New Class Idea - Oracle

Currently in Guild Wars there are 4 casting classes and 2 fighting classes. To balance this out Guild Wars should have another "fighting class". Many suggestions have been put forth for a fighter class like a theif or rogue which would use some sort of dagger or hand to hand weapon. Personally I don't think such a class would have many good option for ANet to create a well balanced class out of, but the idea of hand to hand weapons piques my interest. Why doesn't Guild Wars have hand to hand weapons? I mean it seems logical that there would be some small daggers or hand to hand weapons in a world that has swords, axes, hammers, and bows. My new class idea is a melee based fighting class with a twist, that uses hand to hand weapons.

A close-combat hand to hand fighter with the power to twist the threads of fate for his allies and enemies.

(Primary) Clairvoyance: Effect grants a 2% per point faster Skill* recharge rate.

Hand to Hand Mastery: Increases damage of hand to hand weapons. Increases effectiveness of hand to hand skills.

Offensive Words: No apperent effect. Increases effectiveness of offensive words.

Defensive Words: No apperent effect. Increases effectiveness of offensive words.

*Skills are not Spells, Stances, and Signets

Two attributes for the oracle are dedicated to word skills. Words skills are touch based skills that work by touching your target with 1 or 2 word skills to generate an effect.
Word skills are divided into 2 parts. The first part is the basic effect which happens when a word skill is used on a target, the second part is a combination effect. Combinations are created by using a word skill on a target quickly followed by another word skill. The combination effect used is the word skill that was used first combination effect.
So an example of word skills being used would be an oracle hitting an opponent with WordSkill1. WordSkill1's basic effect happens on the target. Now the Oracle quickly uses another word skill , WordSkill2, on the same target with a short amount of time (at most about 3 seconds from using WordSkill1). Because the target is still under the effects of WordSkill1, the basic effect of WordSkill2 happens and the combination effect from WordSkill1 happens as well. Because WordSkill2 was used in the combination it cannot be used to make a combination, even if WordSkill1 was used again right after WordSkill2 was used.

Hand to Hand Mastery:
I think most people can assume skills that involve hitting people, dealing damage, and levying status effects upon their target.

Offensive Words:
Offensive Words are words used to hinder and damage enemies.

Agony Cost: 5 Cast: 1/4 Recharge: 6
Target takes 10-40 damage. When combined with another word skill target beings bleeding for 3-13 seconds.

Burden Cost: 10 Cast: 1/4 Recharge: 10
Target is slowed by 33% for 9-23 seconds. When combined with another word skill target is slowed by another 33% for 6-18 seconds.

Defensive Words:
Defensive words are used to restore and aid allies.

Mobility Cost: 5 Cast: 1/4 Recharge: 10
Target is moves 10% faster for 4-10 seconds. When combined with another word skill target is moves faster by another 10% for 2-7 seconds.

Restore Cost: 5 Cast: 1/4 Recharge: 20
Target is cured from one condition. When combined with another word skill target is cured from one condition.

Heal Cost: 5 Cast: 1/4 Recharge: 6
Target gains 15-50 life. When combined with another word skill adjacent allies to target gain 7-30 life.

Clairvoyance:
Clairvoyance contains linked stances, linked skills, and signets. (I have to put some more time into thinking about these to give some decent example skills)

Well since it is so late and I have spent so much time trying to make my thoughts as clear as I can I think I will end this horrendously long post, but please feel free to post your questions/comments/concerns about the Oracle class.

As much as I'd like to say this unique idea, it's been though of in similar content already. But I do like how you put it, and with your "words". It sounds sort of like my oldschool D&D WarriorMage. I loved fighting hand-to-hand then uttering spells that can hinder/help enemies/allies. It really is a cool idea altogether, although not totally unique. But still, I'm backing ya up. Right in more stuff about it, and if you convince me you might get a /signed.

My 2 cents.

--The Shim

Oooh smexah. I likes it.

/signed

I like it too, I think Anet should really think about the various ideas for new melee builds that are based more around tactics and stuff that's almost casting.

/signed