User:Warzog/8th Profession

• I made this prediction shortly after the Warrior profession was revealed:

Well, as I see it, ALL of the original six professions, which were in all three GW1 campaigns, will return in GW2, except that the Monk will become a "Paladin"-like profession, (the second soldier class.) (The concept art of the armored female with a shield and mace is washed in GW1's Monk blue.) The Assassin's Concept art is pure black and white, which makes me believe it's had a severe overhall from GW1, possibly to make it more like the D&D rogue.--Warzog Watch your six! 20:32, 21 June 2010 (UTC)

The original post may be found in the Necromancer Reveal image discussion.

• The one thing that has always bothered me was the Norn Female in the Professions Reveal image.

Now that we're down to her profession being the last to be revealed, it bothers me even more.

• Why?

1. Except for the pose, and the race in the Thief's case, every GDC 2010 Profession Concept art exactly matches the Profession Reveal image of every profession, except for the Norn Female.
2. The only GDC 2010 Profession Concept Art image left, the Purple Fan image, which is clearly a Mesmer, does not resemble the Norn Female in any way.

• And what about the "at least 2 professions with access to pets" statement?

1. Despite what some consider a Pet, the only profession with a traditional pet in GW2 is the Ranger.
2. If the statement refers to traditional pets, then the last profession must have access to them.

• The 8th profession is a returning, from GW1, profession, and will be a Scholar Class in GW2, that is, a magic-user who wears light armor.

(Only the Dervish, Mesmer, Paragon, and Ritualist are not in GW2, yet.)

1. The Paragon's armor in GW1 would be considered heavy armor in GW2, making it a Soldier Class in GW2, thereby eliminating it as the 8th profession.
2. The Dervish's armor in GW1 would be considered medium armor in GW2, making it an Adventurer Class in GW2, thereby eliminating it as the 8th profession.
3. This leaves the Mesmer and Ritualist, both of whom wear light armor in GW1, and would be considered Scholars in GW2.

• The common belief is that the 8th profession will be the Mesmer.

1. It follows my original profession predictions. (See above.)
2. The last GDC 2010 Profession Concept Art, the Purple Fan is clearly a Mesmer.
3. There are several references to Mesmer's in the books.
4. There are several clues inferring Mesmer's in various interviews.

• Someone has enhanced the Norn Female as the Gimped screen.

Several interesting things appear, especially if one enlarges the image:

1. There appears to be a creature in back of the woman, with it's jaws open, head sticking out to the right, and it's rump sticking out to the left, behind her right hip.
   1. It's far to large, and extends to far to the right to be the woman's arm and hand.
   2. If one looks closely, her hand can be seen holding the staff, with her arm behind and to it's left.
2. To the lower left, the woman's skirt, or robe, is deformed, and heavily outlined, suggesting a sword.
   1. The overall shape is not consistant with a sword.
   2. The tip appears to be more of a decorative item than part of a weapon.
      1. The tip is reminiscent of Dervish skirt decorations.
3. The woman's top is short-sleeved, and a large feather is hanging over her left leg.
   1. Only the Ritualist's Asuran armor, in GW1, has a feathered skirt.
4. The woman's outfit has specks throughout it, giving a worn commoner look to it.
   1. The GW1 Mesmer outfits all have a finely taylored look to them.
5. A tatoo can be seen between her right elbow and the short-sleeve above it.
   1. Ritualist's are the only profession in GW1 to have tatoos.
   2. The Norn have tatoos.
6. The woman is looking down, to her right.
   1. The Norn are a proud race, and bow their head's to no one.
   2. Mesmers are arrogant, aristocrafts, who run around with their noses in the air.

• Conclusion:

1. The dissimilarities between the Norn Female and the Purple Fan makes me doubt that the 8th profession is a traditional Mesmer.
2. IMHO, the 2nd profession with a traditional pet has been found/confirmed.
   1. Why the Mesmer or Ritualist would have a pet confounds me.
      1. A Mesmer's skills tend to play mind games on their opponents.
      2. A Ritualist's skills revolve around the spirit world.

• Another thought:

1. The Elementalist, Warrior, Ranger, and Necromancer, confirmed in that order, are GW2 conversions of their GW1 counterparts, and were all released very early.
2. The Guardian, which is basically (IMHO) a heavily modified 55-Monk build was released next.
3. This was followed by the heavily modified Assassin, converted into the Thief.
4. The brand new Engineer profession was released next.

• If one notices, straight conversions from GW1 to GW2 were released first, followed by two heavily modified conversions, followed by a brand new profession.
• The 8th profession has been confirmed to be a returning, from GW1 profession.

1. If it were a straight GW1 to GW2 conversion, Why wasn't it the 5th profession released? Before the modified professions, or even the new profession?
2. Whatever the 8th profession is, it's definately not a straight GW1 to GW2 conversion.
3. Whatever the 8th profession is, it's something stranger than the Engineer.

• 8th Profession?

1. On September 12th, 2011 some Asuran lore was released. In it, it mentions that the Asuran is an Artificer.
   1. Only notable for two reasons:
      1. Logan Thackeray was mentioned as being a Guardian of Divinity's Reach shortly before the Guardian profession was announced.
      2. Dungeons & Dragons Online, a.k.a. DDO, released the Artificer as a new class, on the same day.
2. DDO's Artificer:
   1. Has a pet-fits the announced "two professions with a pet." (Although, it is a constructed pet in DDO.)
   2. Is a spell casting class-fits the Scholar class that the 8th profession is supposed to be.
   3. The Artificer focus' on Buffing, Healing, and Protecting allies.
      1. Their attack powers generally use implements (staves, wands, etc.) or ranged weapons.
3. Possible GW2 Artificer:
   1. The Mesmer: "skills provide excellent support, turning enemies’ powers against them and changing the very fabric of reality to hinder foes and help allies."
      1. These could refer to the Buffing and Protecting allies portion of DDO's Artificer.
   2. The Ritualist: "grant great power and protection to Ritualists and their comrades"
      1. These clearly are Buffing and Protecting allies, like DDO's Artificer.
      2. It must be noted that the GW1 Ritualist also has the Restoration Attribute which heals allies as well as providing protection to them.
4. Mesmer or Ritualist=Artificer?
   1. As only Tyrian professions will be in GW2's initial release:
      1. The Mesmer, named as such, is a Tyrian profession, and should be included as the Mesmer, and in all probability would not be renamed.
      2. The Ritualist, named as such, is a Canthan profession, and should not be included as the Ritualist.
         1. The Assassin, named as such, is a Canthan profession, and is not being included as the Assassin, but has been renamed/reworked as the Thief.
         2. As the Artificer would be a new name for a Tyrian profession, it is likely that the Canthan Ritualist has been renamed/reworked to allow it to be placed in GW2's Tyrian release.