I really cannot see the statement about ascended gear being true. The difference between professions is much larger than the difference between exotic and ascended gear. In order to tune the encounters tightly enough to need ascended gear (such as an enrage timer), they would need massive balance changes to the professions to homogenize them in a way that is not currently done. There's no way you can have an enrage timer that can't be beaten in exotic gear, but can also be beaten with most group makeups in ascended gear. Some party combinations are simply way better than others.
It would have to require some kind of gimmick mechanic that requires ascended gear like agony. They specifically said it's not agony, but it could be some other mastery or whatever that only works on ascended gear.
Honestly, even though they've hired raid designer(s) and have high end guild(s) supposedly testing this content, I'm still not confident in anet's ability to balance pve content for non-casual players. I think it's a mistake to read too much into these kind of statements. pre-emptive edit: casual is the wrong word here, sorry.
It would have to require some kind of gimmick mechanic that requires ascended gear like agony. They specifically said it's not agony, but it could be some other mastery or whatever that only works on ascended gear.
Honestly, even though they've hired raid designer(s) and have high end guild(s) supposedly testing this content, I'm still not confident in anet's ability to balance pve content for non-casual players. I think it's a mistake to read too much into these kind of statements. pre-emptive edit: casual is the wrong word here, sorry.
This is where I'd put my money, too. Which means people will be beating it in whatever gear, with whatever classes.I don't think it'll be needed, just rather it's tuned for ascended. It'll just be a teensy bit more difficult.