1 change would punish all OP builds to make a tradeoff

[Arkantos.7460]

Traitline bound utilities for EVERYONE!Means you can ONLY equip heals/utilites/elite from traitline u have in your build!downsides for everyone and new build diversity with REAL pros and consEvery class should have the same downside and not be able to mix and match to get perma immunity with several skills that gain acces to dps mitigation skills from multiple traitlines you dont have equipped; a REAL DEAL

for example Warrior:Strength- PhysicalsArms- SignetsDefense- StancesTactics- ShoutsDisciple- BannersSo if you want your healing signet, you have to trait into Arms. ;PAnd we get punished thoose Meta builds and this horrible OP traitlines mixed with OP skills from other traitlines....

cheers

[Ayrilana.1396]

You really think that there wouldn’t be OP meta builds under a system like that?

[Mini Crinny.6190]

This would change it all, but then there will be another OP spec and the cycle will continue

[Stand The Wall.6987]

would be an interesting mini game.

[Majirah.5089]

I don’t see how this would increase build diversity. In my opinion it would just kill it. There would still be meta builds. They would just be different than they are now. Once the meta is established people would feel the same pressure to align to the meta, but now wouldn’t even be able to change up a slot skill or two because of specialization restrictions.

So you would still have a meta, still have pressure to conform to meta, and have even less options to deviate from meta.

[Master Ketsu.4569]

@"Ayrilana.1396" said:You really think that there wouldn’t be OP meta builds under a system like that?

This.

All OPs idea would accomplish is changing the meta by removing build diversity. And whether or not that meta would be any better is a "?"

[Vagrant.7206]

@"Arkantos.7460" said:Traitline bound utilities for EVERYONE!Means you can ONLY equip heals/utilites/elite from traitline u have in your build!downsides for everyone and new build diversity with REAL pros and consEvery class should have the same downside and not be able to mix and match to get perma immunity with several skills that gain acces to dps mitigation skills from multiple traitlines you dont have equipped; a REAL DEAL

for example Warrior:Strength- PhysicalsArms- SignetsDefense- StancesTactics- ShoutsDisciple- BannersSo if you want your healing signet, you have to trait into Arms. ;PAnd we get punished thoose Meta builds and this horrible OP traitlines mixed with OP skills from other traitlines....

cheers

1. Not all traitlines have corresponding utilities. There's a thread recording this here.
2. This would be extremely punishing for some builds, and not a big deal for others. The current meta holosmith could easily adapt and see no functional difference, as an example.
3. Functionally speaking, all this would do is shift the meta to some new meta. Meta builds least affected by the change would continue to dominate.

[Frostmane.9734]

I agree with the suggestion , philosophically, but would implement it differently. Each core profession had a single trait line that was tied to its profession mechanic; For elementalists it is arcane, engineers it's tools, guardians it's virtues, rangers it's beast mastery, etc..

I would simply take that specific trait line and make it a new elite line (improved accordingly) that can only be slotted in the third line, subsequently unlocking the associated utilities, just like the e-specs. All other utility skills are still available.

This maintains a high level of build diversity, but makes it more difficult to stack the highest performing lines. Yes, the meta will still self actualize, because it always will, but it may help eliminate gimmick builds and help make core specs more competitive.

[Airdive.2613]

While you're at it, also restrict weapon sets to be available only if you have a corresponding traitline equipped.Can't go wrong with restrictions, can we?

[Arkantos.7460]

@Vagrant.7206 said:

@"Arkantos.7460" said:Traitline bound utilities for EVERYONE!Means you can ONLY equip heals/utilites/elite from traitline u have in your build!downsides for everyone and new build diversity with REAL pros and cons...

1. Not all traitlines have corresponding utilities. There's a thread recording this
   here
   .
2. This would be extremely punishing for some builds, and not a big deal for others. The
   current meta holosmith
   could easily adapt and see no functional difference, as an example.
3. Functionally speaking, all this would do is shift the meta to some new meta. Meta builds least affected by the change would continue to dominate.

Engi/holo by the way is not the big deal, same like Power Rev, but theese are counterable ...the annoying specs are like:for example again, warrior sb :Spellbreaker should not be allowed to have that kind ofsustain/tankyness/selfheal/immunity to conditions/condicleanse/ dmg mitigation/dmg immunity/lots of evades/blocks/stability/burst dps/counter/high mobily all in one ...in my opinion he should have the great downside of beeing affected by conditions as well like Revenant!( or another downside)Also if you want attack SP war you have to remind he has counter, again paired with blocks evades and immunity where you cannot attack him but he simply heals with signet and trait .... what make him more annoying to fight because when he want to engange he swith GS and get away because of traits which ignores mobility condition...so annoyingso making traitbound skills would cost him healsignet, and mobility buffing traits...also making block to deflect was not a good decision .... like many other things

Making weapons also traitbound would maybe the next step into right balance and of curse there will be a new meta coming,but a more counterable meta where you cannot pick all the good stuff by not paying a downside price !

[Trevor Boyer.6524]

@Arkantos.7460 said:Traitline bound utilities for EVERYONE!Means you can ONLY equip heals/utilites/elite from traitline u have in your build!downsides for everyone and new build diversity with REAL pros and consEvery class should have the same downside and not be able to mix and match to get perma immunity with several skills that gain acces to dps mitigation skills from multiple traitlines you dont have equipped; a REAL DEAL

for example Warrior:Strength- PhysicalsArms- SignetsDefense- StancesTactics- ShoutsDisciple- BannersSo if you want your healing signet, you have to trait into Arms. ;PAnd we get punished thoose Meta builds and this horrible OP traitlines mixed with OP skills from other traitlines....

cheers

This would hurt matters more than it would help. At first it sounds like a good idea but when you sit down and think 2 steps ahead about this, what would happen if something like this was implemented? You'll see that it's doing nothing but killing what little build diversity we have.

[Dadnir.5038]

That's an idea suggested for PvP, let's make sure that this does not leave PvP because it would litterally kill me to be forced to take a specific traitline just to take a signet that help me run faster in PvE.

[Brother.1504]

Essentially you would turn every profession into revenant clones. Perhaps even more restrictive.

[Arkantos.7460]

@Brother.1504 said:Essentially you would turn every profession into revenant clones. Perhaps even more restrictive.

Finally, congratzRevenant is the most balanced professions in this game , it has great downsides,So Every other class/elite spec should share the downsides of skillbounds as well to be get countered by another one.The goal is not to make every profession/elite spec into OP spec,

THE GREAT GOAL should be to make EVERY spec into a counterable build by another spec.

Holy trinity greets you guys. (what do you think elite specs where supposed to be)

[Majirah.5089]

@Brother.1504 said:Essentially you would turn every profession into revenant clones. Perhaps even more restrictive.

It would be even more restrictive.

[Wichidi.9281]

holo and firebrand would dominate.

[Arkantos.7460]

@Wichidi.9281 said:holo and firebrand would dominate.

countered both by powerrev

[Wichidi.9281]

@Arkantos.7460 said:

@Wichidi.9281 said:holo and firebrand would dominate.

countered both by powerrev

true, fair enough.

[Poelala.2830]

This is awful. For example: in a post bunker ele game, ele never ever uses earth due to it being essentially lackluster in every non-bunker scenario. All ele builds now use signet of restoration. Should eles have to find a way to implement earth in their builds? Or should eles die as a result to this change? There are examples of this on each class. The truth of the matter is lowering the amount of choice is by definition lowering build diversity. This will create a further divide between classes that aren’t meta, like ele and revenant, and classes that are largely deemed OP, like Mesmer and scourge.

[MarshallLaw.9260]

@Arkantos.7460 said:Traitline bound utilities for EVERYONE!Means you can ONLY equip heals/utilites/elite from traitline u have in your build!downsides for everyone and new build diversity with REAL pros and consEvery class should have the same downside and not be able to mix and match to get perma immunity with several skills that gain acces to dps mitigation skills from multiple traitlines you dont have equipped; a REAL DEAL

for example Warrior:Strength- PhysicalsArms- SignetsDefense- StancesTactics- ShoutsDisciple- BannersSo if you want your healing signet, you have to trait into Arms. ;PAnd we get punished thoose Meta builds and this horrible OP traitlines mixed with OP skills from other traitlines....

cheers

I think it's already been mentioned - some builds will suffer far more than others.Several meta builds would need to implement little to no change.Examples:

• Whereas Warriors may have to drop their precious Heal Signet, your typical Scourge would at worst lose Plague Signet which can probably be replaced with a punishment/corruption skill.
• Firebrands predominantly use Mantras and Meditations - so there would be practically no change for them.
• Condi Mesmer would need a rehash.

[bravan.3876]

@Majirah.5089 said:I don’t see how this would increase build diversity. In my opinion it would just kill it. There would still be meta builds. They would just be different than they are now. Once the meta is established people would feel the same pressure to align to the meta, but now wouldn’t even be able to change up a slot skill or two because of specialization restrictions.

So you would still have a meta, still have pressure to conform to meta, and have even less options to deviate from meta.

Not that i like Ops idea (i think its killing build diversity than give more) but there is no problem with having a meta, the problem with a casual game like gw2 is that at the latest with hot the meta became pretty brainless. To become meta in gw2 a build don't only need to be strong, it need to be ez af so the last monkey can play it because 99% of all player are very not soo good. Even more 90% of the non meta builds are strong and brainless playable too just bit less than the meta. Anet prays a little too much to all the wannabe pro casuals wanna feel like great players without rly having exceptional skill lvl (good examples are all the perma jumpdodging, perma weaponstowing warriors).