Will old weapons get reworked/redesigned?

[Szatko.8132]

With new weapon proficiencies being released next year, designed with the current gameplay philosophy, elite specialisations and roles in mind, is it possible that older weapons like necromancer's and elementalist's staff or mesmer's scepter will get a rework during this expansion? I feel like new weapons have a certain playstyle or direction attached to them, which doesn't really apply to many older weapon designs (like necro's staff that was originally supposed to be a weapon to "support" your minions, which doesn't really work and it's mostly used as a fill weapon for tagging mobs in open world). I'm afraid that many of them will be completely overshadowed (and to be fair it's already happening with elite spec weapons being now available for core professions). I think devs in general should keep an eye on older systems and mechanics (like daily system that got reworked into wizard's vault, which I really appreciate).

[Astralporing.1957]

Necro staff is a power meta weapon at the moment, and is really good, tbh.

[Inssengrimm.7924]

What we need is for off-hands to become real weapons. So all weapons have 1 ~ 5 skills. Yes even the Shield for Dual Shield. 

[Danikat.8537]

Weapon skills are often included in balance updates, including some which re-design how the weapon works or the type of builds it fits with. I doubt they'll do a patch purely focused on weapon skills (and even then it would have to include related traits, utilities and other abilities as well) but I'm sure there will be more changes to weapon skills coming in future.

[Szatko.8132]

26 minutes ago, Astralporing.1957 said:

Necro staff is a power meta weapon at the moment, and is really good, tbh.

What meta build in PvE, PvP or WvW uses it tho? 

[Fueki.4753]

Some weapons got reworked over the years, like Engineer's rifle or Ranger's sword. However, one can argue these two are more deworks than reworks.

They also did smaller things, like just slapping ammunition charges on Warrior's Rifle, that aren't really reworks.

Edited November 19, 2023 by Fueki.4753

[Anthony.8056]

I would rather they rework older weapon skills, utility, and elites that haven't been touched since launch. Not just numbers and functionality but animation wise as well. As much as I like new weapons added, many skills are outdated. I would love a rework of necro staff to be a summon weapon instead of marks. Elementilist needs a blizzard skill on water skill 5 and earthquake from offhand dagger should be on earth skill 5 with an updated animation. 

Edited November 19, 2023 by Anthony.8056

[Randulf.7614]

Full reworks I'm not a fan of. Not everyone wants their skills changed for the sake of the instanced/competitive players.

I'm still bitter they changed warrior rifle skills from years ago. That kind of pain never truly dies..

 

[Elricht Kaltwind.8796]

How about don't touch necromancer staff ever, thanks

Having played consistently since launch I'd really have to say that some weapons have actually undergone total reworks over the years, but gradually, one or two skills at a time. One that comes to mind because I'm a ranger main is sword. I think every single skill including the autoattack chain is fundamentally different than it was at launch. There's also warrior rifle which I think has totally changed in every regard except maybe the #5 skill. So it's entirely possible and not at all unprecedented for a class weapon to undergo radical transformation, though I doubt it would ever be done all at once.

[Anthony.8056]

4 hours ago, Elricht Kaltwind.8796 said:

How about don't touch necromancer staff ever, thanks

Having played consistently since launch I'd really have to say that some weapons have actually undergone total reworks over the years, but gradually, one or two skills at a time. One that comes to mind because I'm a ranger main is sword. I think every single skill including the autoattack chain is fundamentally different than it was at launch. There's also warrior rifle which I think has totally changed in every regard except maybe the #5 skill. So it's entirely possible and not at all unprecedented for a class weapon to undergo radical transformation, though I doubt it would ever be done all at once.

Many other people will disagree with your first statement. The only people who like it the way it is are competitive players. Many skills have been changed for competitive mode and many utility skills and elites are clearly for those modes which are rendered useless in pve. Reworks and redesigns aren't always a bad thing, other games do it. For example, Elementalist hammer needs an overhaul and I'm not talking numbers wise. Necro staff needs a visual overhaul because the first skill shares the exact animation with skill 4 on focus. I'm not saying to change how it functions from what it does, I'm talking about how it needs some diversity other than just placing aoes all over. You can't even see when somebody activates it other than skill 3 and 5. That was ten years ago and many weapons need to be updated. I have played since launch and many skills across the board need updates for better or worse. Either way, I think Necro staff needs an update in the visual department as well as other weapons but I'm sure many people are happy they are getting a new weapon so they will find something to complain about it. Thanks.

[Eloc Freidon.5692]

14 hours ago, Randulf.7614 said:

Full reworks I'm not a fan of. Not everyone wants their skills changed for the sake of the instanced/competitive players.

I'm still bitter they changed warrior rifle skills from years ago. That kind of pain never truly dies..

 

Warrior Rifle has only been improved.

[Randulf.7614]

5 hours ago, Eloc Freidon.5692 said:

Warrior Rifle has only been improved.

They switched two adjacent skills around on the skill bar. I can’t cope with that kind of change

Edited November 20, 2023 by Randulf.7614

[Lan Deathrider.5910]

1 hour ago, Randulf.7614 said:

They switched two adjacent skills around on the skill bar. I can’t cope with that kind of change

I still mess it up myself... Though that is happening less now.

6 hours ago, Eloc Freidon.5692 said:

Warrior Rifle has only been improved.

Crap, but with ammunition charges is just double the crap.

[Lucius.2140]

On 11/19/2023 at 8:37 AM, Szatko.8132 said:

With new weapon proficiencies being released next year, designed with the current gameplay philosophy, elite specialisations and roles in mind, is it possible that older weapons like necromancer's and elementalist's staff or mesmer's scepter will get a rework during this expansion? I feel like new weapons have a certain playstyle or direction attached to them, which doesn't really apply to many older weapon designs (like necro's staff that was originally supposed to be a weapon to "support" your minions, which doesn't really work and it's mostly used as a fill weapon for tagging mobs in open world). I'm afraid that many of them will be completely overshadowed (and to be fair it's already happening with elite spec weapons being now available for core professions). I think devs in general should keep an eye on older systems and mechanics (like daily system that got reworked into wizard's vault, which I really appreciate).

Personally i will prefer them to be "expanded" with trade offs and locked behind the next expansion to give it more value and sales.

One example is what they showcased today (20/11/23), necro swords will have a second activation after the first one but the trade off is health.

We could get that with things like extra coldown, stamina or class resources.

For example if i mantain pressed my warrior warhorn skills he will blow the horn more time and will apply more buffs but i added cast time and will have a longer coldown also.

The idea here is to give progression by adding more context use and elevate primarly the weapon skill ceiling. This also could be limited to Pve and perhaps WvW since PvP is based on having a really good balance.

Pd: In fact, in my opinion is better to move all weapon reworks to adding extra functionality and locking them to expansions.

Edited November 20, 2023 by Lucius.2140