Change the Dragon Hunter Name to something else

[VocalThought.9835]

Dragon Hunters has been the most controversial elite specialization in this game. Not because of play style or abilities, but simply because of it's name. A-Net has made changes to several things due to public support, but despite all the past back lash, this name has stayed. People may have thought that it's just needs to grow on us, other may have thought the name is not significant. To this day, it's still not fitting. Nothing about that elite screams Hunting Dragons. I can understand that they may want to avoid any religious theme names since Guardians appear to be the closest thing to a spiritual or holy warrior. I think at this day and time, no one other than A-Net, would fight to keep that name. Before you guys say it. I did a search and looked for past post about this and could not find it.

[Smoosh.2718]

Why don't you like DH's in the game?

[Batel.9206]

I wasn't around when HoT came out - why was there controversy and/or backlash over the name? I don't get it. It sounds fine to me, and fitting for the thematic elements of the class (we have a bow and arrows, and traps, which are the tools of a hunter; the story sent us to fight the Elder Dragons; ergo, we are dragon hunters).

[kharmin.7683]

@VocalThought.9835 said:Dragon Hunters has been the most controversial elite specialization in this game.Flawed premise.

[Randulf.7614]

@Batel.9206 said:I wasn't around when HoT came out - why was there controversy and/or backlash over the name? I don't get it. It sounds fine to me, and fitting for the thematic elements of the class (we have a bow and arrows, and traps, which are the tools of a hunter; the story sent us to fight the Elder Dragons; ergo, we are dragon hunters).

People thought it was too generic and I kinda got that - there were prob better choices. Back then, elites were revealed in stages giving each a bit of hype and allowing for guesswork on name and specialisations. Dragon Hunter came across as a bit strange at the time

To be honest the issue has been largely forgotten about since just after release and it isn't like DH was the only one players didn't like the name of either. I think almost everyone has accepted it now. It's certainly not going to be changed now 4-5 years later

[Warming Hearth.3819]

Dragonhunter is just fine, no need to change it

[VocalThought.9835]

@Smoosh.2718 said:Why don't you like DH's in the game?

I don't like the name because it's sounds off putting from the profession's theme, it sounds like no real thought was put behind it, and I believe there are so many more suitable names.

@Batel.9206 said:I wasn't around when HoT came out - why was there controversy and/or backlash over the name? I don't get it. It sounds fine to me, and fitting for the thematic elements of the class (we have a bow and arrows, and traps, which are the tools of a hunter; the story sent us to fight the Elder Dragons; ergo, we are dragon hunters).

Well, technically, every one who plays the game is a Dragon Hunter. The controversy came from when the name dropped, many people were so disappointed. It seem the most lack luster from every other elite's name. People didn't complain about any other profession's name, but the Dragon Hunter. If there were records or past post saved you'll see the backlash.

[Loesh.4697]

It's funny that you mention that they want to avoid religious themes for guardian, when the religious themes are part of why I like it so much as a class. Guardians can come from different walks of life, but the emphasis on holiness, purity, consecration, and judgement is everpresent along with people who refer to things like being a firebrand as a sacred duty, firebrand itself being a name that could refer to a religious zealot.

In fact 'Dragon Hunter' was named expressly to evoke Witch Hunters according to Arena Net, with Dragons being Tyria's version of black magic for all intents and purposes as our ultimate evil and corruptive force.

[Just a flesh wound.3589]

I did a search and looked for past post about this and could not find it.

You probably can’t find any posts because it was a tempest in a teacup at the time and then forgotten. People didn’t much care for the name because it was considered bland and generic but it’s not something that the average player thinks about any more.

[Smoosh.2718]

@VocalThought.9835 said:I don't like the name because it's sounds off putting from the profession's theme, it sounds like no real thought was put behind it, and I believe there are so many more suitable names.

Idk it was still fitting to its theme for the maps it was made for.You can't call it a Seraph as the humans already have an army literally called the Seraph. You cant make it a legionnaire since then it would be a charr only spec.

If it was seriously going to be renamed then at least use something like ' Trappista '

Why Trappista? cause it has the words trap in it and its cheese.

Names set, its here to stay.

[GW Noob.6038]

Daredevil...now that is a really bad name, to the point of being laughably stupid, especially for that class. Dragonhunter is a much more appropriate title for that class...they use a longbow and a spear, which are the two most appropriate weapons for hunting dragons. But Anet ruined the Dragonhunter class by making the most inappropriate weapons for dragon hunting - the sword and greatsword - the best-in-slot weapons to use.

[Donari.5237]

Here is the merged thread in the old forums about the name. I think there are a couple of other stray threads from back then that didn't get merged, but this should have the bulk of the complaints. Warning, it's over 40 pages of posts.https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/hot/DragonHunter-name-feedback-merged

[Teratus.2859]

I've always seen Dragon Hunter as more racially attuned to the Norn.

Braham basically has a whole story arc based around becoming one.. adopting the bow weapon and his mothers bow becoming a vital story point in LW3 and still is relevant even in the current story all these years later.

Considering Norn are a hunter society it just makes sense that a Dragon Hunter spec would be something more associated to them.

[Omega.6801]

@"VocalThought.9835" said:Dragon Hunters has been the most controversial elite specialization in this game. Not because of play style or abilities, but simply because of it's name.but despite all the past back lash, this name has stayed.

...but then again...

I did a search and looked for past post about this and could not find it.

So how controversial is this topic really then? I found the name very cheesy at release but I think I got used to it. However I don't remember "back lash" or "controversy". And even if there was(just reading the linked article from the archives as I write) it's nothing game breaking and changing it now, many many years after the release of HoT, would feel odd and unnecessary. What's your angle here?

Things about DH that say "Look at me, I hunt big game."

• Traps, humanity has used traps as a means to overcome or hunt bigger and more dangerous game
• The bow is a good and traditional hunting weapon
• The F1 javelin thingy would be good to pin game down and pull it in if it's weakend enough, prevents them from slipping away

[Yggranya.5201]

@Loesh.4697 said:It's funny that you mention that they want to avoid religious themes for guardian, when the religious themes are part of why I like it so much as a class. Guardians can come from different walks of life, but the emphasis on holiness, purity, consecration, and judgement is everpresent along with people who refer to things like being a firebrand as a sacred duty, firebrand itself being a name that could refer to a religious zealot.

In fact 'Dragon Hunter' was named expressly to evoke Witch Hunters according to Arena Net, with Dragons being Tyria's version of black magic for all intents and purposes as our ultimate evil and corruptive force.

Always hated the idea of paladins and clerics and this is almost the same, minus the religion.Also, if that was the idea according to anet, then what happened? Aurene is worse than all the actual dragons combined.

[Inculpatus cedo.9234]

It seems popular opinion has changed.

[Fueki.4753]

The Dragon Hunter elite specialization is named after the Witch hunting done by fanatics in the past.It's just that they hunt dragon (minions) instead of red-haired women with black cats.

Rather than changing the name, Arenanet should fix the traps, so they work on dragons.

[Hashberry.4510]

It’s not a hunter that fights dragons, the hunter is the dragon, a great worm.

[Donutdude.9582]

You are making something out of nothing, OP. I like having a Dragon Hunter as a specialisation. Your reasoning is just...farfetched.

[Danikat.8537]

I don't think Legionnaire, Seraph or Paragon would work because those have all been used for other things. Legionnaire is a rank in the charr hierachy and the Seraph are part of the human military. Paragon is a GW1 profession and I think if they'd called it that and didn't give them spears and shouts to make it like the original it really would have been a controversial name.

For what we've got I think Dragon Hunter is fine.

[Jaher Dal.9503]

Never heard of this being an issue at all.

[Westenev.5289]

I think the reason why "Dragon Hunter" was so hotly debated was because DH traps don't actually work on Dragons (think tequatl, shatterer, santa claws of jormag), let alone their daddies the Elder Dragons.

Secondly, the name and theme seem to be tied to Brahm and Eir's bow, but he never seems to use a bow, or traps, or any skills beyond shield 5.

[Game of Bones.8975]

You can find fault with any of the names if you want to.

[Silvatar.5379]

I do not see an issue with the name. I even like it. My main is a DH. What really confuses me is, you suggest that the name is highly controversial yet you also admit that you could not find any other posts about this issue? It would seem logical that if it really is as controversial as you claim, then you would have found at least a few posts about it. And if you can not find any posts about this issue, on what basis are you claiming it is controversial? Sounds like you are just stating your personal opinion.

[Konig Des Todes.2086]

Dragon Hunters has been the most controversial elite specialization in this game.First I've heard of the dragon hunters being controversial, let alone most so. You even state that search comes up with nothing on the topic.

Sounds like a flawed argument.

Not because of play style or abilities, but simply because of it's name.I've never once heard people complain about the name since the first days of HoT, before the design of Dragon Hunters got talked about in interviews. What little complaints there were quickly died out, to the point that - as you said - search comes up nothing for it now, 5 years later.

Flawed argument #2.

To this day, it's still not fitting. Nothing about that elite screams Hunting Dragons.Sure it is. It's name is about guardians who decide to go on the offensive in the war against the Elder Dragons and their minions.

Flawed argument #3.

I can understand that they may want to avoid any religious theme names since Guardians appear to be the closest thing to a spiritual or holy warrior.Except... that the Dragon Hunter name comes from the idea of Witch Hunts which were religiously fueled.

So... Flawed argument. #4

Change the Dragon Hunter Name to something elseLegionnaires or LegionSeraph or SeraphimParagonYou realize every one of those suggestions have a completely different and unrelated meaning in Guild Wars, and most importantly are all taken, right?