Is it just me, or with the way they are turning trait lines into specializations and removing/merging some of the old traits, they will hurt the build diversity even more?
Well it sounds like there will be 5 main class trait lines, instead of six, you can call that a deduction of skill variety. Also, with the examples they gave, it sounds like some traits have had their usefulness turned into a skill.
Necromancer has a trait that makes wells ground-targetedable. It's a trait that has something to do with mobility of circumstance, so taking that trait functionality into the well-skills themselves, is not so much a lack a reduction of build diversity, as a general life improvement.
WoW and SWTOR have also culled many of their useless talents, and it always echoes in people feeling there is a reduction in build diversity. But build diversity has nothing to do with choice. You need good choices.
You're going to have to take their word for it when they say that they are removing "useless traits" that "held the old trait system back".
It doesn't sound like any real traits that matters are removed. What you get is more traits. You can now max out 3 trait trees (with full grandmaster) instead of maxing 2 trees with a bit in a third.
In this sense you have more build diversity. It means practically that you can do many things you couldn't before.
But you could look at it in another way and say that, the removal of one tree, and the ability to max out 3 out of 5 trees, will create fewer builds for each profession. Simply because you're going to be able to dive deep into 3/5 of the trees. You see what I mean?
So I think it really comes down to this:
If ArenaNet can make the new traits placement such that some people will not want to max all 3 trees, but maybe do 2/0/2/2/2 or 3/3/1/1/1
And then there is the matter of the elite specialization. It will add a new trait line, so we're back to six trait lines. But you can still only max out 3 trees. to get any benefit of the elite specialization you have to go down that. I don't think you can be a Ranger, take elite Druid Specialization, and then run around with a staff and spend no points in this Druid Elite Specialization trait line.
But with Elite specializations it means you can max 3 trait lines out of 6. Basically, every character can get 50% of all given traits on any character.
Other notes:
1) It sounds like Revernant is not getting any new weapon for their elite specialization. It must be another channeled Hero from the past since It says they get a heal, utility 7,8,9 and elite skill.
In the case of Rev its probably okay. They have access to a lot of weapons already!
2) But it says that some professions only will get an off-hand weapon? That sounds underwhelming. The idea that warrior might get a focus or an off-hand dagger. Smeh! If a Guardian can equip a longbow, that's 5 skills! That's a lot more than the boring 2 skilled off hand weapons. Particularly those that dont have direct damage attacks.
3) They said in the past that it is only for the moment possible to use one elite specialization. Does that mean that expansion 2 and 3, would allow you to wield 2 or 3 elite specializations on top of your base professions? So I could be a Ranger - Druid - Second elite specialization at once?
4) Are they still on target with the idea that specializations "fundamentally changes the way your profession" plays with elite specialization? I understood it as that druids would mechanically differ with a new resource system perhaps?
