Source
r/Guildwars2•
Halae

That green blob behind the druid? Looks like an Oakheart to me.

[Other]

So, I took another look at the druid art, and I've come to a conclusion that I think isn't something many people have given much consideration to. What I mean is... well, take another look at the image and see for yourself.

Above the butt of the staff is the head, I think that much we can all agree on, but there's no readily discernible facial features. Behind the druid's back and head are branches, long and covered in leaves, though detail-less. Near the Druid's right hand is something large and white - a boulder perhaps, being held in the hand of this creature? I think that's right, as if you look past the back of the Druid you can sort of see the shape of an elbow It's been pointed out to me that that's actually the druid's hair. Doop. Instead, it seems the arms are down at the creature's chest level, going towards the ground, and the white thing seems to be a shoulder.

Supporting my theory is that the druids of Tyria are the protectors of the Maguuma and are very specifically plant mages, a concept a fair number of people are excited about, myself included. To those thinking the pet would just be removed, I direct you to u/Reelix and his post on what would have to change to remove the pet from the class, which is so much that removing a pet is largely unfeasible without a large at-base overhaul.

And if you still don't believe me? Compare the thing in the Druid's background to this render of a treant, which is the type of creature oakhearts, mosshearts, and pinesouls fall under. The oakheart on the right is in much the same position that the one in the druid's background would be in, though that one's legs are cut off by the bottom of the image.

Posted Sep 22, 2015, 11:29 AM UTC · edited

3095
scientifiction•

To those thinking the pet would just be removed...

People keep commenting about how people think the pet is going to be removed, yet over the past month or so, all I see is people talking about why the pet won't be removed. I can't wait until we get the details so people can finally shut up about this.

32
HappyTheWingedCat•

We even had dev confirmation ages ago that they would not loose their pets.

14
Kelseer•

I reject you reality and substitute my own! /s

16
adblockthrowawayBearicus Maxmus•

It's like the thieves and their staff denial...........bro just take the staff.

2
Pudge_The_FishPEW PEW PEW KNOCK BACK•

I'm not even being sarcastic about it. I would like a none pet ranger, don't tell me that I can go Warrior, Guardian, or Thief bow because that's bs. If you have to keep pets please let them level like they did in GW1.

-5
TyrenusGW2RPer•

Well currently they are designed within the concept of the class. Sure a marksman based only Ranger would be nice to see but currently they want to focus on it being a pet relying class, which it is right now.

2
Neodhoc•

source please

0†
genshuku91Daigenji•

It was back during one of the CDIs that Ranger had. I'm not sure how long but its been a while.

1
Irish33•

I can't wait until we get the details so people can finally shut up about this.

BUT FIRST - here is my theory [700 comments]

3
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
Gerrit_DEBytestorm.8021 [Liga]•

I hope they make the druid some kind of summoner. So pet-skills and -traits still could work, but let your choose your companion more dynamic.

8
WordofGabb•

What if becoming druid essentially replaces your pet with a unique treant that can take the aspects of Ursine, Canine, Bird, or Feline, transforming into those shapes at will? You would select them as you would a regular pet, then swap between the two. They could keep the same basic skills as those respective pet families, but with new F2 skills.

I know this is highly unlikely, but it's just a thought.

3
captain-catbeard•

Imagine having your pets function almost like mesmer clones. Your attacks can summon some spirit-animal oakhearts, they retain whatever traits normal animals carry, etc.

1
RedPandaBestPanda•

Why not just play a Mesmer then?

No shatters? Engineer then.

More temporary? Guardian with spirit weapons then.

Point is, any idea of a Ranger without pet as it currently is is simply a different class.

-2†
Mouseheartsexy-HoT-delicious!•

I don't think any elite spec is adding anything completely new when we're talking about basic game mechanics.

Oh, scrapper has the ability to be a bit tankier with group support and melee? Why not play guardian?!

Oh, dragon hunter gets longbow and traps? Why not play ranger?!

And so on. Some people just like playing their favourite class with a little twist!

4
Morwra•

This is silly, you can apply this logic to many of the specs, and it doesn't make anymore sense. You want wells on your mesmer? JUST PLAY NECRO. You want traps on your guardian? JUST PLAY RANGER OR THIEF. So what if mechanics are similar?

2
Lishy1_5•

The Oakheart IS the druid!

8
Kinprime•

The Druid by m. night shyamalan

2
Gerrit_DEBytestorm.8021 [Liga]•

And the Sylvari will be the new pet :-D

1
Zal_Avoiˁ˚ᴥ˚ˀ BEAR!!!•

Maybe the druid mechanic is that the usual ranger pets get a layer of protective bark around them?

Edit: the original professions art has the ranger's pet in that same place.

4
kheis.6540 (Darkhaven)•

I think the Druid new "mechanic" is just access to a new family of Pets.

4
Kolz[Meow] #blamethecharr•

Nah, that would be too lame even for rangers.

9
iamdylanshaffer•

I mean, it's not really that far fetched. All Thieves got was access to new "types" of dodges.

2
Ebibliophacky•

But new dodges change things quite a bit, so does having a third dodge.

New pets wouldn't be changing ANY mechanic really. Though we do need more pets.

2
iamdylanshaffer•

Having a third dodge is a reasonable argument, but having different pets that have different skills and tactics associated with them is no different than having different dodges.

1
adblockthrowawayBearicus Maxmus•

even for rangers

YOU PEOPLE?

2
Kolz[Meow] #blamethecharr•

I play ranger too, I mean anet treats them to mostly lame stuff :)

2
green1t•

However, it would be nice if they introduced new pets with HoT. :)

It would be really awesome to have an oakheart fighting for you.

1
Kolz[Meow] #blamethecharr•

Oh for sure, I just don't think that would be the new profession mechanic. Ideally new pets would be available to all Rangers.

1
goddessofthewinds•

Yeah that's what I was thinking. Maybe access to plant-type companions, such as oakheart and etc.

I'd play my ranger just to have an Oakheart companion!

2
FruitlessVenture•

Could be that the druid can shape-shift into an oakheart, sort of like death-shroud for necros. Or that they can have oakhearts as pets.

Something I can't get out of my mind when looking at this image though, that staff is the ugliest piece of shit I've ever seen. Poor druids.

4
el_grortGrort.2750•

Isn't there a cultural skill or a renown heart that gives you something similar to Oakheart transformation?

1
FruitlessVenture•

Could be, but who uses those?

1
el_grortGrort.2750•

I think it was probably a renown heart I had to do for world comp, but i definitely remember there was already a oakheart transformation.

1
NapTooNZyranea {Future Druid!}•

There are 2 Oakheart Transformations.

  • Close the Grove Entrance in Caledon Forest (The mentionend Renown Heart)
  • The Human Elite Skill Avatar of Melandru
1
MithranArkanereSUGGEST-A-TRON•

It'll be hilarious if druids got plant minions, but I doubt that'll be the case. I think it'll be more likely that it'll be a transform. The Maguuma druids did turn into treants, after all.

3
Gerrit_DEBytestorm.8021 [Liga]•

I really think this is exactly what will happen to the druid. That also could be the reason, why the druid is announced last: because the plant-minions will be part of the HoT-lore.

1
Bellanes•

If we get plant minions I would like a mordrem pet please and thank

1
CreepingDeath0•

I hope to be able to enslave a Sylvari as my plant pet of choice.

1
Bellanes•

:O I think that might not work out so well. Have you seen how many start cowering when events start? We are delicate peonies. Please to not enslave.

1
Greatwoolf[BDT]•

come on people its clearly one of THIS ...

3
EmElw•

Ye that's what OP is saying

6
TorbunSyltorrie•

Look like this kind of dinosaur to me.

3
vianiznice•

I thought the same. Looks too "barkey" to be an animal.

2
jared_lethalThe Loot is Mine•

Near the Druid's right hand is something large and white - a boulder perhaps, being held in the hand of this creature?

Are you talking about the hair of the ranger? I don't see any creature's hand... Just long hair against the light.

2
HalaeOP•

... damn, looking again, I think you're right. Gonna go edit the OP.

1
TehAn0mollieUnspeakable, undefinable, unkowable.•

It's an Oakenheart or something similar in the Treant species.

In GW1 there was lore you ran into as part of the missions dealing with The Druids, a group of Krytans who came to live in the Maguuma Jungle to practice their ceremonies and rites, but mysteriously vanished. It seems they became part of the jungle itself, in GW1 they manifest as oakheart shaped spirits, but in GW2's Brisban Wildlands, you see a few example of Oakhearts, in the ruins of the Henge of Denravi, you see the inquest leeching magic from them, and there is another even nearby where you take an Oakheart spirit to it's body.

So the Treant form is likely special to the Druid, and likely the reason it's shadow is taking the place of the original class picture's pet.

There would be a lot for Anet to do to replace or remove the Ranger's pet, but it's actually quite feasible with some work as most of the changes to traits and skills not pertaining exclusively to beast mastery in that other post would be them undoing supposed buffs from long ago balance attempts. Although I don't expect them to do this on this particular pass.

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Druid -- For reference

2
Jalian174•

I suggested this yesterday and was downvoted :(

But yes, I agree, it looks like a treant as they appear in GW2. This does not, I think, mean anything for pets or against it. We really won't know until later.

A pet Treant would be neat, but only if its huge. Although honestly, I would prefer it if they looked like the LOTR or WoW versions.

2
iamdylanshaffer•

That would be interesting, but how realistic is it? Imagine the rather tight, condensed maps in Heart of Thorns, with people running around completing the meta events, and then you have 10 Druids at a single event, all with absolutely huge Treants as pets. It would be absolutely ridiculous.

2
HalaeOP•

Have to agree. When we see new pets added to the game, the Reef Drake is a good example of their "large size", which is still small enough not to block most people.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
DeafCatMoan•

I thought it looked like those new dragon things.

What if WP is right.

What if its a mount?

What if its also a glider?

What if.....

2
UnamusedDudeValdor Illusionary•

What did WP say? I'm curious -_-

1
dkspins•

WP said that it might be a beast of burden, used as a mount by the Druid.

1
BransirAst•

To me it looks like either a basilisk, or some form of saurier (aka dinosaurs)

1
foozledaaParkour Enthusiast•

Yeah.

The part at the front looks like a scaly tail and the head is definitely saurian.

1
Praiz•

I'd be happy with an elite that summons a godlike pet, but that's probably as far as my pet acceptance will go.

1
Maikky•

Omg, Plant Mechas confirmed

Druid liternally pilots oakhearts / plant giants

I mean it makes sense, all us rangers are super angsty

1†
fangstruth•

Is that an evangelion reference?

0
senhorpanda•

It looks like a dinossaur or a dragon to me. I'm at work now, later at night i'll try to draw it

1
GregulasMaximus•

It'd be cool if our pets could be imbued with elemental damage. Like take away the pet ability, and add a druid themed pet attunement where we can have our pets take on aspects of different elements (fire, air, earth, water), and become more of a utility that will help place conditions damage or effects to our attacks.

Personal opinion.. your post just got me thinking. :D

1
katzklawALL HAIL THE MIGHTY FLAME RAM•

pets are not being removed with druid for one simple reason... that teaser vid they gave us oh so long ago when they FIRST announced all this... shows a short clip of a staff ranger with a white wolf

that being said... eagerly awaiting the news of what druid actually entails

1
CreepingDeath0•

Think about it for a second, if that wolf wasnt there would you have had ANY clue what class you were looking at?

I'm not saying I think the elite spec is getting rid of pets (I think that's an unrealistic amount of work to expect) but the inclusion of the pet there immediately transmitted the point that it was a ranger and "oh shit, he's using a staff!".

2