Idea for Skillsets: Dedicated slot for Signet Rings

DISCLAIMER: I'm always hesitant to begin a new thread on an idea, but I searched around, and didn't see anything quite like this. If there is, and I missed it, I apologize.

People have been complaining about the lack of diversity or options in skillsets. For example, Rangers who want to be Beastmasters have half their skill bar gobbled up by pet maintainance skills. Or more generally, EVERYONE in PvP brings their Rez Signet. What I'd like to propose is a dedicated slot on your skill bar JUST for Signet Rings, in addition to the 8 slots that we have. In other words, an "extra" slot that can ONLY be used for a Signet.

Granted 90% of the time people would just stick their Rez Signet there and be done with it, but even in that case it opens up one more possibility on your main skill bar. And there are other possible options... Antidote Signet for Rangers, or Leech Signet for Mesmers for example. (This could even be "merged" with another idea I saw about making Charm Animal into a Signet skill itself.) I think this change would encourage diversity in skillsets, if in no other way than by simply opening up one slot.

Please discuss... insults to my intelligence will be taken in good humor I promise.

Personally, I think forcing a particular player to choose what they wish to put into a limited eight slots increases diversity and strategy (in higher level PvP, anyhow).


A ninth slot makes certain choices for skills easier. I don't know how many times I've gone for a build only to find "if-only-I-had-one-more-slot".

Also, in forcing a signet, you are LOWERING diversity by having everyone use one. The reason? There are excellent signets out there besides ressurection signet. If everyone gained a slot to place a signet, it would not cause a second thought for most people to place that excellent signet (leech signet or antidote signet as you said) into their slot--the end result being EVERYONE has that signet in that slot and lowering the amount of sacrifice everyone needs to have if they want a particular skill on their skill bar.

After all, if you begin limiting slots to certain types of skills, there will emerge certain "superior" skills to be used.

With the change at retail which dramatically improved the usefulness of the res signet, it is now just too good to leave off your skill bar. So, in effect, one slot is gone; one slot that would have been used for other strategy. I don't see a problem with a 9th slot... it'd be welcome. I don't want any more than 9, but one more slot wouldn't hurt.

Not everyone uses a signet, but everyone uses an elite. Have an elite-only slot, all golden-framed and oversized, right in the middle of the skill bar. Then it's a natural fit to place four other skill slots on either side of the elite for a total of nine skills. It won't happen, but it'd be nice. Everyone could have a primary role and up to two secondary roles instead of now where you can do only two significant things well at most.

I'm up for the idea. I just finished a mission in ice caves of sorrow and nobody brought a res. We had 1 monk who died and nobody had a res....except me, good old trusty W/Mo.
What if i had died? lol.

Anyway, my point is. Maybe, with the OP's idea, some of these would have been more likely to bring a res...but then again...maybe they would have got a dolyak signet or a healing signet!

I think 8 is a good number. It forces you to make tough strategic choices. I don't see the need for a dedicated slot for a Signet. Still, it would be an interesting experiment to try.

I always put signets in 7 and my permanent res skill (the only reason for which I take monk secondary) is always in 8. However, since they are rings, I think all classes should be able to equip them in extra slots, a slot 9 and 10 where no other skills can go, only signets. (one finger on each hand)

An extra slot that is -dedicated- to a signet ring is a terrific idea! And, Avantos, I don't think that the OP meant that you couldn't use signets in some of the other slots on your belt. The original 8 slots would be "open" in that they could be spells, skills, signets, whatever. Slot 9 would ONLY be for a signet of your choosing.

Excellent idea, Aracos79!

Mmm...I don't know...so many people in missions already do NOT bring their rez signet, a few were even brave enough (after ruining the mission for everyone by being the last one alive with no rez) to speak up and say that they never did the quest to get a rez signet because its a worthless skill and that they won't waste a skill point for it.

I would rather it be devoted to the rez signet after having too many missions fail from people who don't bring rez. Its something I teach to every new player in my guild. If you don't bring a rez signet, you're not going to quest with us.

I'd rather take the idea a few posts above for a slot just for an elite skill. Sometimes I don't want an elite skill because I found a normal skill that is better suited to my build. But then it seems you are wasting those skills, they just sit there, some are very sub-par, but could be better if a 9th slot was added for elite only.

While it would certinly be nice (I tend to name my random PvP char "Use Res Sigs") it would also be unbalancing. I'd have to say I'm not for this idea.

Originally I liked the idea of having position 9 on the skill bar being used for the Signet Ring or the Pendent (Appilied like Armor, or a shield). Charm Pendent was a temp skill that lasted for 24 hrs in beta. And that #9 slot could only be used for that feature. However I think that concept got dropped when they opted to get rid of the pendent from the final release. Interesting concept though. If there is enough people wanting that it may come back. I know a few people have said its still around (Codewise) in the alpha build.