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

[draxynnic.3719]

> @"derd.6413" said:

> > @"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

 

Honestly?

 

That's actually a valid result. One of the intended purposes of elite specialisations is to serve as a GW2 substitute for the GW1 secondary profession system. Dragonhunter is essentially just rangering up guardian, for instance.

[CETheLucid.3964]

As an ele player you guys can be more magical. In exchange, let us use your rifles. Elemental rifle mage go go go!

[derd.6413]

> @"draxynnic.3719" said:

> > @"derd.6413" said:

> > > @"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

>

> Honestly?

>

> That's actually a valid result. One of the intended purposes of elite specialisations is to serve as a GW2 substitute for the GW1 secondary profession system. Dragonhunter is essentially just rangering up guardian, for instance.

 

except there's more to translating mechanics from one class to another then just dumping said mechanics from one class to another with a slightly new paint job but that's something very few fan spec makers seem to understand. i'm sure somebody can make it work but i've yet to see it happen

[draxynnic.3719]

> @"derd.6413" said:

> > @"draxynnic.3719" said:

> > > @"derd.6413" said:

> > > > @"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

> >

> > Honestly?

> >

> > That's actually a valid result. One of the intended purposes of elite specialisations is to serve as a GW2 substitute for the GW1 secondary profession system. Dragonhunter is essentially just rangering up guardian, for instance.

>

> except there's more to translating mechanics from one class to another then just dumping said mechanics from one class to another with a slightly new paint job but that's something very few fan spec makers seem to understand. i'm sure somebody can make it work but i've yet to see it happen

 

Eh. I don't think there's really much difference between ranger traps and dragonhunter traps beyond a new paint job, dragonhunter traps being more power-based, and some extra exotic touches (such as a trap forming a ring rather than a simple circle). If the next thief spec was to be, say, "let's add illusions to thief", I would expect them to be well, _illusions_.

 

Some tweaking would probably be necessary, naturally. In such a hypothetical scenario, I wouldn't expect these "thief illusions"to be as persistent as clones, nor would there be a shatter mechanic. Instead, I'd imagine them being something of a cross between clones and current phantasms - they appear, perform whatever action they're summoned to do, and then they pop back out of existence (with no generation of a follow-up illusion like phantasms do presently). However, while phantasms are clearly something distinct from the caster, the "thief illusions" would have the appearance of the thief so they still have the potential to generate some momentary confusion, especially if combined with stealth.

 

That's just one idea, and not one I'm particularly attached to, but "thief illusions" does seem to be a popular idea.

 

I'd also note that to refer back to your earlier comment about mesmer (or necro) knockoffs - this actually goes back somewhat to the original assassin. A lot of assassin skills in GW1 had similar themes and mechanics to mesmer and necromancer skills.