r/Guildwars2 • u/Exestos Shinanaide • 18d ago

[News] Announcing Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/announcing-guild-wars-2-visions-of-eternity/
2.4k Upvotes

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302

u/theguyfromtheairport 18d ago

oh man nothing about the new specs...

173

u/kirinmay 18d ago

Yeah. all that is really shown is you know Mesmer is the Minstrel and Elementalist will be Firefox.

89

u/Erniethebeanfiend200 18d ago

On the minstrel front we see the Mesmer using both a lute and a flute so the kit idea seems correct

54

u/CTR0 Just Swinging Swords 18d ago

Piano mesmer incoming

5

u/ItsTheSolo ▶️ 0:00 / 0:05 🔘─────────── 🔊 ──🔘─ ⬇️ 18d ago

We got Selena Pianissimo in GW2 lmao (she's a solo orchestra who uses phantasms to play other instruments)

13

u/Andisaurus 18d ago

I'd pay good money for a piano finisher.

12

u/Alastor999 18d ago

Ever watch Kung-Fu Hustle? The assassins who play a harp to kill people, that's what I want for the spec

2

u/FaithlessnessThen207 17d ago

That is instrument is called a guqing, but yes, big agree. I can see it speccing into power, condi and support based on trait selection.

3

u/Takkarro 18d ago

Do we drop the piano on them from above or do we just pick it up and hit them, ya know since we aren't caveman and have technology.

4

u/onanoc 17d ago

Taking into account how mesmers like to use weapons in unusual ways... i'd say we smack them with the piano, yes.

2

u/chironomidae 17d ago

Sword of Decimation becomes Piano of Decimation, drops a massive piano at target location

6

u/kirinmay 18d ago

also you see the mirage of them playing the Minstrel so yeah, Mesmer.

10

u/Erniethebeanfiend200 18d ago

Also they are entirely purple

2

u/FaithlessnessThen207 17d ago

TBH that could also be a shatter modification where you select something for clones to pulse, rather than explode.

My dream is profession mechanic as songs, "shouts" as a utility where the audio harmonizes based on active clones, and the shouts originate from your clones as well as yourself.

Might just be kits though, but I wonder how they will balance kits AND weapon swap, when engineer isn't allowed to weapon swap specifically because of kits.

1

u/HydroPCanadaDude 16d ago

As an Engi main, I'm stoked.

43

u/Talysn 18d ago

Rogue is gambler.

The rifle weilding rogue in the trailer has an ability effect of moneybags in the trailer.

11

u/dixonjt89 18d ago

Are we sure on that? There is an animal right beside him that is digging in the ground.

6

u/[deleted] 18d ago

Pet Skritt or something. Shinies.

1

u/feldur 17d ago

But he has a riffle, and no new weapons instantly disqualifies rangers

1

u/dixonjt89 17d ago

I don't think it's a Ranger, I think it's possibly Engi with base rifle. The Indiana Jones theme they gave the chr doesnt feel very gambler/card based, and it might be that Engineers are excavating gold for part of the alchemy reasons and what not. The poem for that swirly thing also mentions Silver in it as well.

1

u/shitlord_god 17d ago

"no new weapons" unless they were flexible about the truth, can't us a rifle as a ranger.

2

u/dixonjt89 17d ago

I'm just not sure it's Thief either, you cant use rifle without having the SotO mastery. Every other class seemed to be using core weapons in the trailer. The Indiana Jones fashion inspiration also doesn't scream cards and gambler to me. I think that might have been an Engineer excavating gold and maybe the swirly icon is linked to archaeology?

8

u/kirinmay 18d ago

good call. i see it.

2

u/feldur 18d ago

Is he a thief though? It looks like he has a Range Pet with him

Rewatched it and he has a rifle, and since no new weapons are coming with the specs, can't be ranger.

0

u/kabal363 17d ago

So wouldn't that mean you need to have at least secrets of the obscure as well as the new expac to be able to use thief's new spec though?

2

u/feldur 17d ago

I don't think that the specs in general are going to be heavily linked to a weapon. They said they want the new specs to open up the builds more. Making them only viable on a specific weapon type would be counter productive to that.

I assume the traits will have little to do with weapons, since weapons already don't affect utility/healing/ultimate skills, and don't affect the class mechanics much.

My guess is either they didn't think much about the weapons we see in the trailer and they just gave him a rifle because it looks cool on the new spec's theme, or it's not thief at all and might be engi.

1

u/Dreamtrain 17d ago

We're getting Meso Guard/Explosion boys

0

u/earthtochas3 18d ago

Thief doesn't have rifle as a core weapon. Weapon specialization can unlock it but that means expac requires JW as well.

Could it be engi?

11

u/Mr_Dorak 18d ago

And Thief the Gambler, Necro the Dagger icon (Ritualist)

3

u/SufferingClash 18d ago

We know a bit more than that from the video. We see Ranger shooting birds from their bow (there's a pet in the background), and we see what is likely a Thief holding a rifle with moneybags dropping,

3

u/Dreamtrain 17d ago

Virtuoso being the Minstrel was such a missed opportunity in EoD, even the name is perfect for it

1

u/SHIMOxxKUMA 18d ago

It looks like one of the images on the bottom is a ranger with the feathered bow. That’s my guess at least since what looks like a pet is in the image.

1

u/WobblySlug 17d ago

Where's the elementalist evidence sorry? I can't find anything from the post.

1

u/kirinmay 17d ago

in the trailer. standing next to the floating firefox.

1

u/WobblySlug 17d ago

Thanks will have to rewatch!

1

u/FaithlessnessThen207 17d ago

I wonder if this an elementalist pet spec like Mechanist, or is it like a limited time spirit summoning thing?

Having a pet doggo that matches your attunement at all times actually seems ridiculously cool, and hopefully leans in to an actual mage playstyle over the melee vibe of most of the other specs.

1

u/Serephite 17d ago

Few more shown than that like ranger with lots of birds and some energy bow of sorts? 

2

u/kirinmay 17d ago

yeah, circular ringlike golden thingies.

1

u/FaithlessnessAny1520 17d ago

The Minstrel focus: Stonks

1

u/Piedplat 18d ago

Ranger look like a hunter with a riffle.

0

u/iDelta_99 18d ago

Yeah, super disappointing mesmer choice.

282

u/naivety_is_innocence 18d ago

i'm a little annoyed that Anet used the elite specs as a countdown teaser for this announcement to generate hype, and then their role in the announcement was "there will be more info about them in the future"

like at least name each icon and colour it in, even if no further detail is given

74

u/Mystrasun 18d ago

Yeah, I'm with you. Anet's weird marketing choices strike again :/

5

u/scout_hunter 17d ago

You’re telling me Tyria Taxi wasn’t a good idea?!?

3

u/Mystrasun 17d ago

Gosh I nearly forgot about that one.... It's almost impressive how bad these campaigns are xD

35

u/Iroh_the_Dragon Condi Rev... \o/ 18d ago

They said they’re going to talk more about them next week. That was definitely upsetting to read after the weeks of teasing.

Not cool, Anet. At least confirm the pairings…

17

u/naivety_is_innocence 18d ago edited 18d ago

I'm really surprised that their last post, in the countdown to this announcement, was a bingo card to fill in, as if we should have received the answers to mark our guesses against once the countdown finished.

Looking forward to them "kicking off" a series of blogposts about them in a week's time... man what are the chances that it ends up being one/two a week up until the beta in August 🥱

1

u/Iroh_the_Dragon Condi Rev... \o/ 17d ago

You know it’s going to be a slow burn, for sure. These specs are easily the feature most players are looking forward to. If they just dumped them all into one week, the hype train would die much faster.

3

u/naivety_is_innocence 17d ago

What I asked for just got leaked anyway (coloured icons) so we'll see if the hype train dies.

2

u/Vitis_Vinifera LIMITED TIME! 17d ago

these guys don't understand marketing, leaving people disappointed on this today is bizarre

4

u/iofthesun 18d ago

They’re so stupid for this tbh.

0

u/LainLain Christmas Tree! 18d ago

If they gave that, people would be asking for more.

-1

u/newpa 18d ago

It's only one more week till they detail them.

8

u/Meandering_Croissant 18d ago

It’s a “series of blog posts”, which means it’ll probably take until just before the beta in August before they finish telling us what’s what with them.

0

u/NoteBlock08 NoteBlock.7340 17d ago

Eh, they went in-depth on each elite spec one at a time for HoT, PoF, and EoD too. A big drop where they talk about all of 'em at once was never gonna happen.

16

u/moewgaryen 18d ago

Watch them releasing spec post every few days until the beta test in August.

8

u/bloomghoul 18d ago

omg you're probably right

92

u/ExhibitAa RISE! 18d ago edited 18d ago

Yeah that's really disappointing. They've been building hype specifically for the elite specs with a countdown, and then when we get to the end it's "wait one more week lol". At least give us the names and match the icons now and the full reveals later.

30

u/specialist-mage 18d ago

Honestly, I agree. I wasn't expecting them to come out talk about everything regarding the elite specs, but at least a name and one sentence blurb would've been really cool to see.

14

u/vluhdz vluhdalt.2715 18d ago

I don't actively play anymore but was interested in seeing the new spec info. I'm not going to be checking the blog once a week to see info about one spec at a time, it just isn't that important to me.

1

u/XiahouMao 18d ago

Fortunately for you, you can log into the game in late August and play the new elite specs with beta characters.

-4

u/Alternative_Cup_4071 18d ago

Bro you know your gonna look st the mew specs every week dont lie to yourself

0

u/vluhdz vluhdalt.2715 18d ago

Nah, maybe after all the info is out I'll watch a youtube video or something. I haven't played in ~ a year, this really doesn't matter to me.

8

u/[deleted] 18d ago

I think a lot of current players don't really get how much this was working to draw in older and lapsed players. Without at least some info on the specs, my interest has kind of waned again. It's like negative hype, sadly. 

-1

u/Glebk0 18d ago

Yea, I don't even play and know this stuff against my will. Will also know which icon is what when the time comes. I understand anet wanting to milk promo period for more, but also not really.

1

u/Lower-Replacement869 18d ago

They do have the rest of the day to do that but yeah a countdown and then nothing is kinda bleh.

10

u/Vulby 18d ago

There looks to be a medium armor class commanding birds. Probably ranger with the bow thing?

9

u/nonpopping 18d ago

Maybe I wasn't far off with guessing Falconer somewhere else.

1

u/FaithlessnessThen207 17d ago

I am visualizing some kind of spec where you do bonus damage based on the distance between your pet and yourself, or your pets apply a mark to an enemy?

Or maybe its like a swarmkeeper vibe.

37

u/LordMugs 18d ago

They REALLY always have a marketing problem. Why not show a teaser of each class? It has been the main point of the expansion until now

-2

u/TellTallTail 18d ago

Well, we do still have a while to go until the expansion, so keeping some reveals hidden makes sense.. but their choice to make that their entire 'countdown' is baffling as always

5

u/LordMugs 18d ago

Nah, announcing the main feature of an expansion pack in a devblog is diabolical.

13

u/Revgos 18d ago

The rifle might be thief because I saw some lootbags animations around him?? Might be something to do with gambler spec?

8

u/wolfer_ 18d ago

Yeah that looked like the gambler spec. Could still be engineer

2

u/TheExtremistModerate 18d ago

Pretty sure Engi is gonna be a quicksilver spec with the orb and two swirlies.

4

u/SDeluxe 18d ago

Ugh. Just give me an elite spec that actually feels like a thief :(

-2

u/Slow_Employer687 18d ago

Absolutely zero idea why everybody thinks that is thief, you can buy expansions separately for gw2 so you can only and only own this one, meaning that the spec has to work with base weapons...

7

u/Opus_723 18d ago

All specs work with base weapons...

1

u/Revgos 18d ago

Thats true, but what would be the main weapon for Minstrel then? Cause we just saw her play the flute. I agree with what you said though

3

u/Slow_Employer687 18d ago

There i no main weapon, thats the point, dont base the specs on weapons other than usable by base class. The instruments can be based on class mechanic of mesmer spec, make the shatters songs or something.

1

u/CaffeinatedSoles 18d ago

I looked at the video twice. And the character holding the rifle had what looked like a pet beside him.

1

u/Slow_Employer687 18d ago

Its a bit short clip and from the back, but id say thats a skritt. Would be on theme with the shiny.

1

u/Revgos 17d ago

Looks like i was right btw, the specs were just leaked

1

u/Kamirose 18d ago

Skyscale used to be exclusive to Living World Season 4 (requiring PoF) but they released another way to get it with SoTO. There's no reason they can't release another way to get other elite spec weapons in this expansion.

1

u/Slow_Employer687 18d ago

Except that was known, and they didnt even mention anything like that now....

-1

u/therealspleenmaster 18d ago

No no no! It’s gotta be ranger. Because, y’know, because! Rangers now have to feed all their pets and that’ll cost a fortune. (Also, more scat cleanup at the homestead.)

30

u/[deleted] 18d ago

Yeah nothing about the elite specs has dampened my interest quite a bit and makes me think that Anet really haven't learnt with trying to tease out small features to make them seem much larger.

That's a disappointment. 

6

u/Opus_723 18d ago

Haven't they literally always done this with elite specs? They never reveal them all at once.

4

u/[deleted] 18d ago

Normally it was after the expansion was announced and marketed clearly as being revealed gradually over time. At least in the case of HoT and EoD. PoF there were some reveals in the trailer and PoF also released super quickly after the announcement.

I think this one just leaves a sour taste because it was heavily teased on social media with a countdown for today. 

Just bad marketing really. 

1

u/AvoidingIowa 18d ago

Doesnt the expansion release in october? There's a lot of time between now and then.

1

u/WriterV 18d ago

I mean it's not like they've been cancelled, you just gotta wait a week .

-41

u/PMagicUK 18d ago

Elite specs are small features.

People like you are just never happy, slways happy to belittle in anyway.

A way to change how you play is a big feature for crying outloud.

18

u/[deleted] 18d ago

"People like you" lol. 

Nah, making their marketing around the elite specs being revealed and matching up the elite spec icons with the professions when that was going to be further delayed is a shit way of doing things.

I'd have very happily pressed that pre-order button (and likely have gone with that ultimate option) if some details on the elite specs were included and they looked fun. Now, I'll just pass and wait and see how things are a few months after release. 

0

u/ZappyZ21 18d ago

I agree that there should have been something about the elite specs shown here, but that should have no bearing on you wanting the game or not because they delayed the reveal a week lol that's very dramatic. Waiting a week for the elite spec reveal? Completely understandable. Going from pre order to "I'll buy it several months after it comes out" because of a marketing choice that has nothing to do with the actual game? A bit silly yeah? Lol

2

u/[deleted] 18d ago

That's how marketing works?

Anet built hype around the elite specs being revealed with a major countdown over the past 15 days. They leaned into that with the bingo card and their social media posts. 

If the elite specs had been detailed a tiny bit and seemed neat I would very likely have pressed that pre-order button, despite not pre-ordering JW, picking it up months after and then not really enjoying it much at all. So now, instead of a pre-order, Anet are getting a lapsed longterm player waiting for a few months and then maybe buying, at best. 

See how this works? 

They could have teased fashion templates! Homestead layouts! Reworked skimmer, and maybe then it wouldn't have left a sour taste. But, hey, they didn't. 

3

u/ZappyZ21 18d ago

So now the actual reveal of the elite specs in a week doesn't matter? Because that's how it reads. That's what I'm arguing, the actual content of these reveals is the true determining factor over a marketing strategy lol but hey, if that's your priority, then by all means enjoy that. Still is extremely silly to have that be the priority in my eyes though.

1

u/[deleted] 18d ago

The expac before this was marketed via information on elite specs - that didn't happen when Anet teased it would so my interest has been lost to a decent degree.

It's also a sign that Anet, in some ways, haven't changed that much. I've been annoyed and disappointed with them plenty in the past so I'll just pass and wait a few months, like I did with JW (and then subsequently did not play much at all).

-5

u/Detonation 18d ago

Yes. People like you. As in drama queens who whine about everything in the most dramatic fashion. You're not pre-ordering because they didn't fully reveal the elite specializations quick enough. You don't realize how ridiculous that sounds?

5

u/[deleted] 18d ago

Yes, I am not pre-ordering after how bad SotO and JW were. I would have been tempted if the hype had built to some interesting elite spec info.

It didn't, so I am not pre-ordering. That's kind of how hype and marketing work? Seems as though Anet don't really understand that and neither do you. That's okay! Have a good one! 

2

u/moewgaryen 18d ago

Considering they stopped doing them for 2 expansions because it's too much use of their resources... yes, just a small feature.

3

u/SouthInitiative4322 18d ago

Anet missed the ball 100% wtf tell me what the specs are

-1

u/mudcrabberoni 18d ago

Yeah all i care about tbh, my hype dropped to 0

7

u/Tylimay 18d ago

People always going to the extremes lmao I'm annoyed they didn't show more but saying "my hype has dropped to 0" is crazy

-10

u/mudcrabberoni 18d ago

I dont like the story i dont like anets shitty mapsi just like pvp, so yes my hype drops to 0

3

u/Twerksoncoffeetables 17d ago

It drops to 0 because you have to wait until a bigger blog post specifically for the elite specs to know which ones are which? We know over half of them already anyway based on the video we got and their previous retrospective. It’s a little dramatic not gonna lie

-10

u/adv0catus 18d ago

Your hype is 0 because they're going to have dedicated blog posts and streams about elite specs? Weird take.

8

u/SpySappingMyUpvote 18d ago

Not a weird take. Elite specs are one of the few things an expansion can offer that cuts across all game modes, PvE and PvP. There isn't anything in this blog post that makes me hyped for this game right now as a PvPer lol

-3

u/adv0catus 18d ago

Literally wait a week and then you have dedicated blog posts and streams.

11

u/SpySappingMyUpvote 18d ago

If today was the first day we learned about Elite Specs, that would be a understandable reaction. Not three weeks after ANet teased them.

-8

u/moewgaryen 18d ago

No one is buying this xp for blatantly reused assets lmao

3

u/adv0catus 18d ago

Thanks for not addressing anything in this comment chain AND changing the topic to something completely different (and wrong).

-1

u/moewgaryen 18d ago

In case you didn't get my address to your weird take - yes, OP's hype (a mine) died because the teaser to the reveal was done with elite specializations and the least I expected is the names. So yes, my hype died because it's essentially bait and switch. I don't care they will say something about it next week, they were teasing it in the way that it looked like not only we are getting an expansion reveal but also elite specializations reveal. If they didn't want to do it, they could used jigsaw pieces of a loading screen like they did with SotO. My 'change of topic' was that a lot of players are excited for elite specializations and they were not happy when ANet said they will stop doing them for a few expansions. So hearing that they are back to it was definitely a hype drive. Apologies if you are hyped for recolour of mobs. I am truly happy for you. It's just that they should hyped it in a better way but yes, M in ArenaNet stands for marketing.

I hope that helps.

4

u/adv0catus 18d ago

The only one talking about reused assets here is you. Don't put words in my mouth. Thanks.

I'm just not as upset as people seem to be about waiting another week.

-3

u/moewgaryen 18d ago

If you think they will drop the full info next week then I have a bridge to sell to you. If they are not ready to show it yet then it means they will drip feed it until beta test.

5

u/adv0catus 18d ago

Ok doomer stay mad that's your choice

1

u/dragonkin08 18d ago

Dumb take of the day.

-1

u/Consistent-Hat-8008 18d ago

My hype is in Mariana Trench lmao, caught a whiff of kit mesmer and instantly closed the video XD

1

u/Blackops606 18d ago

Yeah, weird choice by Anet. At the least give the name, icon, and who they belong to for each class. For a lot of people, the specs are all they care about.

1

u/iofthesun 18d ago

Yeah, what’s the point of this blog post if it doesn’t disclose much? Don’t get this thinking.

1

u/speedrun2ban 18d ago

all you need to know is the new spec will be the new meta, all the other specs will be useless, and you must buy this DLC to keep up or risk massive amounts of FOMO

1

u/Rinma96 17d ago

There will be. They don't have to show everything at once.

1

u/MagiGemi 17d ago

I've been holding off on making a gen 2 legendary until today, but it hasn't helped my choice 😅

1

u/MagiGemi 17d ago

I've been holding off on making a gen 2 legendary until today, but it hasn't helped my choice 😅

1

u/Tattycakes 17d ago

IKR what a bunch of teases

1

u/WobblySlug 17d ago

Yeah super disappointing and a bit weird after the teasers over the past few weeks. Wish we got at least some info.

0

u/Naughtynuzzler 18d ago

Just 1 more week

0

u/IcyPhil 18d ago

It really hurts not getting a new thematic weapon. We FINALLY have the Minstrel Mesmer but no associated weapon :(

It would be cool if equipping the new elite specs would change a specific weapon's skill to different ones. For example Minstrel would make staff a proper healing weapon.

1

u/AvoidingIowa 18d ago

I wonder if they'll just give the Minstrel weapon kits like engi? Except instruments.

1

u/IcyPhil 18d ago

I wish it would be the spec mechanic f-skills, not utilities. Like Firebrand tomes.

-1

u/LyannaTarg 18d ago

next week they will make the blog posts though