Similarities in the Trait system - can we extrapolate the mechanic?

I've been working on the update of the Ele skills back in the Professions forum after the PAXest demo and started to think about similarities in the Trait system
e.g Attributes
We have Power, Precision, Toughness and Vitality as our attributes for every class. If I can interpret the wiki entries, every class should have a minor trait (+10 to attributes) and a major trait (+25) for all attributes.
But It looks like the superior variant (+75) is limited to two by most classes (Ele, Guardian and Necro)
e.g. Mastery
"Weapon" mastery seems to add a certain amount (10% in case of Ele) to the damage of that weapon.
It also looks like that there is a minor trait to each skill that is linked to a weapon, that does improve the effect in some way (e.g. last longer, add a condition, increase AoE)
The primary traits, e.g. the Fire Mastery line for Eles have an effect on all skills within that line (e.g. Pyromancer - burning lasts longer)
This way the effects of skills have much more set screws they can use to balance. In GW1, you had the attribute level and that did determine the effect of most of the skills (+ perhaps a customized weapon and upgrade). Now you have the attribute level, one of two traits and (if that is still in) different levels of skill knowledge (e.g. Fireball Lvl 5).
It might be a little to much screws to tinker with for effective balancing?
What did you find out or what ideas do you have concerning the mechanics?|||First of all, something for ANet: the superior/major/minor attribute traits is really clumsy naming as counterintuitively both major and minor are minor traits.while superior rather than major is a major trait. please rename at least major to something else.
Secondly, finally a speculative thread which doesn't suck. Thank you.
Thirdly, I'm not sure that every class will have two superior attribute buffs. Warrior for example, looks to have Superior Vitality and Superior Armor as traits instead. Two Superior traits does look to be correct - I just doubt it will always be two attributes they're upping by 75.
Fourthly, the Mastery looks to be part of all main hand weapons, but not necessarily off hand weapons (they're seperate with Warrior axes, but it's included in Thief's Dagger mastery). This would make mastery better for two handed weaponry (more reward for fewer trait slots).
Lastly, I highly doubt the game will be well balanced. There are enough interfering mechanics for it to be very difficult, and with the f2p model, by the time it is balanced they'll be releasing new content and screw everything up again. This cycle was already present in GW1 which was a game much more focused on PvP (and therefore interclass balance).|||Agreed, the naming of the traits is a bit clumsy.
TBH, I haven't had time to go through all traits yet, but is it safe to say that it looks like all professions seem to have two primary trade lines (e.g. Power & Tactics for Warriors; Eles being the exception with Arcanum + "the four Elements")

Quote:




During the PAX East 2011 demo characters at level 25 were able to equip one major and two minor traits into most general and weapon set trait lines. One handed weapons are grouped with an off-hand as a weapon set; the main-hand weapon has the major and a minor trait, the off-hand item the other minor trait. The only apparent exception to this rule was the elementalist staff weapon set trait line which allowed one major and four minor traits.




Does the exception of the Staff apply to all two handed weapons?|||Compared to GW1, there is no secondary professions, no energy management, no dedicated healers, no virtually limitless builds, so that should make it easier on balancing.|||Quote:








Does the exception of the Staff apply to all two handed weapons?




What's the source? Going by the formulation of the sentence, it only applies to the elementalist staff. Admittedly, I can't immediately see a good reason why it has two additional minor traits.
The explanation rewritten:
"Every weapon set has one major and two minor trait slots available; when using a main- and offhand-weapon, the main hand weapon holds one major and one minor slot while the offhand holds one minor slot.
The Elementalist staff is the exception. It allows for one major and four minor traits."
This doesn't make much sense. It'd make sense for all the Ele's weap sets to have have four minor trait slots (after all, they only have one weapon set so only 1 maj/4 min weap traits available during combat, while other classes have two sets so 2 maj/4 min weap traits available) or none (as they have 5 non-weap trait lines, rather than 2, which appears to be the norm. They can get the extra traits from there), so I'm guessing the source didn't check other weaps or it's still subject to change. ATM the staff would have a big trait advantage.|||Quote:








This doesn't make much sense. It'd make sense for all the Ele's weap sets to have have four minor trait slots (...) ATM the staff would have a big trait advantage.




That would depend on the skills given by the staff. Remember, eles can't weapon swap in mid-combat, but they can reattune. It's possible that a staff user would want to have one minor trait for each element, but still be balanced against a non-staff user.
...at least, that may be the intent. It's the only reason I can think of as to why they would do it like that.|||I'm sure there's a balance reason for it. Maybe staves are much less "customizable" and as hence balanced so that you can shove 4 minor runes in it and still have it balanced?|||Quote:








Remember, eles can't weapon swap in mid-combat, but they can reattune.




Can they not choose 3 different staves and swap during combat, or are they stuck with a single weapon choice ?
The Ele page on the GW2 website indicates that they have multiple weapon choices, including double daggers ? Can these only be swapped out of combat unlike other professions?|||Quote:








Can they not choose 3 different staves and swap during combat, or are they stuck with a single weapon choice ?
The Ele page on the DW2 website indicates that they have multiple weapon choices, including double daggers ? Can these only be swapped out of combat unlike other professions?




Those questions are good questions. I wish I had answers for them.|||The ele can't swap weapon mid-battle, but he can swap outside of it.
The reason is also obvious, with 4 attunements, even with only 1 weapon set they already have more skills then any other profession released until now.