I guess the next elite spec will probably be a magic thief.

[Crab Fear.1624]

The removal of traps, changed to preparations that all describe the effects as magic plus the reworking of shadow arts to be more active (magically) lets me believe this is probably the outcome on the next elite.

I'll be ready to say i'm wrong to Sir Vincent about magic thieves becoming reality, and Jack you are just gonna have to accept it.

But, I imagine you will because it will obviously be condi magic.

I would be shocked if it was a main hand scepter, but now I believe it will be a focus (yes thieves do use these in fantasy and mmo games to find traps) or a torch.

But, you know what, I'll take it.

[Zacchary.6183]

It doesn't even have to be a magic based weapon. Lorewise, everything about the profession uses magic.

[Crab Fear.1624]

@Zacchary.6183 said:It doesn't even have to be a magic based weapon. Lorewise, everything about the profession uses magic.

As far as I could tell, based on descriptions the most magical form of thief is deadeye. Currently, this fits the standard rogue role. Not really a spellcastet, and nothing in core traits would support that.

These changes coming would make them more hybrid.

But you know, who knows what weapon we will get.

[DemonSeed.3528]

I'm telling you man, they are going to make thief have afterimages (like clones, but no health, just a visual clone to confuse enemy). It could be maybe like a dodge clone, a leap clone, or maybe like illusionary ambush, but with a secondary attack activated portion after shadow stepping. It will be able to handle close quarter combat but be a very agile trickster, and these afterimages will probably allow you to ditch trickery line. Just throwing ideas here :P

[Emberheart.8426]

Maybe it will be a support spec and they changed shadow arts to be a bit more focused on support, so that the elite spec doesn't have to add all of the support by itself.

[Alatar.7364]

You are freaking me out...

[Yasai.3549]

Imo it might be offhand sword with more debilitating conditions.

Thief might be going in the hybrid direction as with the upcoming changes, and I'm looking forward to playing a more traditional rouge style Thief which deals mainly with stealth, hit and run, and poisons.

[derd.6413]

[x] doubt.

[DemonSeed.3528]

Scepter thief which casts spell that turns enemy into scribe which immediately makes copies of same post into thief forum about it being op. There's your magic thief!

[SoV.5139]

Arcane trickster.

[Yasai.3549]

Houndini Elite Spec.

Makes everything disappear, from friends to foes to my fuccin Dps.

[MithranArkanere.8957]

That's the deadeye.

Cantrips, stealing abstract concepts and the possibility of spamming buffs on allies.Deadeye may use a rifle and not a caster weapon like a scepter, but they use it with tons of magic.Daredevils do use a caster weapon, but they are more like melee skirmishers. So the weapon is not what determines the style.

Since daredevil has a melee power and survival focus and deadeye a ranged power and support focus, it stands to reason that the next elite for thieves would have to have a focus on condition dps and debuffing specialization.

Like throwing torches around.

[Jugglemonkey.8741]

@MithranArkanere.8957 said:That's the deadeye.

Cantrips, stealing abstract concepts and the possibility of spamming buffs on allies.Deadeye may use a rifle and not a caster weapon like a scepter, but they use it with tons of magic.Daredevils do use a caster weapon, but they are more like melee skirmishers. So the weapon is not what determines the style.

Since daredevil has a melee power and survival focus and deadeye a ranged power and support focus, it stands to reason that the next elite for thieves would have to have a focus on condition dps and debuffing specialization.

Like throwing torches around.

As long as they have an idle animation of juggling torches, I'll be fine with this xD

[MithranArkanere.8957]

@Jugglemonkey.8741 said:

@"MithranArkanere.8957" said:That's the deadeye.

Cantrips, stealing abstract concepts and the possibility of spamming buffs on allies.Deadeye may use a rifle and not a caster weapon like a scepter, but they use it with tons of magic.Daredevils do use a caster weapon, but they are more like melee skirmishers. So the weapon is not what determines the style.

Since daredevil has a melee power and survival focus and deadeye a ranged power and support focus, it stands to reason that the next elite for thieves would have to have a focus on condition dps and debuffing specialization.

Like throwing torches around.

As long as they have an idle animation of juggling torches, I'll be fine with this xD

I would really love to have a Juggler elite specialization that uses dual torches.

[Trianox.3486]

@"MithranArkanere.8957" said:That's the deadeye.

Cantrips, stealing abstract concepts and the possibility of spamming buffs on allies.Deadeye may use a rifle and not a caster weapon like a scepter, but they use it with tons of magic.Daredevils do use a caster weapon, but they are more like melee skirmishers. So the weapon is not what determines the style.

Since daredevil has a melee power and survival focus and deadeye a ranged power and support focus, it stands to reason that the next elite for thieves would have to have a focus on condition dps and debuffing specialization.

Like throwing torches around.

I actually bet on off-hand focus, adding 2 new weapon skills (4-5), plus 3 duals (sword, dagger, pistol).

Arcane assassin, either transforming stealth into a shadow armor OR...

Replacing every instance of shadowstep with Arcanestep, steal now becoming a simple teleport/arcanestep that can target foes or allies.Arcanestep could be toggle between firestep, lightstep, earthstep, waterstep, airstep or whatever... Spawning mobile combo fields, with traits capable of increasing radius, duration, other traits for X2 the effect of combos (like warrior gm trait). Some traits would amplifies certain type of condi or cleanse, or allowing you to have Arcanestep (on steal) as an ammunition (2) special skill.

Tradeoff: you loose access to stolen items or skills.F2 is a simple "arcane attack" which does an attack/effect at mid range based on your arcane attunement. Improvisation allows you to use it twice, during 20 sec, after any arcanestep.

You can select two "steps" options for F3-F4 that are choosen out of combat like Revenant heroes, allowing you during combat to move between F3-F4, your F3 being the active "step" that applies to F1, and all your other skills/utility that normally would have used shadowstep.

Pistol: Shoot a double acane bullet based on your attunement, 2nd is a ptojectile or blast finisher.Dagger: Hit, slow in area for 3 secondes, 240 radius.Sword: Sword-dance : execute a 360° swiping move 240 radius.

X-/Focus4: Magic-blast : two pulses, once per second, each pulse is a blast finisher, apply boon/ condi based on attunement?X-/Focus5: Throw a wisp whirling around the assassin, blocking incoming condi for 1.5 sec

Utilities would be glyphes, something agressive/condi focused based on attunement/arcane choice.

...I think I'd enjoy that, a mix between ele and thief. So then it would be the squishiest thing ever.

[DemonSeed.3528]

When you mention shadow armor, I actually think of something like a shroud mode. Could be interesting, I have no idea how they could spin that into thieves skillset. However I salivate at the possibility of thief having a load of different skills like ele attunements (shadow form) but a form of shadow/deception/infiltration/death, kind of like a combo between necro shroud and ele attunements, the ultimate overkill. Switching one attunement puts you in a stealth set, one gives you afterimages [like clones but only visual], another switches you to condi, another is offensive power, yadda yadda

[draxynnic.3719]

Honestly, thief has dabbled in magic since the beginning. Not as much as the GW1 assassin did, perhaps, but shadowstepping was always presented as being a magical technique. Your build (including elite specialisation) can influence just how much magic you're packing down to the point of their being plausible deniability if you do tell yourself that Shadowstep is just moving really fast (and for shorter range shadowsteps like Swipe, this might even be plausible if you ignore the Factions cinematic), but there's always been a bit of magic in there.

Even if you ignore that, there's precedent to elite specialisations adding magic to a previously mundane profession like the Warrior.

I could see an offhand focus being a weapon for a thief elite specialisation that goes back to the more magical aspects of the Assassin, albeit still oriented more towards close combat (rather than the long-range sniping of the Deadeye). Such a specialisation's focus would probably still be on close-in combat, but the focus could provide magical defensive options and/or a couple of offensive options harkening back to Assassin.

[hatsamu.4327]

@draxynnic.3719 said:Honestly, thief has dabbled in magic since the beginning. Not as much as the GW1 assassin did, perhaps, but shadowstepping was always presented as being a magical technique. Your build (including elite specialisation) can influence just how much magic you're packing down to the point of their being plausible deniability if you do tell yourself that Shadowstep is just moving really fast (and for shorter range shadowsteps like Swipe, this might even be plausible if you ignore the Factions cinematic), but there's always been a bit of magic in there.

Even if you ignore that, there's precedent to elite specialisations adding magic to a previously mundane profession like the Warrior.

I could see an offhand focus being a weapon for a thief elite specialisation that goes back to the more magical aspects of the Assassin, albeit still oriented more towards close combat (rather than the long-range sniping of the Deadeye). Such a specialisation's focus would probably still be on close-in combat, but the focus could provide magical defensive options and/or a couple of offensive options harkening back to Assassin.

For a spec that evokes the Assassin, why offhand focus when Thief still doesn't have offhand sword? There's plenty of ways to get a magic flavor with sword as well.

[derd.6413]

@hatsamu.4327 said:

@draxynnic.3719 said:Honestly, thief has dabbled in magic since the beginning. Not as much as the GW1 assassin did, perhaps, but shadowstepping was always presented as being a magical technique. Your build (including elite specialisation) can influence just how

much

magic you're packing down to the point of their being plausible deniability if you do tell yourself that Shadowstep is just moving really fast (and for shorter range shadowsteps like Swipe, this might even be plausible if you ignore the Factions cinematic), but there's always been a

bit

of magic in there.

Even if you ignore that, there's precedent to elite specialisations adding magic to a previously mundane profession like the Warrior.

I could see an offhand focus being a weapon for a thief elite specialisation that goes back to the more magical aspects of the Assassin, albeit still oriented more towards close combat (rather than the long-range sniping of the Deadeye). Such a specialisation's focus would probably still be on close-in combat, but the focus could provide magical defensive options and/or a couple of offensive options harkening back to Assassin.

For a spec that evokes the Assassin, why offhand focus when Thief still doesn't have offhand sword? There's plenty of ways to get a magic flavor with sword as well.

because when ppl say magic thief they mean generic mage with a the aesthetic of the gw1 assassin rather then something that'd be fitting for thief

[Eekasqueak.7850]

@derd.6413 said:

@hatsamu.4327 said:

@draxynnic.3719 said:Honestly, thief has dabbled in magic since the beginning. Not as much as the GW1 assassin did, perhaps, but shadowstepping was always presented as being a magical technique. Your build (including elite specialisation) can influence just how

much

magic you're packing down to the point of their being plausible deniability if you do tell yourself that Shadowstep is just moving really fast (and for shorter range shadowsteps like Swipe, this might even be plausible if you ignore the Factions cinematic), but there's always been a

bit

of magic in there.

Even if you ignore that, there's precedent to elite specialisations adding magic to a previously mundane profession like the Warrior.

I could see an offhand focus being a weapon for a thief elite specialisation that goes back to the more magical aspects of the Assassin, albeit still oriented more towards close combat (rather than the long-range sniping of the Deadeye). Such a specialisation's focus would probably still be on close-in combat, but the focus could provide magical defensive options and/or a couple of offensive options harkening back to Assassin.

For a spec that evokes the Assassin, why offhand focus when Thief still doesn't have offhand sword? There's plenty of ways to get a magic flavor with sword as well.

because when ppl say magic thief they mean generic mage with a the aesthetic of the gw1 assassin rather then something that'd be fitting for thief

Speak for yourself, a spellthief/arcane trickster with a scepter is what comes to mind for me and that fits the fluff just fine. The sword obsession is really annoying honestly.

[derd.6413]

@Eekasqueak.7850 said:

@derd.6413 said:

@hatsamu.4327 said:

@draxynnic.3719 said:Honestly, thief has dabbled in magic since the beginning. Not as much as the GW1 assassin did, perhaps, but shadowstepping was always presented as being a magical technique. Your build (including elite specialisation) can influence just how

much

magic you're packing down to the point of their being plausible deniability if you do tell yourself that Shadowstep is just moving really fast (and for shorter range shadowsteps like Swipe, this might even be plausible if you ignore the Factions cinematic), but there's always been a

bit

of magic in there.

Even if you ignore that, there's precedent to elite specialisations adding magic to a previously mundane profession like the Warrior.

I could see an offhand focus being a weapon for a thief elite specialisation that goes back to the more magical aspects of the Assassin, albeit still oriented more towards close combat (rather than the long-range sniping of the Deadeye). Such a specialisation's focus would probably still be on close-in combat, but the focus could provide magical defensive options and/or a couple of offensive options harkening back to Assassin.

For a spec that evokes the Assassin, why offhand focus when Thief still doesn't have offhand sword? There's plenty of ways to get a magic flavor with sword as well.

because when ppl say magic thief they mean generic mage with a the aesthetic of the gw1 assassin rather then something that'd be fitting for thief

Speak for yourself, a spellthief/arcane trickster with a scepter is what comes to mind for me and that fits the fluff just fine. The sword obsession is really annoying honestly.

by all means try to proove me wrong but all i've seen were mesmer (or necro) knock-offs

[Eekasqueak.7850]

@derd.6413 said:

@Eekasqueak.7850 said:

@derd.6413 said:

@hatsamu.4327 said:

@draxynnic.3719 said:Honestly, thief has dabbled in magic since the beginning. Not as much as the GW1 assassin did, perhaps, but shadowstepping was always presented as being a magical technique. Your build (including elite specialisation) can influence just how

much

magic you're packing down to the point of their being plausible deniability if you do tell yourself that Shadowstep is just moving really fast (and for shorter range shadowsteps like Swipe, this might even be plausible if you ignore the Factions cinematic), but there's always been a

bit

of magic in there.

Even if you ignore that, there's precedent to elite specialisations adding magic to a previously mundane profession like the Warrior.

I could see an offhand focus being a weapon for a thief elite specialisation that goes back to the more magical aspects of the Assassin, albeit still oriented more towards close combat (rather than the long-range sniping of the Deadeye). Such a specialisation's focus would probably still be on close-in combat, but the focus could provide magical defensive options and/or a couple of offensive options harkening back to Assassin.

For a spec that evokes the Assassin, why offhand focus when Thief still doesn't have offhand sword? There's plenty of ways to get a magic flavor with sword as well.

because when ppl say magic thief they mean generic mage with a the aesthetic of the gw1 assassin rather then something that'd be fitting for thief

Speak for yourself, a spellthief/arcane trickster with a scepter is what comes to mind for me and that fits the fluff just fine. The sword obsession is really annoying honestly.

by all means try to proove me wrong but all i've seen were mesmer (or necro) knock-offs

Spellthief based on the DnD class of the same name, duh

[Crab Fear.1624]

off hand scepter. case closed.

[draxynnic.3719]

@hatsamu.4327 said:

@"draxynnic.3719" said:Honestly, thief has dabbled in magic since the beginning. Not as much as the GW1 assassin did, perhaps, but shadowstepping was always presented as being a magical technique. Your build (including elite specialisation) can influence just how

much

magic you're packing down to the point of their being plausible deniability if you do tell yourself that Shadowstep is just moving really fast (and for shorter range shadowsteps like Swipe, this might even be plausible if you ignore the Factions cinematic), but there's always been a

bit

of magic in there.

Even if you ignore that, there's precedent to elite specialisations adding magic to a previously mundane profession like the Warrior.

I could see an offhand focus being a weapon for a thief elite specialisation that goes back to the more magical aspects of the Assassin, albeit still oriented more towards close combat (rather than the long-range sniping of the Deadeye). Such a specialisation's focus would probably still be on close-in combat, but the focus could provide magical defensive options and/or a couple of offensive options harkening back to Assassin.

For a spec that evokes the Assassin, why offhand focus when Thief still doesn't have offhand sword? There's plenty of ways to get a magic flavor with sword as well.

Short answer: Why waste the potential of offhand sword by turning it into a glorified focus when the actual focus is right there?

Longer answer: Strictly speaking, GW1 assassins were associated with daggers and daggerlike weapons (sais, kamas, etc), not with dual swords (with the exception of Shiro). Obviously, dual dagger already exists on thief, so any new elite specialisation is going to need to bring something else.

So far, all of the thief elite specialisations have already brought with them an aspect of the old assassin. Daredevil brought martial arts and additional dagger-throwing. Deadeye brings an additional focus on shadow magic while Deadeye's Mark feels a lot like running an Assassin's Promise build, even if the actual mechanics of how it works are quite different. So I don't think there's likely to be any one "Assassin" elite specialisation, so much as elite specialisations drawing from different aspects of the assassin.

A focus offhand for Thief, then, would be drawing from Assassin themes that are unambiguously spells in nature, whether offensive (Augury of Death, Beguiling Haze, Enduring Toxin, Entangling Asp, Mark of Insecurity, Mark of Instability, Seeping Wound, Shadowy Burden, Shameful Fear, Shroud of Silence, Siphon Speed, Siphon Strength) or defensive (Shadow Form). An elite specialisation with a sword offhand would either be more martially oriented (similar to Daredevil) or, if there was to be overt magic involved, magic that more specifically evokes the form and movement of a sword rather than generic spellcasting (similar to guardian sword and greatsword skills).

[derd.6413]

@Eekasqueak.7850 said:

@derd.6413 said:

@Eekasqueak.7850 said:

@derd.6413 said:

@hatsamu.4327 said:

@draxynnic.3719 said:Honestly, thief has dabbled in magic since the beginning. Not as much as the GW1 assassin did, perhaps, but shadowstepping was always presented as being a magical technique. Your build (including elite specialisation) can influence just how

much

magic you're packing down to the point of their being plausible deniability if you do tell yourself that Shadowstep is just moving really fast (and for shorter range shadowsteps like Swipe, this might even be plausible if you ignore the Factions cinematic), but there's always been a

bit

of magic in there.

Even if you ignore that, there's precedent to elite specialisations adding magic to a previously mundane profession like the Warrior.

I could see an offhand focus being a weapon for a thief elite specialisation that goes back to the more magical aspects of the Assassin, albeit still oriented more towards close combat (rather than the long-range sniping of the Deadeye). Such a specialisation's focus would probably still be on close-in combat, but the focus could provide magical defensive options and/or a couple of offensive options harkening back to Assassin.

For a spec that evokes the Assassin, why offhand focus when Thief still doesn't have offhand sword? There's plenty of ways to get a magic flavor with sword as well.

because when ppl say magic thief they mean generic mage with a the aesthetic of the gw1 assassin rather then something that'd be fitting for thief

Speak for yourself, a spellthief/arcane trickster with a scepter is what comes to mind for me and that fits the fluff just fine. The sword obsession is really annoying honestly.

by all means try to proove me wrong but all i've seen were mesmer (or necro) knock-offs

Spellthief based on the DnD class of the same name, duh

try translating that into gw2 mechanics without just mesmering up thief