts will just invite unfavorable comparisons to one or the other.

Not what I said. I said "ranged-oriented engineer spec that isn't pet-oriented".

Holosmith has a melee shroud effect - you can run the trait that turns the holoforge auto into a 600 range attack, but it feels a bit tokenistic. Scrapper can be made to work at range, but most of the gyros are optimised for use in melee. Mechanist, despite also having a melee weapon, is set up so that power rifle ranged mech is still a pretty viable setup - but it is pet-based. So there's a playstyle gap there.

For ranger itself, yeah, soulbeast is probably about as close to petless ranger as we're ever likely to get.

I am very sceptical that core could ever be given a strong enough identity to be regarded as being the equivalent of a fourth elite specialisation. Necromancer and guardian have come the closest, but it would take some heavy-handed tradeoffs to make it so that there are really roles and playstyles that you have to play core to access.

[mirage.8046]

I would love a ranger spec that makes them transform into the animal they chose. What this would mean is that your weapons are enhanced with your pets' skills. As much as I dream of some spec ideas, I don't expect any more elite specs coming; it's not because of adding any more powercreep; more and more elite specs will overcrowd our options. Never mind the balancing nightmare that comes with 9 elite specs. At best we'll have new core weapons to fill in the gaps of certain roles (core engineer having a one-handed weapon that cleaves?).

[Dawanarth.4601]

13 hours ago, mirage.8046 said:

I would love a ranger spec that makes them transform into the animal they chose. What this would mean is that your weapons are enhanced with your pets' skills. As much as I dream of some spec ideas, I don't expect any more elite specs coming; it's not because of adding any more powercreep; more and more elite specs will overcrowd our options. Never mind the balancing nightmare that comes with 9 elite specs. At best we'll have new core weapons to fill in the gaps of certain roles (core engineer having a one-handed weapon that cleaves?).

Isn't that already what the Soulbeast does ?

[Fueki.4753]

2 hours ago, Dawanarth.4601 said:

Isn't that already what the Soulbeast does ?

I think mirage.8046 refers to the actual functionality of weapon skills being modified depending on what pet is being used.

[Dawanarth.4601]

So kinda having the kit that the Engineer has but being animal tranformations ? Could be fun