ArenaNet dispels the controversy regarding the Guild Wars 2 Engineer

An abundance of controversy erupted over the Engineer class from Guild Wars 2 when it was announced last week. Some fans of the game even went so far as to question whether the class even belongs in a fantasy game. Thanks to ArenaNet's Community Manager Regina Buenaobra, we now have answers to some of the burning questions the fans have had about this explosive class.

Guild Wars 2 is set 250 years after the events in the original Guild Wars. "Technology has advanced a great deal, and we wanted the engineer to personify this progress. And frankly, we didn't want to feel constrained by typical conventions as to what is or is not acceptable in a fantasy story," Buenaobra explains in the Engineer FAQ on the official website.

Now we know that the class fits with the timeline, but this does not explain the other issue fans have with this class. Why would the nature-loving Sylvari be interested in this type of technology? Buenaobra notes, "Players in general are exceptional and unusual figures, heroes who stand out among their people. Just as there are asura warriors and norn necromancers, it's not unheard of for an inquisitive, mechanically-inclined sylvari to become an engineer."

Check out the full FAQ on the Guild Wars 2 official site for answers to other important Engineer questions.

Reader Comments (56)

I think this class is fine like it is.

@danubus Agreed, I mean there are Mad Max style cars for crying out loud how doesn't the engineer fit it... after all someone has to fix those rides. ;)

@danubus

My first action in this game with the Engineer? Ready my rifle, raise it to the sky, and scream with all the might in my fingers (and caps lock button): THIS! IS MY BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMSTICK!

I don't really mind it, If you think about everything we've seen in terms of Charr cities then it really does work in the game and mesh in just fine.
The only thing I'm hating on ArenaNet for at the moment as that with the Guardian and the Engineer it's pretty much guaranteeing that the Ritualist wont be making a return, even in a Canthan expansion :(

@(Unverified)

I do believe that the last Class will be a blend between Ritualist and Mesmer.I'll keep my fingers crossed.

@(Unverified) Don't feel bad, besides the Mesmer, the ONLY other Profession I LOVED in GW was the Paragon.

So yeah, I sorta feel your pain.

I'm fine with the engineer, as long as I see a mesmer. And if it's a blend between the ritualist and mesmer, well, that sounds even better - Guild Wars is one of the few MMOs to allow possession of more than a single minion, and it's always fun to play a class that does that, since it's so rare and unique.

People need to open their minds. I love a mix between technology and fantasy, like Final Fantasy does. It's a great balance when it's achieve and enhances the fantasy feel completely.

I mean it's not like they are going all Star Wars on us or something.

@Tizmah Speaking of which, I remember reading that some categorize Star Wars as science fantasy due to the fact that the Force cannot be explained in a way established by scientific theories while science fantasy can be more implausible. Anyway, engineer is not my type of class in any case not because I don't like technology in fantasy but because I prefer more straightforward classes like a warrior or ranger.

@paterah I just call it fantasy. With or without the Force, I don't see the ‘science’ of it at all. Just a futuristic fantasy.

@paterah

"Speaking of which, I remember reading that some categorize Star Wars as science fantasy due to the fact that the Force cannot be explained in a way established by scientific theories while science fantasy can be more implausible."

Mitochlorians!

Enuff said!

I agree wholeheartedly with their lack of concern over whether GW2 will conform to the "fantasy standards" that people have burned into their brains. I'm looking forward to a lot of the "different" that I expect to see bundled into GW2.

Really happy that ANet isn't afraid to define fantasy however they want and to have some fun. In an interview with mmorpg.com today Eric Flannum said that the Engineer was also a way for them to just have fun and showcase a bit of lighthearted humour to offset their generally very serious setting. I think having a bit of humour and lightheartedness is a very good thing for a game.

There is no controversy with Awesome!

Fantasy can have space ships with people fighting with swords on them, so what ever technology they put in the game is fine. I prefer the sword, bow and shield type play, so I guess I won't play as the engineer at first. Thats what I love about these kinds of games... you can play them how you want to! No real need to moan groan and complain.

So everyone is always clamoring for "new" and "innovative," critisizing all these other MMO's for being "WoW clones," yet the moment a dev breaks some "sacred" fantasy convention, these same people get their panties all up in a bunch.

Never a shortage of stupidity, to be sure.

@Macabre 13

I agree, though I'd hardly call the class "new and innovative". It reminds me of the Engineer officer in STO in how it plays (turrets, bombs, grenades, guns) -- and engineers/ing have been abundant in WoW and many other fantasy-based games I've played (usually associated with goblins and/or gnomes). One need only take a gander at the trikes, guns, bombs, helicopters, etc., in WoW for a taste of that.

If anything, I'd say the engineering class fits very nicely into GW lore. From what I've seen thus far, the engineer class in GW2 looks a lot more classy and cool than the farcical technology of WoW. It bugs me somewhat to think of a Sylvari engineer and so forth, I confess, but I think I can live with that.

@Macabre 13
Well put. Dunno about the "panties in a bunch" part but, agree otherwise ;)

Glad they smacked the 'hurrr healers!' people on the nose again for the 80th time.

Couldn't agree with you all more. It's just part of what the genre needs. I wasn't even sure what class I was going to play until they release the Engineer. Norn Engineer - Here I come!

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ArenaNet dispels the controversy regarding the Guild Wars 2 Engineer

Reader Comments (56)

Posted: May 26th 2011 8:02PM danubus said

Posted: May 26th 2011 9:01PM Unshra said

Posted: May 27th 2011 1:38AM ShivanSwordsman said

Posted: May 26th 2011 8:10PM (Unverified) said

Posted: May 26th 2011 10:31PM Valdur said

Posted: May 27th 2011 1:01AM Faction 3 said

Posted: May 27th 2011 5:35AM kasapina said

Posted: May 26th 2011 8:11PM Tizmah said

Posted: May 26th 2011 8:42PM paterah said

Posted: May 27th 2011 2:26AM Saerain said

Posted: May 27th 2011 12:23PM Space Cobra said

Posted: May 26th 2011 8:12PM Tiresias said

Posted: May 26th 2011 8:27PM jealouspirate said

Posted: May 26th 2011 8:53PM Lateris said

Posted: May 26th 2011 8:55PM madbassman39 said

Posted: May 26th 2011 8:57PM Macabre 13 said

Posted: May 27th 2011 8:29AM Tom in VA said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 5:11PM mgbeers said

Posted: May 26th 2011 8:58PM Nenene said

Posted: May 26th 2011 9:07PM starchildren3317 said

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