Drael.2015

My biggest gripe with the class still hasn't changed and that is the Willbender flames requiring the target to stand still. They are only useful in PvE and you hit like a wet noodle on single moving targets. If the flames stuck to the player it would encourage that high intensity gameplay better. These changes are a step in the right direction. It's slowly getting there.

With some number tuning, animation tweaking and quite frankly, redesigns to some of the virtues and traits and the Willbender could be such a fantastic class. I love the idea of Willbender but cannot applaud the execution.

I must have read it incorrectly it looks you are right. I still have no idea why WB deserves all of the tradeoffs when this trait sounds great. Higher damage when you are performing well and a boost to healing after you take damage. No double edged sword there. Not as bad as I originally thought but still not great at all when you compare the traits side by side.

Vindicator getting +240 power and healing power while over 50% HP on a trait is a massive punch to the gut when willbender can only get one of those on a single trait and has to pay a hefty trade off to have the honour of doing so. What is the reasoning behind these traits trade offs when no other class seems to have them?

Willbender Traits: Power for Power: Gain +240 power at the expense of -240 toughness. Conceited Curate: Gain +240 healing power while reducing outgoing healing to allies by -33%. Meanwhile on vindicator.... Empire Divided: gain +240 power and +240 healing power while over 50% health. Are you SERIOUS Anet? 😭

Bladesworn and vindicator aren't so bad. Some tuning is needed sure, but I see much more positivity here than I do for WB. WB performs best when you swap out almost everything the spec brings to the table like utilities and the OH sword.

I saw someone comment here that instead of virtues being a movement skill, that they could instead augment the utilities when active. Mix that with WB flames sticking to the player and the class would suddenly be much more interesting and rewarding.

This would hopefully get around a major issue with the class. Really want this! I still think the 5 strike price for the virtues is too high given there are no passives.

I think Justice also needs to shift to something power focused rather than burn focused. Having burning damage on the WB with no passive is just a waste.

Better virtues and utilities. Also better weapon skills. WB is a pretty hard sell here. As for the traits, I understand tradeoffs but the benefits for these traits does not really do anything above what the other classes get and those classes don't have the trade offs. I just think Anet was afraid of making another broken guard spec.

Yeah I feel the first specs just don't look as focused. Willbender is the biggest offender here imo. Willbender flames are super tricky to get procs on with PvP/WvW moving targets since they are static. Much of the willbenders power comes from landing consistent attacks so little CC and skills like willbender flames which cannot keep up with moving targets do little to help keep the pressure constant enough to make willbender anything above all glass no cannon. Willbender will struggle to keep 15% damage increase from tempo but catalyst gets 9% all stat passive buff? Wb performs okay on a golem when you remove the OH sword and get rid of utilities, but the minute you actually try to get into PvP, WvW or try to use more of the class' tools it kind of falls on its face in practice. Definitely just a slightly different way to play core guard with no real individual flavour. Really impressed with the last 3 that were announced, they at least all look interesting esp the rev and war. Please have a strong think about what you really want WB to do Anet, because it lacks consistency all over the place.

Willbender flames being a core mechanic for this class is extremely limited in functionality on moving targets. It's not really playing into the whole PvP spec vibe. Would love it if willbender flames played into the mobility of the spec and the game modes it should be good at. Just too hard to hit players with and drum up hit streaks/tempo. Also the fact that WB has to work perfectly for a 15% damage boost on tempo while catalyst gets a combat 9% all stat buff passive is just a little bit annoying to see.

They are just the regular core guard virtues with extra hit procs and no passives. Massive downgrade in my opinion.

Exactly this. What part of willbender makes you go "awesome!, I can't wait to try that?"? I hope not just for buffs but that the whole class is just fluid and flowing. That would make it worth taking

Actually you are right my memory was hazy. Sad it got stomped into the dirt the way it did. Still disappointed that Anet relegated the usefulness of this class to never get seen anywhere. I'm worried the Devs won't mind that WB is just underwhelming in all regards. They seem to not have cared with spellbreaker.