I often hear new players complain, that there are too few spells and abilities at their disposal in Guild Wars 2.
Just to clarify, these new players aren't paying enough attention or as is often the case they are overwhelmed.
Every profession has 11-14 spells just for weapons (that includes the profession specials) plus 5 utility skills
Elementalists have 24 spells just on weapons...
What is interesting is how you can combine what the buttons do when you mix effects from different spells..
Welcome to the wonderful world of COMBO FIELDS!
When you look at some of your spells, they say Combo Field : Light/Dark/Etheral etc. This simply means that on top of what the spells themselves do (ie damage) they cause a type of AoE (area of effect) field, that you and your Allies can shoot, leap. blast or whirl through!
These descriptions are also mentioned on spell buttons...they are called a finisher.
When you combine a Combo Field with a Finisher, COOL SHIT HAPPENS!!!
A little explanation about finishers now..
Blast finishers
Apply their effect to all foes or allies in the area where the blast occurred with a radius of 360 (about 1.5 metres around where you did your stuff)
Leap finishers
Apply their effect either to the target foe or to yourself. Basically you add a debuff on your enemy if you do this in the Combo Field, or you gain a buff for yourself.
Projectile finishers
Apply their effect either to the target foe or to allies adjacent to the target. So, lets say you shoot through a Fire Combo Field, the projectile catches fire and adds a burning debuff on the target.
Whirl finishers
Cause multiple bolts to shoot out in random directions; each of these bolts functions like the corresponding Projectile Finisher. So just like the example above really, only your toon gets a bit dizzy whirling around xD.
The table below shows what all the fields do with the according Finishers and what professions generate the fields.
Just to clarify, these new players aren't paying enough attention or as is often the case they are overwhelmed.
Every profession has 11-14 spells just for weapons (that includes the profession specials) plus 5 utility skills
Elementalists have 24 spells just on weapons...
What is interesting is how you can combine what the buttons do when you mix effects from different spells..
Welcome to the wonderful world of COMBO FIELDS!
When you look at some of your spells, they say Combo Field : Light/Dark/Etheral etc. This simply means that on top of what the spells themselves do (ie damage) they cause a type of AoE (area of effect) field, that you and your Allies can shoot, leap. blast or whirl through!
These descriptions are also mentioned on spell buttons...they are called a finisher.
When you combine a Combo Field with a Finisher, COOL SHIT HAPPENS!!!
A little explanation about finishers now..
Blast finishers
Apply their effect to all foes or allies in the area where the blast occurred with a radius of 360 (about 1.5 metres around where you did your stuff)
Leap finishers
Apply their effect either to the target foe or to yourself. Basically you add a debuff on your enemy if you do this in the Combo Field, or you gain a buff for yourself.
Projectile finishers
Apply their effect either to the target foe or to allies adjacent to the target. So, lets say you shoot through a Fire Combo Field, the projectile catches fire and adds a burning debuff on the target.
Whirl finishers
Cause multiple bolts to shoot out in random directions; each of these bolts functions like the corresponding Projectile Finisher. So just like the example above really, only your toon gets a bit dizzy whirling around xD.
The table below shows what all the fields do with the according Finishers and what professions generate the fields.