Rifle will be a support weapon

[Levetty.1279]

 The second part of Guild Wars 2's new expansion is out now, and it's taking players to the demon realm | PC Gamer

 

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Each profession has its own needs, so we've been looking at how to enhance the roles available to them all in different ways. For example, staff on warrior and rifle on mesmer are intended for support builds. We will have a full sequence of daily posts over at the GW2 blog starting next week (11/8) detailing each of the new professions and their new weapon skills.

 

[Puck.3697]

I guess it explains the big buffs to support mesmer, and rifle I'm guessing will double down here

Weird they didn't go for bow if this was intended. 

Edited November 7, 2023 by Puck.3697

[Waffles.5632]

HYPED for tomorrow!!

[Roadkizzle.2157]

44 minutes ago, Puck.3697 said:

I guess it explains the big buffs to support mesmer, and rifle I'm guessing will double down here

Weird they didn't go for bow if this was intended. 

Because they didn't want to turn a bow into a harp to make a bard?

[Puck.3697]

30 minutes ago, Roadkizzle.2157 said:

Because they didn't want to turn a bow into a harp to make a bard?

Well thats obvious

I just feel bows abit more multifunctional then rifle. It maybe good, I aint bashing it. Just in my mind I feel bow can be kinda be bled into the support fantasy alot easier. 

Don't get me wrong, tbh I prolly wont like either concept, as I'm pretty sure its gonna be quite litterally a healing weapon. We just gonna be the next Druid / tempest. 

So my say has very little meaning here, I think chrono thematically fits a healer under the concept of reversing time. Then a rifle or other speccs of mesmer look to achieve. 

But I'm happy for all who wanted to be a healer with mesmer. 

Shame they deleted alac from chrono

Rifle / Staff Alac/might healing chrono woulda been a cool concept lol

Edited November 7, 2023 by Puck.3697

[draxynnic.3719]

No surprise with the Chaos and Inspiration changes - they're obviously trying to make heal mesmer a thing and a weapon is an obvious way to do that. Mesmer also already had plenty of ranged DPS weapons (although scepter could probably use some buffs).

Not sure how bow fits into the support fantasy easier - rifle skins can easily be themed around channeling any kind of energy down the barrel.

[Roadkizzle.2157]

48 minutes ago, Puck.3697 said:

Well thats obvious

I just feel bows abit more multifunctional then rifle. It maybe good, I aint bashing it. Just in my mind I feel bow can be kinda be bled into the support fantasy alot easier. 

Don't get me wrong, tbh I prolly wont like either concept, as I'm pretty sure its gonna be quite litterally a healing weapon. We just gonna be the next Druid / tempest. 

So my say has very little meaning here, I think chrono thematically fits a healer under the concept of reversing time. Then a rifle or other speccs of mesmer look to achieve. 

But I'm happy for all who wanted to be a healer with mesmer. 

Shame they deleted alac from chrono

Rifle / Staff Alac/might healing chrono woulda been a cool concept lol

You'll be able to do a Rifle/Staff Alac/Might Healing Chrono though.

They're not getting rid of the Stretched Time trait.

[Curunen.8729]

Meh, let's see what the skills are - hopefully not just staff 2.0, and hopefully no ally targeted skills (though am now anticipating this).

If the new support gameplay encourages perma chaos aura uptime on you and allies, I'll pass. From a visual standpoint while some chaos aura is cool, having pink bubbles all around you all the time would not be.

Edit - equally I'm curious about the ambush, as that will be the thing that sells me on it or not.

Edited November 8, 2023 by Curunen.8729

[Roadkizzle.2157]

46 minutes ago, Curunen.8729 said:

Meh, let's see what the skills are - hopefully not just staff 2.0, and hopefully no ally targeted skills (though am now anticipating this).

If the new support gameplay encourages perma chaos aura uptime on you and allies, I'll pass. From a visual standpoint while some chaos aura is cool, having pink bubbles all around you all the time would not be.

Edit - equally I'm curious about the ambush, as that will be the thing that sells me on it or not.

I agree. I hope that it isn't staff 2.0

 

Staff is way too random for me.

Random bouncing, teleport away from the fight, random boons and conditions.

 

All the Chaos Aura adds is Regeneration and is needed if you want the condi damage buff from the traitline.

Protection and all the boons are from the Shatters not the aura.

[Geronmy.3298]

1 hour ago, Curunen.8729 said:

Meh, let's see what the skills are - hopefully not just staff 2.0, and hopefully no ally targeted skills (though am now anticipating this).

If the new support gameplay encourages perma chaos aura uptime on you and allies, I'll pass. From a visual standpoint while some chaos aura is cool, having pink bubbles all around you all the time would not be.

Edit - equally I'm curious about the ambush, as that will be the thing that sells me on it or not.

Might be burst healing or barrier. If they add quickness to it i am sold.

[Puck.3697]

9 hours ago, Roadkizzle.2157 said:

You'll be able to do a Rifle/Staff Alac/Might Healing Chrono though.

They're not getting rid of the Stretched Time trait.

Hmm only just returned

There's posts everywhere saying they deleted alac chrono 😂 

This weapons either gonna splash Boons / healing, or be ST healing tho I think 🤔🤔

Edited November 8, 2023 by Puck.3697

[Puck.3697]

9 hours ago, draxynnic.3719 said:

No surprise with the Chaos and Inspiration changes - they're obviously trying to make heal mesmer a thing and a weapon is an obvious way to do that. Mesmer also already had plenty of ranged DPS weapons (although scepter could probably use some buffs).

Not sure how bow fits into the support fantasy easier - rifle skins can easily be themed around channeling any kind of energy down the barrel.

Because Bow is a common weapon used by Bards, and have fantasy assossiation with music themed gameplay which typically fit a support role. 

But maybe that's just because it's what I'm used to seeing. 

[draxynnic.3719]

9 hours ago, Curunen.8729 said:

Meh, let's see what the skills are - hopefully not just staff 2.0, and hopefully no ally targeted skills (though am now anticipating this).

Ally targeted skills are fine if it's the type of skill where you can just hit the enemy and get the effect and being able to target allies is just another option, rather than being a heal spectre situation where you have to keep switching targets.

3 hours ago, Puck.3697 said:

Because Bow is a common weapon used by Bards, and have fantasy assossiation with music themed gameplay which typically fit a support role. 

But maybe that's just because it's what I'm used to seeing. 

Support mes ain't going to be bard either way - it's going to be chrono or maybe mirage. A bard theme would require another elite specialisation.

If you actually want a music theme with a bow, it's better for it to be something else now because that leaves it open for elite specialisation treatment in the future (no, ArenaNet never said no more elite specs, just that they're not committing to a set every year).

[Puck.3697]

1 hour ago, draxynnic.3719 said:

Ally targeted skills are fine if it's the type of skill where you can just hit the enemy and get the effect and being able to target allies is just another option, rather than being a heal spectre situation where you have to keep switching targets.

Support mes ain't going to be bard either way - it's going to be chrono or maybe mirage. A bard theme would require another elite specialisation.

If you actually want a music theme with a bow, it's better for it to be something else now because that leaves it open for elite specialisation treatment in the future (no, ArenaNet never said no more elite specs, just that they're not committing to a set every year).

Kind hoping we see a new class before more elites, I feel like every new elite kinda stretches the core class too far at this point. Lol 

With current classes I think theres more then enough they could fix instead of adding another layer 

[Roadkizzle.2157]

5 hours ago, Puck.3697 said:

Hmm only just returned

There's posts everywhere saying they deleted alac chrono 😂 

This weapons either gonna splash Boons / healing, or be ST healing tho I think 🤔🤔

Well I don't know when but a couple of years ago they removed the ability to provide both boons at the same time.

So Chronos had to choose whether to provide Alac or Quick. But Alac was provided by using Wells and Quick by shattering. 

But then they removed the unique gameplay for Alac this June. So people can still provide Alac or Quick or pure DPS. But the gameplay and gear is identical no matter what you choose. 

This new change will finally return a defensive support option for the Chrono and you'll be able to choose freely if you want to give Alac or Quick.

Edited November 8, 2023 by Roadkizzle.2157

[ShadowKatt.6740]

My greatest fear when they say "Support Weapon" is that it will be absolutely useless outside of that function. That's been my opinion of the mesmer rework as they've done so far trying to turn us into an EXCLUSIVELY team profession incapable of functioning without a babysitter or bodyguard, and now they say that the rifle will be a "Support weapon", in otherwords incapable of actually functioning as a weapon and only as a tool to make everyone else better at playing the game for us.

[Xaylin.1860]

I personally would have preferred a LB for the before mentioned Bard trope and harp fantasy. Rifle as support weapon still perfectly fits Mesmer theme of atypical weapon use. Could be funny to have a reverse OHK skill to heal up allies. Burst healing is actually what Mesmer lacks when compared to, e.g. Druid. However, I'm hoping for a decent amount of area effects since I don't really like the supportive part of single ally target effects of Specters.

1 hour ago, ShadowKatt.6740 said:

My greatest fear when they say "Support Weapon" is that it will be absolutely useless outside of that function. 

Well... that's kinda the definition, though. And something Mesmer doesn't have yet. Based on your recent posts, it will probably just not be for you.

[ShadowKatt.6740]

36 minutes ago, Xaylin.1860 said:

Well... that's kinda the definition, though. And something Mesmer doesn't have yet. Based on your recent posts, it will probably just not be for you.

Except that's not just "Not for me". As I've said in other posts this isn't GW1. You are not expected to to build out your party before you leave town with front line DPS/Tank, midrange spike, caster support, and rear line healer before you even walk to the gates. Every profession is supposed to be self sufficient and capable of handling pretty much 75-80% of the content by themselves with the tools they're given. I am not including high level content like Raids, Strikes, and T4 Fractals because those actually do require that. I'm talking about everything else, and it sounds like the mesmers Rifle is about to be on par with the Ranger's Staff. A "weapon" that has basically no use anywhere in the game outside of those areas where the ranger is playng the role of a dedicated support healer. And as such the staff sees basically no use. Not only would I find this incredibly disappointing, but it would be a complete waste of our time and their resources to do something like that. And yet I'm afraid that would not be enough of a disincentive for them to do it anyway. I'm not talking about a support rifle just being "Not for me". I'm concerned that it won't even be useful in the vast majority of the game period.

[Waffles.5632]

12 minutes ago, ShadowKatt.6740 said:

Except that's not just "Not for me". As I've said in other posts this isn't GW1. You are not expected to to build out your party before you leave town with front line DPS/Tank, midrange spike, caster support, and rear line healer before you even walk to the gates. Every profession is supposed to be self sufficient and capable of handling pretty much 75-80% of the content by themselves with the tools they're given. I am not including high level content like Raids, Strikes, and T4 Fractals because those actually do require that. I'm talking about everything else, and it sounds like the mesmers Rifle is about to be on par with the Ranger's Staff. A "weapon" that has basically no use anywhere in the game outside of those areas where the ranger is playng the role of a dedicated support healer. And as such the staff sees basically no use. Not only would I find this incredibly disappointing, but it would be a complete waste of our time and their resources to do something like that. And yet I'm afraid that would not be enough of a disincentive for them to do it anyway. I'm not talking about a support rifle just being "Not for me". I'm concerned that it won't even be useful in the vast majority of the game period.

Staff is support and it's probably the single most powerful weapon Mesmer has.

I think we will see Rifle on a slew of new mesmer builds, both for group content and solo play.

Even still, the actual weapons won't come out until some time next year IIRC, so plenty of time for Anet to change things, either for the worst or best.

[Roadkizzle.2157]

11 minutes ago, ShadowKatt.6740 said:

Except that's not just "Not for me". As I've said in other posts this isn't GW1. You are not expected to to build out your party before you leave town with front line DPS/Tank, midrange spike, caster support, and rear line healer before you even walk to the gates. Every profession is supposed to be self sufficient and capable of handling pretty much 75-80% of the content by themselves with the tools they're given. I am not including high level content like Raids, Strikes, and T4 Fractals because those actually do require that. I'm talking about everything else, and it sounds like the mesmers Rifle is about to be on par with the Ranger's Staff. A "weapon" that has basically no use anywhere in the game outside of those areas where the ranger is playng the role of a dedicated support healer. And as such the staff sees basically no use. Not only would I find this incredibly disappointing, but it would be a complete waste of our time and their resources to do something like that. And yet I'm afraid that would not be enough of a disincentive for them to do it anyway. I'm not talking about a support rifle just being "Not for me". I'm concerned that it won't even be useful in the vast majority of the game period.

As you point out... The game is not only casual open world solo play.

If the rifle is a pure support weapon with absolutely zero damaging abilities yes it will be useless for solo play... But the weapon will be used a ton if it's a good support weapon and the profession has the tools to play as a support character.

 

Even if the rifle has the tools to be the best weapon the mesmer has for a support character doesn't mean that it won't be capable for solo play.

I solo with my Mace/Shield Firebrand plenty of time. It's much more capable than any Mesmer spec I've played for solo combat.

It is a support weapon on a support class. It does enough damage to kill enemies even though it doesn't do it as quickly as other weapons. But it has a ton of healing and blocking potential that keeps me alive so much easier.

 

The rifle WILL have damaging abilities even though it probably won't have the DPS of the dagger or the greatsword. But as a support weapon it'll probably have defensive and healing tools that will keep you alive longer than you can with the Greatsword. 

[Puck.3697]

5 hours ago, ShadowKatt.6740 said:

My greatest fear when they say "Support Weapon" is that it will be absolutely useless outside of that function

But spectres weapon is a support weapon yet the highest dpsing weapon for the specc to add. 

There's no reason to have this fear yet

Edited November 8, 2023 by Puck.3697

[Puck.3697]

3 hours ago, Roadkizzle.2157 said:

The rifle WILL have damaging abilities even though it probably won't have the DPS of the dagger or the greatsword. But as a support weapon it'll probably have defensive and healing tools that will keep you alive longer than you can with the Greatsword

Depends. 

Remember although spectres weapon is susposed to be support its also its main dps weapon to stack. 

I get a feeling its gonna be ST healing in the same variety 

So it may end up apart of a dps build. Although their putting alot of emphasis getting healing chrono back before its even here. 

So possibly it maybe a complete double down 

Edited November 8, 2023 by Puck.3697

[Roadkizzle.2157]

1 hour ago, Puck.3697 said:

Depends. 

Remember although spectres weapon is susposed to be support its also its main dps weapon to stack. 

I get a feeling its gonna be ST healing in the same variety 

So it may end up apart of a dps build. Although their putting alot of emphasis getting healing chrono back before its even here. 

So possibly it maybe a complete double down 

Possibly. But I will be surprised if they try targeted healing like the Specter. The Specter wasn't really a roaring success and I think they want the new weapons to be played otherwise why release them.

I'm pretty sure there will be one AOE healing skill, one Chaos Aura or combo finisher, and a few damaging or CC skills.

[Curunen.8729]

9 hours ago, draxynnic.3719 said:

Ally targeted skills are fine if it's the type of skill where you can just hit the enemy and get the effect and being able to target allies is just another option, rather than being a heal spectre situation where you have to keep switching targets.

Yeah that would be good if those skill have different effects for enemy or ally targets, and let the player decide how they want to approach it.

5 hours ago, Xaylin.1860 said:

I personally would have preferred a LB for the before mentioned Bard trope and harp fantasy. Rifle as support weapon still perfectly fits Mesmer theme of atypical weapon use. Could be funny to have a reverse OHK skill to heal up allies. Burst healing is actually what Mesmer lacks when compared to, e.g. Druid. However, I'm hoping for a decent amount of area effects since I don't really like the supportive part of single ally target effects of Specters.

Well... that's kinda the definition, though. And something Mesmer doesn't have yet. Based on your recent posts, it will probably just not be for you.

Hmm I could actualy get behind this - would be pretty cool to do an inverse deaths judgement/gunflame. If the name "magic bullet" wasn't already taken for pistol 5, it would be bang on here! But yes, aoe effects would be nice.

Annoying part to set up efficient ally targeting processes which I've never bothered with in the past.

Omg this mobile editor is awkward sometimes - ignore the spoiler box below I can't seem to delete it...

Spoiler

 

[draxynnic.3719]

10 hours ago, Puck.3697 said:

Kind hoping we see a new class before more elites, I feel like every new elite kinda stretches the core class too far at this point. Lol 

With current classes I think theres more then enough they could fix instead of adding another layer 

Then there'll be no bard theme for mesmer, and weapon choices shouldn't be decided on the basis of catering for something that doesn't exist. While there is the odd skill that has a reference to music, neither core mesmer nor any of the current elite specialisations have the utility skills or mechanics to support a bard playstyle. Chronomancer is probably closest but is explicitly its own, distinct theme.